[DeTomaso] use sight glass in AC that has been retrofitted to 134a?

Don Thomas don.thomas.ieee at gmail.com
Sat Aug 6 21:02:42 EDT 2016


Jim,

Did you change the seals and hoses for R134a ?

R134 reacts with certain components of "rubber" or "neoprene" seals that
are quite happy in r12 systems and causes them to deteriorate.
(ref: http://www.acsource.net/acforum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8578 )

And the pressure differential sounds like you may have a screen clogged...
(Ref:
http://server.detomasolist.com/pipermail/detomaso/2008-April/031257.html )

Also, check what oil you are using in the AC system... the recommended oil
is PAG-DEC.
(Ref: http://www.autoactech.com/issues.htm )

I hope that helps.

Best regards,
-dt



On Sat, Aug 6, 2016 at 12:23 PM, Pantdino via DeTomaso <
detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:

>    Jeff,
>
>    I hooked up the high pressure side gauge and get these numbers:
>
>    before starting car, 100 psi both sides
>
>    after system settles down, at 1500 rpm, low side 7 psi, high side 225
>    psi.  As the car warmed the engine speed increased to maybe 1750 rpm
>    and the high side was creeping up to 240-250 but the low was staying at
>    5-7.
>
>    Ambient temp was 77F, so should be about 40-45 low side, 170 high side.
>
>    According to the info sheet, this "Hi side too high, low side too low"
>    situation would imply "blockage of expansion valve or orifice tube."
>    Would that be from having the R12 valve in a system now using 134?
>
>    I used my laser thermometer on the vents and got 20-40F, but I suspect
>    that kind of thermometer is not accurate for this application because
>    on my street car I got like 13F, which I think cannot be right.
>
>    Anyway, it seems to me if I add more 134 I run the risk of blowing the
>    high side hose at 3000 rpm and 85F temp.  Does that sound right?
>
>    I do have 15 12 oz cans of old school R12 I bought way back when, so I
>    could switch to R12, but I would have to take the car to have the 134
>    recycled, replace the dryer, put the system under vacuum, etc so would
>    like not to.
>
>    Thank you,
>
>    Jim
>    -----Original Message-----
>    From: JEFFREY COBB <jeffcobb1 at me.com>
>    To: Pantdino <pantdino at aol.com>; detomaso <detomaso at detomasolist.com>
>    Sent: Fri, Aug 5, 2016 3:37 am
>    Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] use sight glass in AC that has been retrofitted
>    to 134a?
>    Jim,
>    All cars use different  pressures and for examples this week we did a/c
>    work on a 124 Fiat, many Benz-Bmws-Toyotas, a 71 e-type, Ford +Chevy
>    trucks, a Cobra kit car and a Mangusta.
>    But basic pressures at 1,500 rpm with cooling fans on and on high, with
>    both windows open, rear and front hatch closed, high fan and not on
>    recirc should be about 35 + - low side and 250 + - high. Seems like a
>    7:1 ratio works the best. Converted systems do need different numbers
>    but never too much of a change. So your low range should vary from 20
>    to 38 psi and the high 210 to 260 psi as long as above written
>    parameters are meet. The proper pressures will equate to the coolest
>    temps. You have to note that and remember you are just setting the vent
>    output for the coolest temp not some pre-considered ideal temp you hope
>    for.
>    About 30 % of all of our a/c fixes are fixing the stuck on heaters. We
>    are in hot Louisiana, make sure your heater is truly shut off by doing
>    a liquid test.
>    Do use the correct oil and add 2 oz if you are not sure of how much is
>    in. You can always expel the working high side into a cloth or jug for
>    2 seconds to get an idea if you are oily enough. A lot of spit
>    indicates fine but dry expelled gas needs oil.
>     Keep cool,
>    Jeff
>    Jeff Cobb- I pad
>    W-225-343-7525
>    C-225-907-4514
>    Jeff Cobb Auto Works
>    1316 S. Acadian Thruway
>    Baton Rouge, La.
>    70806
>    [1]www.LiveOakConcours.org
>    On Aug 4, 2016, at 11:05 PM, Pantdino <[2]pantdino at aol.com> wrote:
>
>    Hi, Jeff,
>    What should the pressures be?
>    Thank you,
>    Jim
>    -----Original Message-----
>    From: Jeff Cobb <[3]jeffcobb1 at me.com>
>    To: Pantdino <[4]pantdino at aol.com>; detomaso
>    <[5]detomaso at detomasolist.com>
>    Cc: Jeff Cobb <[6]jeffcobb1 at me.com>
