Please Help! AC Question

[tommyrich]

I am in need of advice on my AC system. I have a conversion in which I have a 2005 Acura TL engine in my Delorean. My AC system uses the compressor from the TL and all other stock delorean components.

History:
Got the AC first charge in April and took the car to the DMA Spring Social (250 mile round trip). No problems.
A few weeks later the AC compressor would bog down when engaging. Took out the Orifice Tube and found black gunk and oil all over it.
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So I changed the tube, accumulator, Flushed the entire system (each component individually) and replaced the AC Compressor (it was the original from the junk yard engine so it was suspect.

I evacuated, and charged the system, it seemed to work fine. 1 week later, the low pressure was not pulling down, so I suspected another oriface tube clog. Pulled to tube and found this... (very similar to the first time.

It is a rubbery substance that looks like flakes but will smear/dissolve when touched. Is this remnants of the first compressor?
I need to get this working for DCS2012 (as I suspect AC might be needed in Orlando in June).
Any advice would be appreciated.
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Thanks,
Tom

[Bitsyncmaster]

I think your hoses are shot. They are disintegrating and make that black substance. You also get that "black death" if the system was not flushed good enough.

[tommyrich]

I hope it is not the hoses, they are brand new. When I had the frame off, I put all new hoses on, Including the condensor to evaporator. Could something be reacting with the hoses?

[Bitsyncmaster]

I hope it is not the hoses, they are brand new. When I had the frame off, I put all new hoses on, Including the condensor to evaporator. Could something be reacting with the hoses?

Then probably you did not get the condenser flushed good enough. When I flushed mine I got a lot of black out of it. I flushed it with a pump trying to force as much fluid moving as possible. So far it seems to have done the trick but if I were doing it again, I would replace it. The evaporator is no problem to flush.

[tommyrich]

I found the opposite, The condenser was relatively clear when I flushed it. But the evaporator had green stuff in it. I used mineral spirits and it kept coming out green. It took nearly a half gallon (blowing it through with compressed air) to get it clear. I wanted to replace the condenser, but couldn't get my hands on one quick enough. It will have to wait until after Orlando.
I guess I will bring an orifice tube and cans of freon to DCS :dead: Hopefully there will be somebody there who knows about Deloreans :biggrin:
Meanwhile I will pack shorts and get my hair cut.
Thanks,
Tom

[David T]

You didn't mention what refrigerant the old compressor was on and what you are now using. My guess the contamination has to do with incompatibilities with the refrigerant oil. The whole system needs to be flushed again and the correct oil used for the refrigerant you are using. The wrong oil will burn from the higher temps. That may be the residue you are finding.
David Teitelbaum

[tgraham]

My guess the contamination has to do with incompatibilities with the refrigerant oil

Knowing Tom, I'd bet heavily that he used a compatible oil. That said, I have no idea what the problem is... Hopefully it's just the grizzly remains of the old compressor.

Hope you get it sorted, Tom. If you're (for some reason) in the Nashville area and need to drop by for a recharge (whatever refrigerant) let me know!

Travis

[tommyrich]

Thanks Travis, Sorry I won't be seeing you at DCS12.

Dave,
I did initially flush the Evap and Condensor, replaced the orifice tube and accumulator, put in all new hoses (needed custom ones to match Acura compressor). The system was empty when I purchased the car, but it looked like it was still set up for R-12. The Acura uses PAG oil So I knew I had to flush the system. I may not have done a completely perfect job the first time. The AC ran fine for a while, several weeks, but it was in the Spring so I didn't use it much, then started bogging down. When I opened it up, it looked like the first picture from the earlier post.


Then I completely flushed the lines, Evap and Condenser and replace the tube and accumulator again, along with a new compressor. I blew out the lines completely, vacuum, pressurized, ran great for a few hours, then started to bog...then <<see second picture above>>, not as bad as the first time, but I didn't let it go as long. When I was flushing i found very small amounts of black "dots" in the lines and condenser. The Evaporator returned dark green stuff. It took a long time to flush out. Brass oxidation?

My long-term plan is to replace the Condenser and Evaporator, but the short-term plan is to stay relatively cool on the trip to Orlando (we are taking the Auto-Train so it is only about 12 hours of cooling required. I am just curious as to what is causing this. When dry, the stuff on the orifice tube looks like small pieces of coal (tiny flat, shiny stones) but are soft and will break-up if touched (See pictures Below).
Thanks all for your help,
Will see you at DCS12 (Dave and I might be sweating a bit, but we will be there).
Tom

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[Bitsyncmaster]

When I flushed my condenser, I used the old hoses to make up a flushing jig with a pump that was powered by my electric drill. That let me get some pressure blasting the solvent through the condenser. I noted a lot of black solvent at first. It may have been the old hoses or may have come from the condenser. Anyway after running the flush (half gallon) through it for about 10 minuets my pump died.

So far it has been working great. I also use PAG oil because my new compressor came with PAG oil in it.

A lot of oil will get flushed from the evaporator. That is probably what you saw as the green slime.

[David T]

If you go to an A/C supply house you can buy pressurized cans of flush. On large commercial units we used to use R-11 but that is not done anymore. Typically on burn-outs you add additional filter/dryers till you know the system is cleaned up. Not usually done on cars but maybe it would catch enough of the junk to keep you going and not plug up the orifice tube. Put one on the suction and one on the high pressure.
David Teitelbaum




When I flushed my condenser, I used the old hoses to make up a flushing jig with a pump that was powered by my electric drill. That let me get some pressure blasting the solvent through the condenser. I noted a lot of black solvent at first. It may have been the old hoses or may have come from the condenser. Anyway after running the flush (half gallon) through it for about 10 minuets my pump died.

So far it has been working great. I also use PAG oil because my new compressor came with PAG oil in it.

A lot of oil will get flushed from the evaporator. That is probably what you saw as the green slime.

[tommyrich]

Any Idea where I can get the filters...quickly?
Thanks,
Tom

P.S. David, Are you going to be at DCS? I think Dave D owes us a Dinner!

[David T]

Look in the phone book for an HVAC supply house on the Island. Dave D owes ME a dinner, I don't know about you! I won't be at DCS this year but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying it!
David Teitelbaum



Any Idea where I can get the filters...quickly?
Thanks,
Tom

P.S. David, Are you going to be at DCS? I think Dave D owes us a Dinner!

[tommyrich]

Dave, Sorry you won't make DCS, I am thinking there may be a "hands-on" tech session down there on "How to remove black crud from your AC lines".;)

Tom

[David T]

Video it and post it on youtube.
David Teitelbaum



QUOTE=tommyrich;59980]Dave, Sorry you won't make DCS, I am thinking there may be a "hands-on" tech session down there on "How to remove black crud from your AC lines".;)

Tom[/QUOTE]