My 2002 Alero has a leak in the condenser, system has been out of gas for about 2 weeks now. I am getting a used one and am going to install it myself. Do you think I need to replace the accumulator (dryer?) as well? My AC guy said I will be fine as long as the system is evacuated properly.
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Alero needs new AC condensor
- Thread starter MegaCorp
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Yup. Anytime you open up a system it should be replaced. Pull a good vacuum too.
Originally Posted By: SrDriver
Yup. Anytime you open up a system it should be replaced. Pull a good vacuum too.
Agreed, were it my vehicle the dryer would get replaced at the same time as well as a good vacuum being pulled & held for at least a few hours.
That being said as a 'best practice, if money is very tight you can probably get away with not replacing the dryer if you hold a high vacuum for a long time in hot weather (or with some judicious use of a heat gun on the dryer).
Yup. Anytime you open up a system it should be replaced. Pull a good vacuum too.
Agreed, were it my vehicle the dryer would get replaced at the same time as well as a good vacuum being pulled & held for at least a few hours.
That being said as a 'best practice, if money is very tight you can probably get away with not replacing the dryer if you hold a high vacuum for a long time in hot weather (or with some judicious use of a heat gun on the dryer).
New drier is $30 at rockauto.com Seems like money well spent since it's that cheap...
No need to replace the accumulator at all.
Unless you leave the system open for a while to induce water in it some how.
What do you think will happen? Any tiny amount of moisture will be removed when you evacuate it.
Think about it... a new accumulator will cause you to have the system open MORE time. then what? Get another one? And another one?
You best bet is to work quickly and get the new parts on there [add any oil first] , pull a good 30 vacuum for at least 1/2 hour, and refill it.
Unless you leave the system open for a while to induce water in it some how.
What do you think will happen? Any tiny amount of moisture will be removed when you evacuate it.
Think about it... a new accumulator will cause you to have the system open MORE time. then what? Get another one? And another one?
You best bet is to work quickly and get the new parts on there [add any oil first] , pull a good 30 vacuum for at least 1/2 hour, and refill it.
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Mechtech would you add more oil if the part replaced is used? It should have some oil in it I woud think.
I am going to be dealing with the same issue as I have a leak that is gettting worse...
I am going to be dealing with the same issue as I have a leak that is gettting worse...
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
No need to replace the accumulator at all.
Unless you leave the system open for a while to induce water in it some how.
What do you think will happen? Any tiny amount of moisture will be removed when you evacuate it.
Think about it... a new accumulator will cause you to have the system open MORE time. then what? Get another one? And another one?
That's a silly argument and you know it. The OP said the system had been open to the atmosphere for 2 weeks now.
Originally Posted By: MegaCorp
My 2002 Alero has a leak in the condenser, system has been out of gas for about 2 weeks now
Which is why I recommended a dryer/accumulator replacement.
If OP was just replacing one component of the system that was already sealed I'd still say it's a 'best practice' but certainly not necessary.
No need to replace the accumulator at all.
Unless you leave the system open for a while to induce water in it some how.
What do you think will happen? Any tiny amount of moisture will be removed when you evacuate it.
Think about it... a new accumulator will cause you to have the system open MORE time. then what? Get another one? And another one?
That's a silly argument and you know it. The OP said the system had been open to the atmosphere for 2 weeks now.
Originally Posted By: MegaCorp
My 2002 Alero has a leak in the condenser, system has been out of gas for about 2 weeks now
Which is why I recommended a dryer/accumulator replacement.
If OP was just replacing one component of the system that was already sealed I'd still say it's a 'best practice' but certainly not necessary.
The system has not really been "opened" I had it to an AC shop and was told the condensor has a hole. They removed the gas and put a "needs service" tag on it. I assume that air may have gone in the hole, but I have not opened it up yet. I will be 3 weeks before I can get the pump and put in my condensor.
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
Mechtech would you add more oil if the part replaced is used? It should have some oil in it I woud think.
I am going to be dealing with the same issue as I have a leak that is gettting worse...
Getting oil right in automotive AC systems is tough, unless you start from scratch.
Your best bet is to drain the removed part, and measure it.
Replace it with a tiny bit more.
Mechtech would you add more oil if the part replaced is used? It should have some oil in it I woud think.
