Hello.

I am installing a brand new 4-Seasons compressor. It has the infamous R-4 design. I had one of these brand new R-4 compressors that work well as Mercedes of this vintage goes for 5 years until it blew the front seal.

The compressor came with 3oz of oil, and I added 3 oz to the new
receiver/drier. I added 2 oz to the evaporator. (The compressor takes 4 oz, but it would spill out hanging on the engine, so 1 oz into the receiver drier instead.)

I pulled the vacuum for 1 hour, and performed the leak test for 30 minutes. Held 26.5 in at 2800 ft above sea level. There was no loss of vacuum.

During the charging, things were not doing well. With 100 degree ambient temperature, the center vents blew the lowest temperature at 98 degrees in the garage and 92 degrees in the street. I thought it was undercharged. I added more refrigerant.

At 100 degree ambient temperature, the high side came to 200 psi with the low side at 50 psi. Then the clutch started slipping. There was smoke. I looked at the gauge set and pressure was:

High Side: 50 psi
Low Side: 200 psi

I turned the engine off!!!!!

14 hours later, the static pressures were:

High Side: 25 psi
Low Side: 200? psi

Maybe the compressor was seized, so I check it by turning it with a wrench. It turned easily.

I am thinking there is a bad valve in the compressor or a clogged TXV.

What do you think?

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