Can I Reuse The A/C Accumulator? New Air Conditioning Hoses Are Too Expensive. - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

leathermang · #31 08-01-2016, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillGrissom

.....I doubt that accumulator has dessicant bags like your "filter-drier" does. The later is on the liquid line, whereas yours is in gas. It probably serves a muffler/surge tank function. I would slosh ethanol around in it and thoroughly dry it, then slosh some AC oil. If you use PAG oil, don't leave it exposed to the air for long since it absorbs moisture.

I am sure that is correct for the reasons you state... but as for the slosh ' anything' around.. if it were that easy I think directions would have been included in the FSM as compared to the ' REPLACE ' directions.... with no alternatives listed....
I do think the closest thing which seems reasonable given how important not having ' black death ' remnants possibly in that muffler... is the situation described by Zulfigar....

compu_85 · #32 08-01-2016, 06:23 PM

The fSM has that warning because if the compressor explodes and puts chips into the muffler some could get stuck in it. If you completely dry it you can flush it out. That's what I did when I serviced my car's AC system.

-J

leathermang · #33 08-01-2016, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

The fSM has that warning because if the compressor explodes and puts chips into the muffler some could get stuck in it. If you completely dry it you can flush it out. That's what I did when I serviced my car's AC system. ...-J

Forgive me for saying this...
but unless you cut open your muffler to see if you actually got it clean... I believe you are stating as fact an assumption on your part.

We do not know what, if anything ,was IN your muffler to start with either ....

http://www.teamec.be/cms_files/Flushing%20and%20Cleaning(EN).pdf

''High side muffler assemblies''
This is used on some car applications in order to reduce the so
called pumping noise from a compressor. The design of this part
makes it impossible to flush it, clean and remove all the debris.
Older muffler designs even includes internal small parts that held
even more debris when a compressor failed. If you think on a
restriction of this part, don’t take any risk and replace it by new ''

Squiggle Dog · #34 08-01-2016, 08:08 PM

I brought all of the lines I have into the hose shop. The owner said that the canister on the suction hose is just a muffler or damper so that the refrigerant doesn't slam into the compressor, and it also gives an area for the liquid refrigerant to gather and vaporize so that the compressor doesn't suck in liquid refrigerant. He told me that it's fine to reuse and he will clean it out when he rebuilds the hose.

He quoted me roughly $50 for each line that he rebuilds. Most likely having all 3 lines rebuilt plus buying a new short blue liquid line from the drier to the condenser will cost a fraction of the price of a new suction hose.

The shop is also going to repair the stripped-out threads of the parallel-flow condenser. They might be ready for pick-up tomorrow afternoon. Fast turnaround!

compu_85 · #35 08-01-2016, 08:09 PM

Well like I said... if there's just oil inside the muffler you should be fine to flush it out. Fill it completely with solvent, then blow it out. When you vacuum the system before charging if any solvent remains it will boil off.

If the compressor filled the system with chips you've got a harder job ahead of you.

-J

Mxfrank · #36 08-01-2016, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squiggle Dog

I brought all of the lines I have into the hose shop. The owner said that the canister on the suction hose is just a muffler or damper so that the refrigerant doesn't slam into the compressor, and it also gives an area for the liquid refrigerant to gather and vaporize so that the compressor doesn't suck in liquid refrigerant.

In other words, a suction line accumulator.

leathermang · #37 08-01-2016, 09:37 PM

NOT TALKING ABOUT SUCTION SIDE....
this is a muffler on the pressure side going to the condenser.... the diagram above shows that also...
which is also why the concern for some past ' black death' residue or metal shards...

About MXFRank's earlier post... I said this... but did not go through and parse all the concept mistakes....
""but you have mixed and matched systems and theory which does NOT apply here... including where an accumulator , in an orifice system , it located in the pressure side and partly functions as a buffer ... just as the receiver dryer does to some extent.... ''''

Mxfrank · #38 08-01-2016, 11:17 PM

Go back and read post 34. Twice. Then comment.

leathermang · #39 08-01-2016, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mxfrank

Go back and read post 34. Twice. Then comment.

Look at the line drawing in post number
this muffler in question is in the line which goes to the condenser...
it will be carrying hot vapor...
not any liquid refrigerant....

funola · #40 08-02-2016, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

I'd suggest watching Dave's video here:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVA5LPS34MA
Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S1wjsIGWZQ

He goes through everything step by step. The takeaway is that AC work isn't hard, it's just time consuming and you have to be careful to get the system really clean.

-J

He sounds like a smart guy and knows his stuff. Interesting that he is using Zep Industrial Purple Cleaner, a caustic Lye to flush his system. I was actually considering a more environmentally friendly water based degreaser also. I do not like the idea of blowing toxic solvents with compressed air all over the place and have to breath it in.

Demothen · #41 08-02-2016, 09:36 AM

I was told to soak the metal fittings I will be reusing in mineral spirits overnight before wire brushing them and blowing them out with compressed air, from a company who rebuilds lines. Havent tried it yet and obviously wouldnt be able to wire brush the inside of that canister. Just sharing some information I was provided. Though I do plan on using some flush after I do that just to be extra sure they are clean.

funola · #42 08-02-2016, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mxfrank

In other words, a suction line accumulator.

Just because Squiggle and the shop owner calls it a suction line accumulator does not mean much. Typos and mistakes are possible. Look at the Mercedes line drawing compu_85 posted as many times as you need then come back.

leathermang · #43 08-02-2016, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Just because Squiggle and the shop owner calls it a suction line accumulator does not mean much. Typos and mistakes are possible. Look at the Mercedes line drawing compu_85 posted as many times as you need then come back.

X2,3,4

compu_85 · #44 08-02-2016, 10:38 AM

Ya, I looked at my car last night... it's a muffler on the discharge port of the compressor. Touch it when the ac is running... it'll be hot. Accumulators are on the suction side, and cold

-J

Zulfiqar · #45 08-02-2016, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

Ya, I looked at my car last night... it's a muffler on the discharge port of the compressor. Touch it when the ac is running... it'll be hot. Accumulators are on the suction side, and cold

-J

please dont confuse a muffler with an accumulator.

your car already has the other cousin of the accumulator - its the drier on the liquid line, this item being discussed is not a drier, its just a surge tank in the line (think of its function as the cigar hose on the outlet of the injection pump)