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Got new A/C parts....need to assemble properly

jeff in co

jeff in co

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I found some good prices on AC Delco, A/C parts so I went ahead and bought everything. :waytogo:

AC Delco: ($603 shipped, www.rightnowautoparts.com) FAST shipping too!
New Compressor
New Dryer
New Orifice
New Condenser
New Evaporator Core

Murray:
New rubber hose assembly (This OK as a non-AC Delco part?) Hose says "goodyear" on it.

Re-use: solid, metal tubing attached to the fender. Will clean inside and out prior to installing.

I'd like to put it all together and then later this spring, have it charged with r134 stuff.

My question is mainly the lubricants/oils to use. The compressor is new and is asking to put oil lubricant in before assembly. I went to Pep Boys and saw about 3 different "classes" of compressor oil but I don't know the difference or how much to put into the system. I certainly don't want to ruin the new compressor because of the wrong kind or wrong amount.:confused:

I have everything installed except the orifice, the black hoses and the compressor. Everything else is just capped off for now.

Do I need to lubricate the orifice before installing into the tube?

Do I also need to lubricate all the rubber O-rings at assembly?

I'd just like to get everything together and complete so the engine can run with the new compressor without damaging anything. I am assuming everything can function without the refrigerant for several months with out damaging anything.

Appreciate the help!
 
The compressor label should tell you the oil capacity. Get an oil that is compatable with the refrigerant you are going to charge it with. Be sure and pull a vacuum on the system after assembly. Then add the oil and let the vacuum pull in the proper amount. Not a bad idea to lube the o-rings with the oil you will use. Just don't over do it. A very light oiling.
 
read read read on this stuff.

you can do it wrong and trash everything.

and do not put in the reciver/dryer till ready to pull a vac on the system. dont even pull the caps on the line holes.

the dryer has a bag in it that removes moisture and if open to the outside air for more than 30 min thay say it will be junk.

a/c work is a clean/steady/and propor job to do or it can go south real quick.

thay make fluch fluids for the system that work good. so dont just use brake or carb cleaner.
 
OK, talked with the Chevy dealer and they said it would be OK to drop in the new compressor so long as I added in the correct amount of oil and then pulled the fuse/disconnect the compressor electrical connection.

Chevy dealer told me to put in about 8-10 oz. of Pag into the system (after draining the shipping oil from the compressor.) After reading the instruction on the compressor it says I need more if other components were also replaced at the same time.

So, I need a reality check to be sure I am putting in the correct amount.

New Compressor - 8 oz.
Evaporator Core - 3 oz.
Condenser Core - 1 oz.
Accumulator/Dryer - Drain and add same amount plus 2 oz.

I tried to drain it and nothing came out. So, do I just add 2 oz. for the dryer or maybe 3 oz?? This is where it's not real clear for me.

For the whole system do I put in a total of 14 oz.? Seems like a lot.

Do I pour all 14 oz. into the compressor or do I spread it out in the system somehow?

If I can get this all in, the Chevy dealer will evac and charge it all up for me.
 
British Slave said:
Why not let the dealer put the oil in when they evacuate and charge? It's the best time.
Click to expand...

I was trying to save $150 and do it myself. They said it wasn't too big of a deal and I could do it without harming the whole system. I spoke to their mechanic directly and he said put in about 8 or 10 oz. total. He wasn't real positive and said it might of come with instructions so follow them if different.

I'm looking at about $150 to evac/recharge vs. about $300.

Would they be able to determine how much the system really needed at the time of the evac/recharge procedure??
 
$150 to add the oil? That's BS! Any AC tech worth his salt would know how much. It is so easy to add oil using the vacuum pulled, takes only a minute or two.

If you add it to the compressor yourself, be sure and put it in the suction port and BE SURE TO TURN IT BY HAND A FEW TIMES TO AVOID HYDRO LOCK!
 
British Slave said:
$150 to add the oil? That's BS! Any AC tech worth his salt would know how much. It is so easy to add oil using the vacuum pulled, takes only a minute or two.

If you add it to the compressor yourself, be sure and put it in the suction port and BE SURE TO TURN IT BY HAND A FEW TIMES TO AVOID HYDRO LOCK!
Click to expand...

No, it's $150 for them to remove the old compressor and install the new one. Then another $150 to test system, pull vacuum and charge with 134a.

So, if I just put in 8 oz into the compressor and button the thing up, would they be able to pull in the rest (or correct) amount into the system for the rest of the new parts? That would take some of this guess work out of the picture.
 
British Slave said:
Talk to them about adding all the oil. It is so much easier to do it with the vacuum. They shouldn't charge you anything except the oil. Doing it with the vacuum will distribute the oil through out the system. Answering your question, yes.
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks for the help!
 
Just wanted to mention that if you do put it all together but don't charge it that you should probably not use defrost then as it runs the compressor to dry the air charge to keep from steaming up the cab. I did the A/C system this summer again and I added all the oil to the compressor then installed it and cranked it over with a wrench like 20 times to make sure it was pumped thru the pump. I was parinoid cause 1 month prior I did not get all the oil out of the pump and fragged it.
 
Got it all done and it works great! I took it to the dealer and had it all charged up. I didn't have the conversion fittings and that was $58 but otherwise, they said I did a good job and everything worked out perfect. Used a coupon plus the $58 and the total cost was $200. So, I figure all in all doing it myself, I saved maybe $300-$400.

Total spent on parts - $650
Dealer charge - $200
Total AC system (r134a) - $850

I figure if I had the dealer do it, it would of cost $1200 - $1300 so pretty good!

Everything new and AC Delco stuff so should last a long time!

Now, off to the ball joints and brakes!
 
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