I am going to be dealing with the same issue as I have a leak that is gettting worse...
Getting oil right in automotive AC systems is tough, unless you start from scratch.
Your best bet is to drain the removed part, and measure it.
Replace it with a tiny bit more.
I dunno- a condenser has so many rows and turns that I'm not sure you could get a good estimate by dumping it.
Like Mechtech said, unless you're replacing the compressor and flushing the system, oil in an a/c system is a guestimate.
Personally, I'd dump about two ounces into the condensor, and assume that that's close enough. That's a FAIRLY standard practice in the industry, although individual opinions vary.
As far as the accumulator goes, the safe answer is to tell you to replace it. And if you've had the refrigerant recovered, then that means that some quantity of air has probably been in the system for a couple weeks now. I'd probably replace it just to be safe. Although I HAVE put many an a/c system together without replacing the accumulator or drier (depending on what type of system we're talking about). If it's just a minor repair- replacing a compressor seal, o-ring, hose, etc.- then you can often get away with leaving the accumulator/drier alone. But if in doubt, the SAFE answer is always to replace it.
Like Mechtech said, unless you're replacing the compressor and flushing the system, oil in an a/c system is a guestimate.
Personally, I'd dump about two ounces into the condensor, and assume that that's close enough. That's a FAIRLY standard practice in the industry, although individual opinions vary.
As far as the accumulator goes, the safe answer is to tell you to replace it. And if you've had the refrigerant recovered, then that means that some quantity of air has probably been in the system for a couple weeks now. I'd probably replace it just to be safe. Although I HAVE put many an a/c system together without replacing the accumulator or drier (depending on what type of system we're talking about). If it's just a minor repair- replacing a compressor seal, o-ring, hose, etc.- then you can often get away with leaving the accumulator/drier alone. But if in doubt, the SAFE answer is always to replace it.
Not much to add to what onion said, but about the OT I'm thinking when you replace the condenser you will have easy access to the OT and you could pull it out and give it a look. If it looks good, and I think it would sense you just had a leak, you should be fine reusing it.
I have bought a really nice used condenser, but can't get any of the oil to drain out by putting it up-sidedown. I could blow some compressed air through it and measure the oil that comes out. Compressed air usually has moisture in it, and that would not be good to introduce to the system. Any thoughts?
I would flush that used condenser with some a/c flush (available in an aerosol can, in pint bottles, or at the hardware store as "denatured ethyl alcohol). Blow it out good with compressed air, and install it.
Yes, if you blow the condenser out with compressed air, you will introduce some moisture. But IMO, it's MUCH more important to ensure that there is no debris in the condenser OR leftover ac flush (this can really mess up a compressor).
The condenser is a pretty big part and will hold a fair amount of air (and hence moisture). Evacuating the system will get most of it out, but I'd lean toward advising you to replace the accumulator- that's the RIGHT way t do the job. Especially considering that this system has been somewhat 'open' for a couple weeks or more.
Although I did replace the condenser in the wife's '01 Lumina a few weeks ago without changing the accumulator. I didn't want to spend the money, and it looked difficult to get to. So I installed the new condenser, and used a left-over bottle of "canne air" that I had laying around (this is R134-A) to flush the air out of the condenser before I hooked up the lines. Evacuated and charged the thing, and it works great.
Yes, if you blow the condenser out with compressed air, you will introduce some moisture. But IMO, it's MUCH more important to ensure that there is no debris in the condenser OR leftover ac flush (this can really mess up a compressor).
The condenser is a pretty big part and will hold a fair amount of air (and hence moisture). Evacuating the system will get most of it out, but I'd lean toward advising you to replace the accumulator- that's the RIGHT way t do the job. Especially considering that this system has been somewhat 'open' for a couple weeks or more.
Although I did replace the condenser in the wife's '01 Lumina a few weeks ago without changing the accumulator. I didn't want to spend the money, and it looked difficult to get to. So I installed the new condenser, and used a left-over bottle of "canne air" that I had laying around (this is R134-A) to flush the air out of the condenser before I hooked up the lines. Evacuated and charged the thing, and it works great.
When the system is open, air is air, whether you blow it in or from ambient conditions. Moisture will get in.
This is why we evacuate systems that have been opened.
This is why we evacuate systems that have been opened.
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