Air conditioning problems...the plot thickens.

So In the process of fixing my truck.

Put the new condenser in.....put in the correct amount of oil. Vacuum on the system for 35 mins. Holds the vacuum just fine for another 20 minutes.

Start charging the system. Nice cold air coming out of the dash.....less than 60 degrees!

About the last of the first 12 oz can of refrigerant is going into the truck. And all of a sudden the gasket where the line attaches at the top of the condenser goes.....starts hissing.

A pain in the butt.

Hopefully there is no damage to the compressor or any other parts of the system.

 

You used a machine?

1. does the FSM even say to add oil? I am not doubting. I am just curious. Looking at doing the condenser myself. I'll check. Supposedly, components (at least compressor) are said to come with specified amount of oil already in them and capped off. However, it's also said this depends on how careful the shipping company is, if they toss it around, to the point of caps coming off, part being tilted, oil coming out.

What do you mean by "can"

Not sure what you mean by gasket at condenser line. Faulty condenser?
I know the schrader valves at the charge ports can leak. Mine did. I replaced them.

Damage? Well, ordinarily:
1. a vehicle should not be driven without refrigerant. Refrigerant is gas carrying airborne PAG oil to lubricate the system. With the engine on, the compressor spins.
However, here that may not be the case. It may have only been for a short time. The A/C may have been off. And it uses a clutch.
Generally when folks plan to run without refrigerant for a long period of time for whatever reason, they find themselves a shorter serpentine belt that doesn't spin the compressor.

 

Didn't use a machine. I used a manifold gauge and hose set and a vacuum pump. The condenser was sealed when it arrived but did not have any oil in it to the best of my knowledge.

As soon as the leak happened I turned off the AC and then the truck itself. I think it happened because that was the one gasket that I had to tighten down and then reseat.

I will say I was surprised at how quickly the rubber line of the low pressure side became cold when I started charging the system.

 

a vehicle may ask for 500 grams. A machine measures that with a scale. I don’t see how this is done with cans.

 

Simple, buy a digital scale and weight them.

$10 Ultrean Food Scale, Digital Kitchen Scale Weight Grams and Ounces for Baking Cooking and Meal Prep, 6 Units with Tare Function, 11lb (Batteries Included)

https://www.amazon.com/Ultrean-Prec...d=1719740818&sprefix=food+scale,aps,87&sr=8-5

 

My owners manual states that the required amount of refrigerant for my truck is between 22 and 24 ounces. The cans come with 12 ounces of refrigerant.

 

Correct

Last time I had to charge my trucks refrigerant (about ten years ago I think) I used a similar scale, it stopped taking refrigerant after about 22.9 ounces per my scale.

 

hopefully it takes it. At the end of a charge the machines make a noise that sounds like pumping in. Suggesting that vacuum alone may not be enough to draw the specified amount in.

 

A machine isn't required, A/C systems were repaired and serviced for many years before A/C servicing systems were common place. At 90F the high side pressure can approach 250psi. If there's a weak o-ring, poor seal or other issue it likely to blow out at that point. The AC system has some of the highest pressures in the vehicle if not the highest, more then combustion, if there's a weak point it's likely going to show up as it did with the OP.

 

Ok.....the plot thickens....

I replaced both bolts and gaskets/o-ring crush washers (whatever you want to call them) on both lines going into and out of the compressor.

Put a vacuum on the system for a good 45 mins.

Held perfect vacuum for 30 min.

I started to charges the system by introducing refrigerant into the low pressure side port with the truck running and AC requested. It slowly started to take the refrigerant, the air coming out of the dash was down to a nice 55 degrees per the thermometer in my dash vent.

Then, a leak developed in the exact same spot where the AC line bolts to the top driver side of condenser closest to the compressor.

This is absolutely frustrating because it's the second time it has done this exact same thing.

I don't know what to make of it.

 

If it's an aftermarket condenser I would not be surprised at all if the fittings weren't machined correctly, I've had several like that before on various vehicles. They would hold vacuum but start leaking under pressure.

 

I hope that is not the case. I'm supposed to drive this truck to the shop tomorrow to get an alignment (meaning put it back together before the morning). Then go on vacation, then come home for two days and load up my moving truck and drive to over 1200 miles to our new place.

 

I'm just saying I have seen it several times with aftermarket condensers, most of them are made in China and the quality control is non-existent. If your assembling it correctly with the correct seals and it's still leaking I'd try a different condenser.

 

On those 2 lines that go to the condenser, one line takes a O ring and the other a seal washer if I remember correctly. If you get that wrong it could be the problem. That’s what I remember when I replaced my condenser, but that was a few yrs ago so recheck the fsm to be sure. And you need to lube those with pag oil.

 

I did lube the seals, and I did replace them with the correct style seals that look just like the ones that come off it from the factory.