Official AC Thread

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 25 Aug 2007, 18:09

Not sure what pin you're talking about....describe further?

I've been struggling with A/C doing the same on mine...it apparently has a leak, but can't detect where's it's coming from....added a can a month a year ago and this summer, every 2-3 weeks. On a hunch I just added PAG oil 3 weeks ago and it's been absolutely fine since then. Don't know if o-rings and such were hardening up from a loss of oil or not, but maybe the PAG oil has done its trick to softening things up a bit. Anyway, I figured I had lost some out of the system anyway due to the many times it leaked and my re-fills.

If that's not it, then I know I'm in for an Evaporator, probably next summer (just trying to make it through A/C weather for now).

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 28 Aug 2007, 11:24

I'm having a heck of a time identifying the AC compressor on my 1997 850 GLT. It has what appears to be a date code on it, indicating that it is original -- but the only identifying marks I can find on it are:

D907-0647 and the number "15" inside a circle.

No label of any sort indicating the manufacturer. I'm changing the evaporator and accumulator, so I need to know which viscosity of PAG to use.

I saw that it was stated that all 850s use PAG-46 oil. However, the dealer says that "it depends" based on whether the compressor was built by Seiko, Sanden or Zexel.

Is it true that PAG-46 is the likely answer? I really wish I could positively identify this compressor...

-Chuck

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 29 Aug 2007, 18:02

Well, I did a little experiment...not sure if it's valid, but I went with it.

I filled up a small plastic cup with oil that I drained out of the old receiver/drier.

I filled up a second plastic cup with the same amount of fresh PAG-100 oil. I filled up a third cup with the same amount of fresh PAG-46 oil.

Next, one at a time, I poured the oil out and started a stopwatch when it turned from a stream to individual drips. I counted off twenty drips, then hit stop on the stopwatch.

My unknown original oil seemed to clock a lot closer to the PAG-46 than it did to the PAG-100 -- so I concluded that it must be close to the same viscosity.

Anyway, I hope this old viscosity test from my (years ago!) youthful days as a car painter still works, this time with air conditioner compressor oil instead of PPG catalyzed paints...

-Chuck

Post by **Maxbaby** » 12 Sep 2007, 01:20

Just thought I'd add an update. I bought the Duracool tune up kit and did the conversion in May. I have had no leaks (have a pressure gauge) and man oh man has it been putting out cold air. My 850's a/c system works better than my 2004 Nissan or wifey's 2002 Santa Fe. I guess I'll have to wait to see if any leaks out over the winter, as I suspect I probably had a small leak somewhere which now seems to have been plugged. Beats the hell outta pulling my dash apart again...

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 12 Sep 2007, 08:39

I have to read up on that stuff some more. I did end up doing my evap replacement, so I'm good now with my charge of 134a -- but I've heard a lot of good things about duracool and it's efficiency over 134a.

I'd have to convince myself that running propane is safe...I don't think anyone's been blown up yet by their duracool ac system...but I don't want to the be first, either

-Chuck

greasefingerss · Post by **greasefingerss** » 12 Sep 2007, 10:43

I recently replaced my compressor. I pulled a vacuum on the system first, and then I added 1 and

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 19 Sep 2007, 20:31

I think the quantity is total for the entire system. Yeah, the gap is too wide. See if you can shimmy it to be less.

Btw, I had to add a can of gas this past weekend. Although adding oil helped my system, it certainly did not solve my problem. If I can get through the rest of this hot weather, then I'll deal with the A/C system before the next warm/hot season next year.