Hi all. A few years ago I was driving through a suburb in my Rx7 with the AC on. I rarely used it, but the car did have (to my knowledge) the original air conditioning system from 1986. Regardless, I was driving along and there was a loud hiss noise and my entire windshield and sides of the car billowed a cloud of white steam that disappeared immediately, and my engine bay was covered in condensation.
My AC refrigerant evacuated itself through an o-ring (or somewhere, have yet to find the leak).
Now that I'm in the middle of rebuilding it, I decided to replace all the o-rings and convert to a modern refrigerant. I removed the compressor, tipped it over, and ZERO oil came out. The clutch bearing on the compressor is smooth, but when I turn the compressor by hand I can feel/hear metal sliding along.
I have two basic questions:
1. Is it normal for there to be no oil in the compressor? Since it was running when I lost pressure and it stopped immediately, I'm wondering if it didn't drain back properly. It also could've leaked with the refrigerant, since I don't know exactly where the leak was until I take apart all of the lines.
2. Is it normal for there to be a gentle sliding noise as I turn the compressor by hand? Or am I in for a rebuild/replacement
Thanks, Chris.
My AC refrigerant evacuated itself through an o-ring (or somewhere, have yet to find the leak).
Now that I'm in the middle of rebuilding it, I decided to replace all the o-rings and convert to a modern refrigerant. I removed the compressor, tipped it over, and ZERO oil came out. The clutch bearing on the compressor is smooth, but when I turn the compressor by hand I can feel/hear metal sliding along.
I have two basic questions:
1. Is it normal for there to be no oil in the compressor? Since it was running when I lost pressure and it stopped immediately, I'm wondering if it didn't drain back properly. It also could've leaked with the refrigerant, since I don't know exactly where the leak was until I take apart all of the lines.
2. Is it normal for there to be a gentle sliding noise as I turn the compressor by hand? Or am I in for a rebuild/replacement
Thanks, Chris.