Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

Provided by www.ACkits.com

We've updated our forums!
Click here to visit the new forum

Archive Home

Search Auto AC Forum Archives

02 durango low oil in bad compressor

kevinb on Tue August 27, 2013 10:29 PM User is offline

Year: 2002
Make: dodge
Model: durango
Engine Size: 5.9l
Refrigerant Type: r134a
Country of Origin: United States

I have a Sanden SD7H15 in a dual a/c Durango go bad. I took apart the compressor and a reed valve is broken and some parts of it missing. Before taking apart the compressor I took out the oil and it had 1oz of oil in it which seems low. I am going to change the condenser, receiver dryer and flush all lines. I have purchased a used compressor with low mileage with no oil in it. It was shipped that way. Question how much oil should I add to the compressor. I will add 1 oz for the drier and 1 oz for the condenser as the factory recommends. Should I only add 1oz to the new compressor or add more. The system according to the manual should have 10.1 oz of PAG100 oil for the entire system.

I have owned the truck since new and it has never had AC issue before and it was never opened up.

Kevin

Chick on Tue August 27, 2013 11:58 PM User is offlineView users profile

You will never know how much oil is in the system, it's all guess work if you don't flush it.. But if you're not flushing the system, add back 4 ounces, Better an ounce more than not enough....
It's not unusual to have an ounce in the compressor, the oil travels with the refrigerant...what was in there was the amount when you shut it off...
If you're flushing the system (I believe you said you are) then add back the 10 ounces of oil, just split it around as best you can..1 or 2 ounces in the compressor will be fine, you just don't want it to start dry...., once the system starts it will be thru the system with the refrigerant from where ever you add it....hope this helps...

-------------------------
Chick
Email: Chick

---------------------------------------------

Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose

kevinb on Wed August 28, 2013 8:00 AM User is offline

Thank you for your help. I will flush all the lines but not the 2 evaporators. I am not sure how much oil is in them and they are to difficult to remove and flush. When I say I am flushing, I am just removing the lines and cleaning out the lines using approved ac flushing compound and blowing them out with clean compressed air.

I will add 1 oz for the new condenser, 1 oz for the new drier, and the remaining 8 oz in the lines and compressor. I am sure there is some oil in the evaporators since they are somewhat low points in the system. I may be able to blow compressed air in them to try to remove as much oil as possible from them. This way as I add the 10 ounces of PAG 100 hopefully I wont be adding too much to the system.

Do you think thats a good plan?

TYIA

Kevin

Chick on Wed August 28, 2013 8:06 AM User is offlineView users profile

Most of the missing 9 ounces of oil will be in the evaps.. So I would only add 8 ounce total back to the system after changing the parts listed... But remember this is a guess that should be OK... Be sure to use plenty of air to blow out the lines...You don't want any residual flush in the system...It can degrade the new oil after time.. Air is cheap, use it... Hope this helps..

That should be 7 to 8 ounces of oil, since you won't get it all out of the evaps with just air.. Also, don't flush thru expansion devices, if you decide to flush the evaporators...Your compressor should have a nut on the belly, add the oil (as much as you can up to two ounces) thru that hole, the rest anywhere you can get it in.. As I said, once it starts the oil will be thru the system in seconds...

-------------------------
Chick
Email: Chick

---------------------------------------------

Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose

Edited: Wed August 28, 2013 at 8:14 AM by Chick

kevinb on Wed August 28, 2013 10:49 AM User is offline

I wont use the solvent flush in the evaporators nor the expansion valves. I will blow air just through the evap's to try to get out as much of the oil as possible. The oil was red-brown. I want to try to get most of that out. I agree i will never be able to get all the oil out of the evap's so I will put in 8 ounces with the thinking 2 ounces is in the evaps that i couldn't get out. 2 of the 8 ounces will go in the compressor on the side port.


Thank you

Kevin

Chick on Wed August 28, 2013 11:15 AM User is offlineView users profile

Sounds like a plan, might want to add a little UV dye, other than that please let us know how it turns out..Good luck..

-------------------------
Chick
Email: Chick

---------------------------------------------

Freedoms just another word for nothing left to lose

kevinb on Fri September 13, 2013 11:00 AM User is offline

I finally finished up the project 2 weeks ago. Sorry for the delay in getting back.

This vehicle has rear AC as menioned and I found most of the oil in the lines going back to the rear ac unit. the lines are hards piped and the only way to fluch them out was to remove the rear ac unit as a whole and use compressed air to blow them out. I also blew out the rear and front evaporators. I added back the 10 ounces of PAG 100 oil distributed through out the system.

I did notice that the mechanical fan was running a bit slow seems the fan clutch was not working properly. these trucks have an undersized condensor and the factory in later years also added a electrical fan with the mechanical fan to aid cooling when idle. Interesting enough the engine never overheated with a slipping fan clutch. the vehcle has the heavyduty cooling due to the towing package and I never tow with it. I changed the fan clutch and that helped move more air at idle

Everything is now just like it worked from the factory. the temp at the center outlets on max air is 60 degrees F. i know that isnt very low but for this vehicle thats as cold as it gets at idle due to the undersized condensor. At higher behicle speeds the temperature drops quickly to the specified amount.

Thanks for the help with my oil question

kevin

Back to Automotive Air Conditioning Forum

We've updated our forums!
Click here to visit the new forum

Archive Home

Copyright © 2016 Arizona Mobile Air Inc.