other than the compressor ( housing is leaking bad ) is there anywhere else thats prone to leakage? I've got it in my head to replace the evaporator when I swap the dash...I've been told it's not a common failure item but cheap good will considering the dash replacement...anyone have any knowledge of the heater cores? are they also built like brick poop houses? should I just go ahead and swap it out while I have the dash out?

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-SpecialDelivery
1985 300CD Silver/Blue H&R Suspension (Sold, still cryin over that)
1982 300SD Silver/Blue '85 OM617 (Sold)
1982 300D - Blue/Blue (Sold)

If you're going to go all out, buy new grommets for where the hoses penetrate the firewall.

On your compressor, is it the manifold on the back or the actual case? The manifolds have several designs: O-rings (original design, I think, and probably the best); same height sealing washers, different height sealing washers. It could be as simple as the PO put the wrong washers in there.

If you are gonna be replacing compressor only then you are definitely going to want to use r134 to test it out when you get it all put back together. If the system holding charge and functioning correctly then you'll wanna get it recharged with r12 to achieve the maximum chill potential. If you end up replacing other major components ie.. Hoses,Condenser Coils,Evap Coils then you can maybe get some components that are more optimized for using r134.

You're not gonna get much better than the original intended refrigerant that the system is designed to use. R12 in your case.

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Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"

Propane to test it.

That is great info guys thank you!

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-SpecialDelivery
1985 300CD Silver/Blue H&R Suspension (Sold, still cryin over that)
1982 300SD Silver/Blue '85 OM617 (Sold)
1982 300D - Blue/Blue (Sold)

I just replaced the entire A/C system in my 240D and had intended to stick with R12 but at the last minute decided to try Enviro Safe Industrial 12a. I could not be happier, it gets cold very quickly, faster than with r12 and the compressor cycles even when on max A/C which it never did before to speak of. Also the air is much colder at idle. Now, how much of that is due to new components / lack of crud in the system I can't say so it may not be a direct apples to apples. I had 33 at the center vent at idle and a 78 ambient. The huge thing for me is when you turn on the A/C it's almost instantly cold.

Pressures are lower than R12 but I haven't had an issue with it being too low for the pressure switch. Haven't had a really hot day to check pressures but since all the new stuff is rated for 134a I'm not too concerned. I'm pretty sure it is a propane blend in case that bothers you.

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'83 240D

"since all the new stuff is rated for 134a I'm not too concerned"

I'm interested in this. I'm running 86% original stock components in mine with r134a refrigerant. It's cold but not super cold. everything seems to operate smooth and quiet but i know a day will come when something is proly gonna blow out. In columbia sc!

tee would you share some of the sources for your components in your a/c rebuild?

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Current fleet
2006 E320 CDI
1992 300D - 5speed manual swapped

former members
1984 300D "Blues Mobile"

1978 300CD "El Toro"

When I bought the '85, the compressor (only a 2 year old 134 "conversion")sounded like it was grinding rocks which I first thought was a bad clutch. Then the "cooling" went to ambient temp. I figured I was facing an entire costly AC refurb or at least a new comp. Still had some propane/isobutane blend cans left from the '83 so I popped a couple in really more just as a "what the heck" move with no expectations. Lo and behold the grinding went away and I started getting 40F center vent (on lowest fan after 10 minutes)with 87F ambient.

Still works 2 years on with 1 top up. Guess the lubricant cured the grind. Also, turning on the AC is barely perceptible to the engine versus the slam and rpm drop I used to get before on 134.

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'83 SD, 2x '85 SD
You are entitled to your own opinions, you are not entitled to your own facts.

It is agreed that the propane does well and is cheap............but..........above 90-95F. it gets into pressure issues.

I'd be curious if the ES-12a can handle 100F. ambients with acceptable pressures.

The average life span of 134 "conversions" appears to be 2 to 3 years (of marginal cooling) Don't ask how I found out and at what price. Old original R12 systems converted to 134 are AC shop's best friend.

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'83 SD, 2x '85 SD
You are entitled to your own opinions, you are not entitled to your own facts.

Sad, but accurate.

By some miracle, the SD has lasted eight years. I attribute this to a system that was not fully charged for seven of those years and offered up miserable cooling. The recharge has transformed the SD into an excellent performer............I'm counting the time with a stopwatch.

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that that is the function of the isobutane blend - to more closely have the refrigerant match the behaviour of R12 across the full pressure/temp range. Never seen it perform at above 95F temps (which we don't get here)though. Though I've read people comment that it works fine at 100F +

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'83 SD, 2x '85 SD
You are entitled to your own opinions, you are not entitled to your own facts.

Yep, I recall the same.

But, I'm not interested in "works fine".

Plenty of idiots can think anything "works fine".............until it doesn't. Then they spend a bunch of money.

What's the high side pressure at 100F...........that's what will convince me that it "works fine".

Exactly - the plural of anecdote is not data.

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'83 SD, 2x '85 SD
You are entitled to your own opinions, you are not entitled to your own facts.

I'm probably going to convert my SDL to a propane / isobutane mix this weekend. With how the weather is here we'll find out how the pressures are over 100*F soon enough

When my 134A converted compressor kick in you really feel it, idle speed dips, and the belt tensioner jumps. It will be interesting to see if this changes with the different gas. It won't be a 100% apples to apple comparison though, I'm going to flush the system and put in the correct amount of oil, I think it's overcharged right now.

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.