Well, I got the bad news today that the reason that I'm not being cooled isn't lack of charge from a leak, it's the compressor. The guy that looked at it said he thought it was still working, I know it engages, but he guessed that the expansion valve was probably plugged up. The compressor also rattles a lot so I believe him that it's about shot.

So to fix everything I'm thinking..... new compressor, expansion valve, receiver/dryer (accumulator/dryer?), in-line filter, and maybe a parallel flow condensor. Of course flush it a zillion times.... anything else I left out? Is there any oil that's better to put in there? (Hey, a new kind of oil thread!) I'm planning to go ahead and refill with r-12 since it is a little warm here and I doubt r-134 will cut it.

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

New o-rings and Nylog to 'wet' them before installation....
Clean the inside of the evaporator if you can figure out how... did you see the photo Dmorrison put up showing his ?
Castrol makes a premium oil... I posted a pic of it this last week...

Ahhh, I knew I would forget one of the smaller things..... o-rings!

No, I didn't see the pic, I'll try to look at it tomorrow. Any suggestions as to how to clean the inside of the evaporator? Isn't it burried so deep in there that most of the inside of the car has to come out?

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=99129

That is why I said " if you can figure out how"..... LOL
But the loss of efficiency due to the amount of obstruction on the inside of his makes a lot of difference for people down here....

Wasuchi,

An ac man I talked to a few days ago said that he cleans the evaporator by pouring some solvent down the inlet pipe and then blowing it out with compressed air. I guess you could one of those air operated parts washing guns with the solvent syphon hose.

He says that he runs about a quart through but I think that might be a bit excessive. Obviously the main concern here is safety. Keep the discharge away from your face and fire. Atomized fuel and fire-read big bang.

He also mentioned that when he installs the new oil he uses about 8 ounces. He pours 2oz. in the comp., 2oz. in the dryer, 2oz. in the evaporator, and 2 in the condenser. He says that this keeps the compressor from having to pump all the oil at once-that it allows the oil to be gradually picked up by the comp. and more evenly distributed through out the system. How much of this is true I can't say but he is a long time auto ac man and he still has all his fingers and eyes so he must know something.

The FSM has specific info about flushing the evaporator... by using the old TXvalve as a fitting....
But I was talking about the fins on the inside which the air flow would be trying to get through.... that is what DMorrison posted a picture of when he took his evap box apart.... not easy to get to... I think RLeo cleaned his also... but without taking it apart...

Like this? http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=95691&highlight=test+tube

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

JUST LIKE THAT !!!
Why did you hide it from me by posting it in the TECH section ?

I'll try to take pictures and post progress on my new "project" but it'll be a while before I can start. I'm going to be in New Mexico for a week and then probably be in Canada for another 10 days so I'm not about to start doing anything right now because I'll forget how things went together if I take it apart now.

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k