Year: 1993
Make: Toyota
Model: Camry
Engine Size: 3VZFE V6
Refrigerant Type: R12
Am overhauling a/c system. Have bought new compresser, expansion valve, condenser and have flushed evaporator and all hoses. Is there any oil or residual manufacturing residue in a new condenser that should be flushed before such an overhaul? Or can I install it as dry and clean? It is a Factory Air part.
Thanks!
Barry
If it is new there is no need to flush the condenser.
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It is normal to accept a new component to be dry and clean, and flushing of a new component would not normally be a recommended or required step before installation.
If you are overwhelmingly concerned, the dry nitrogen "Popping" process that is done to test for complete debris, oil, and solvent removal when flushing a contaminated component; could be done to achieve "peace of mind" before you install the new component. If you use air it must be dry, dry, dry, or you will be the one adding moisture contamination.
Not to add fuel to your concern, only to point out there is true validity to your concern.
We do supply flushing equipment to heat exchanger manufacturers who have identified the need to clean new components; because of the raw metal preservative oils, machining & cutting oils, and brazing "slag" and fluxes. This has been for "Brass" tube and fin components used in aircraft and military applications and I have no data on what, if any, cleaning is being done on aluminum PFC's.
We also have a customer who has made the decision to flush new components before installing. Recently, he was able to identify 3 (of 6 purchased) defective aluminum PFC's (one leaker, two restricted) out of the box; before they were installed into a system where their defects would have created more problems and time to resolve. I have no data on the supplier/brand but the application was VW.
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I called my customer (former MACS board member/speaker/trainer) who uses the HECAT H1000 flusher. I am not beating any brand names or vendors; just covering the issue
The story is he flushed out the evaporator and hoses, installed filter, TXV, New Scroll compressor, and a New Condenser. Head pressures immediately rose rapidly and blew out compressor housing o-ring. Concerned they had missed something (or overcharged with oil), they repaired o-ring failure and flushed, including the new condenser; to start over again. The flushing machines initial âÂÂrushâ flow rates were noted to be not operating as expected on the condenser, and this is how the flusher (in his words) âÂÂraised the flagâ and identified the problem. He set it aside, and flushed the next new one out of the box, which was the same. Before calling me to discuss a problem with the flusher, he opened the third one and it flowed well, installed on car, and system operated properly. He then proceeded to test (by flushing) the remainder of the condensers that came on that order (6 total); the flow looked good, but one leaked. Vendor accepted, tested, confirmed, and credited return of the 3 defective condensers; and he still uses them today, stating it was just a âÂÂfreakâ manufacturing thing. But he does now flush all new condensers before installing.
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