Can I Reuse The A/C Accumulator? New Air Conditioning Hoses Are Too Expensive. - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

leathermang · #16 08-01-2016, 09:57 AM

In looking at the actual unit again... it may have just been a situation , in our CROWDED engine compartments where they were able to make a 90 degree turn of the refrigerant vapor in a small space without slowing down the flow or causing turbulence. Whatever, I am sure that the MB engineers did lots of testing before including it in the system....
If it has nothing inside... I say it can be reused.... including if needed... changing the connection to any hoses or other tubes in question...

Thanks Compu 85 ....

funola · #17 08-01-2016, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

It's on the discharge port of the compressor.

Then it must be a muffler. My Ecodiesel Jetta has one also, a little inline one.

funola · #18 08-01-2016, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

Funola, You should know that MB , or the English , do not necessarily use the same nomenclature that we do over here.... so the use of Google for a definition which may have suffered from translation in the first place means it is not definitive.
It can be an accumulator without being a replacement for a receiver dryer...
Is his system an orifice system ?
These types of things are also put on air compressors ... for reducing the noise level .. but an accumulator could be for the purpose of isolating pulses/ vibration from a component downstream ...

Good point about German/English translation in FSM. Are you saying the English FSM calls that part an accumulator?

leathermang · #19 08-01-2016, 10:37 AM

If you will look in your boot you will find a copy of the Engish FSM.

Look at its function based on the position relative to the condenser in the stream flow... accumulators are AFTER the condenser.... this is not an accumulator in the sense you are trying to use that word. And we are not dealing with an orifice type system...

Mxfrank · #20 08-01-2016, 11:54 AM

No terminology problem and no dessicant, although the diagram could use some help. You are confusing a suction line accumulator with a receiver/dryer. The accumulator's purpose is to control any liquid refrigerant and oil, preventing it from returning directly to the compressor. All that's inside is empty space and a metering valve or orifice. Any liquid that makes it all the way through the evaporator is gathered here to prevent it from locking the compressor. As conditions permit, the liquid is metered back into the flow. Flush out the old oil and reuse.

leathermang · #21 08-01-2016, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mxfrank

No terminology problem and no dessicant, although the diagram could use some help. You are confusing a suction line accumulator with a receiver/dryer. The accumulator's purpose is to control any liquid refrigerant and oil, preventing it from returning directly to the compressor. All that's inside is empty space and a metering valve or orifice. Any liquid that makes it all the way through the evaporator is gathered here to prevent it from locking the compressor. As conditions permit, the liquid is metered back into the flow. Flush out the old oil and reuse.

I agree with the ' flush out and reuse'..

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....

Zulfiqar · #22 08-01-2016, 12:36 PM

as pointed out this is a muffler, however it is recommended to be cleaned out with liquid refrigerant which is a task on its own.

But OTOH I have seen it just being pop cleaned with flushing agent and a new hose crimped on.

Zulfiqar · #23 08-01-2016, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Good point about German/English translation in FSM. Are you saying the English FSM calls that part an accumulator?

there are many words in the FSM that dont make sense.. e.g. in the 722.6 transmission the pan has limit spacers on the bolts to prevent overtightening and warping the pan even by the most absent minded person.

in the manual they call them sprags

so technically they are calling this part as accumulator because it is a temporary storage point for refrigerant - as in it collects refrigerant. - German is quite literal e.g. what we call a refrigerator, they call a kuhlerschrank - but if you reverse the translation kuhlershrank becomes "cold safe"

leathermang · #24 08-01-2016, 01:00 PM

Zulfigar, Well put.

When dealing with these OLD cars... we are a distinct disadvantage with regards to their history. So with regards to cleaning this part... it is downstream from the compressor... THUS, if at anytime in the history of the car... if a compressor pulled the Black Death routine.... then that burnt oil, acid etc may be in that part... I believe that the MB FSM AC manual states ' Replace it ' ... which would have been fine at some time in history when they were available... but it also points to the potential that it is very hard to really clean the insides of the potential bad residue...which of course will mix with the new oil and refrigerant being added.

It MIGHT be a good idea to drill it so it could be rinsed...and inspected....and perhaps seal the hole with a patch which is silver soldered on.. with nitrogen inside so the heating does not make more problems during the effort to get the potential old problems out...

Zulfiqar · #25 08-01-2016, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leathermang

Zulfigar, Well put.

When dealing with these OLD cars... we are a distinct disadvantage with regards to their history. So with regards to cleaning this part... it is downstream from the compressor... THUS, if at anytime in the history of the car... if a compressor pulled the Black Death routine.... then that burnt oil, acid etc may be in that part... I believe that the MB FSM AC manual states ' Replace it ' ... which would have been fine at some time in history when they were available... but it also points to the potential that it is very hard to really clean the insides of the potential bad residue...which of course will mix with the new oil and refrigerant being added.

It MIGHT be a good idea to drill it so it could be rinsed...and inspected....and perhaps seal the hole with a patch which is silver soldered on.. with nitrogen inside so the heating does not make more problems during the effort to get the potential old problems out...

MB say to replace all parts if the oil becomes silvery in the A/C system... of course they would - more money for them.

I however have learnt that you gather little nuggets of information from other car brands service information and aftermarket too. Thats where I found this liquid refrigerant cleaning method. But its pretty hard to find and a bit expensive for DIY but it does get it clean for reuse.

leathermang · #26 08-01-2016, 01:14 PM

Did I miss where you listed the specifics of that ' liquid ' cleaning product ?

Zulfiqar · #27 08-01-2016, 01:36 PM

I'll snap a picture of the machine when I go to the shop who I get to redo hoses for me, they have a hecat unit which pulses a flushing agent through the system and also a closed loop system which pumps liquid refrigerant through individual components (90% of them are these type of mufflers) - the shopowner tells me its just a recycling station on closed loop.

leathermang · #28 08-01-2016, 02:00 PM

Zulfigar, That sounds very professional ....( like the flushing machine for the AC shown in the MB AC FSM ) so could people ship their muffler to them and them perform that cleaning and send it back ? I hope you ask them about the turn around time and the cost... as this sounds like a legit ( and safe ) alternative to ' replace' listed in the FSM....or the more common action of ' ignore and pray '...

compu_85 · #29 08-01-2016, 02:45 PM

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

BillGrissom · #30 08-01-2016, 05:52 PM

You can replace the hose yourself. I did. If like my 1984 & 85 300D's, standard -10 and -12 hose works for compressor outlet and suction, resp. I used "reduced barrier" for the -12. Use a hacksaw and/or cut-off wheel to slice and peel off the factory crimps. You can secure the new hose w/ "ferrules" if you have a Master-Cool crimper (like me), or buy Oeticker "stepless ear clamps" on ebay and use a nail puller to tighten. Breeze smooth screw clamps would work, but look less professional. All can be bought on ebay cheap.

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.