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Unsure what Refrigerant Is In My System..?

Cadillac Kid on Fri March 13, 2015 1:51 PM User is offline

Year: 1972
Make: Cadillac
Model: Coupe Deville
Engine Size: 472ci
Refrigerant Type: ????
Country of Origin: United States

Hello Everyone.

A few months ago I picked up a 1972 Cadillac project for dirt cheap. It hasn't run in about 3 years but I got it running. The car has the complete original style air conditioning system. All parts are there and intact. I know about these old 70s GM systems that use the A6 compressor pretty well. I have another 72 Cadillac that has been converted to r134a and it works fine. I would like to get the A/C in the car working again but here is my problem... The car has a replacement A6 compressor in it currently with no makings or stickers on it. The rubber a/c hoses have all been replaced at some point because they are not original, they look fine though, no cracks or signs of age. The real confusing part is that high side connection is a quick disconnect r134a connecter, and the low side connection is a r12 threaded connection... Im not sure where this leaves me when I come to charge the system because I have no idea what is in there. The system currently has no pressure in it. Im definitely going to change the drier, pull a vacuum, and leak test the system but I don't know about the refrigerant.. What do you think? I am open to suggestions.

Thank You

-Gavin

HECAT on Fri March 13, 2015 4:18 PM User is offline

If it has no pressure, its gone.

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HECAT: www.hecatinc.com You support the Forum when you consider www.ackits.com for your a/c parts.

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Jag987 on Sat March 14, 2015 3:00 AM User is offline

Drain the oil in the compressor, change the drier, flush everything else, and put the refrigerant in that you want. Well, put in the proper oil and make sure the service ports match the refrigerant used.

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I bought a can of 134a at w**-mart that had a stop leak, oil, and dye in it. It also had a hose and a gauge, so now I'm an AC pro!

mk378 on Sun March 15, 2015 1:16 AM User is offline

Before taking anything apart, do a static test to find any major leaks.

Cadillac Kid on Mon March 16, 2015 12:49 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: mk378
Before taking anything apart, do a static test to find any major leaks.

How do I perform a static test for leaks? What do you mean by that?

mk378 on Tue March 17, 2015 1:40 AM User is offline

Put a small amount of R-134a or inert gas (nitrogen, argon, or CO2) in the system and see if the pressure holds, and if not, try to find where it is leaking out. When you get a car with zero psi, there is almost certainly a leak. The test is called "static" because you do it with the engine off, the compressor should not be run.

Cadillac Kid on Tue April 28, 2015 12:14 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: HECAT
If it has no pressure, its gone.

I know this thread has been sitting idle for awhile but Ive been wondering about this. When I put a set of A/C gauges on it the needles did pop up just a little. And then the system had not pressure in it after that. Like it had residual pressure in there and that was it. Does that still mean that it still had a major leak? The car did sit for about three years and not run. Im going to leak check the system soon anyways. Im just curious. Would it be worse if the system had no pressure in it at all?

Thanks

-Gavin

HECAT on Tue April 28, 2015 8:38 PM User is offline

it sounds like it is empty to me. A system that has partial or full charge will show static pressure near ambient (F) in a cold engine bay.

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HECAT: www.hecatinc.com You support the Forum when you consider www.ackits.com for your a/c parts.

FLUSHING TECHNICAL PAPER vs2.pdf 

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