>    Sent: Thu, Aug 4, 2016 6:55 pm
>    Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] use sight glass in AC that has been retrofitted
>    to 134a?
>    The sight glass is always used as a reference point. You must go by the
>    dual gauges.
>    Never by the low side only.
>    Jeff Cobb
>    On Aug 4, 2016, at 8:44 PM, Pantdino via DeTomaso
>    <[7]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:
>    > After switching the AC system to 134a, do you use the sight glass in
>    > the dryer or go by the pressure at the low pressure port like with
>    > modern cars?
>    >
>    > Sorry, but I don't recall what I learned several years ago when I
>    > switched the system over.
>    >
>    > Jim Oddie
>    > _______________________________________________
>    >
>    >
>    > Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA
>    > Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
>    > DeTomaso mailing list
>    > [8]DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
>    > [9]http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
>    >
>    > To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.)
>    use the links above.
>    >
>    > Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward
>    any message posted here to all past, current, or future members of the
>    list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an archive
>    or approve the archiving of list messages.
>
> References
>
>    1. http://www.LiveOakConcours.org/
>    2. mailto:pantdino at aol.com
>    3. mailto:jeffcobb1 at me.com
>    4. mailto:pantdino at aol.com
>    5. mailto:detomaso at detomasolist.com
>    6. mailto:jeffcobb1 at me.com
>    7. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
>    8. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
>    9. http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
> Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA
> Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
> DeTomaso mailing list
> DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
> http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
>
> To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) use
> the links above.
>
> Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward any
> message posted here to all past, current, or future members of the list.
> They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an archive or approve
> the archiving of list messages.
>
-------------- next part --------------
   Jim,
   Did you change the seals and hoses for R134a ?
   R134 reacts with certain components of "rubber" or "neoprene" seals
   that are quite happy in r12 systems and causes them to deteriorate.
   (ref: [1]http://www.acsource.net/acforum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8578 )
   And the pressure differentialA sounds like you may have a screen
   clogged...
   (Ref:
   [2]http://server.detomasolist.com/pipermail/detomaso/2008-April/031257.
   html )
   Also, check what oil you are using in the AC system... the recommended
   oil is PAG-DEC.
   (Ref: [3]http://www.autoactech.com/issues.htm )
   I hope that helps.
   Best regards,
   -dt

   On Sat, Aug 6, 2016 at 12:23 PM, Pantdino via DeTomaso
   <[4]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:

     A  A Jeff,
     A  A I hooked up the high pressure side gauge and get these numbers:
     A  A before starting car, 100 psi both sides
     A  A after system settles down, at 1500 rpm, low side 7 psi, high
     side 225
     A  A psi.A  As the car warmed the engine speed increased to maybe
     1750 rpm
     A  A and the high side was creeping up to 240-250 but the low was
     staying at
     A  A 5-7.
     A  A Ambient temp was 77F, so should be about 40-45 low side, 170
     high side.
     A  A According to the info sheet, this "Hi side too high, low side
     too low"
     A  A situation would imply "blockage of expansion valve or orifice
     tube."
     A  A Would that be from having the R12 valve in a system now using
     134?
     A  A I used my laser thermometer on the vents and got 20-40F, but I
     suspect
     A  A that kind of thermometer is not accurate for this application
     because
     A  A on my street car I got like 13F, which I think cannot be right.
     A  A Anyway, it seems to me if I add more 134 I run the risk of
     blowing the
     A  A high side hose at 3000 rpm and 85F temp.A  Does that sound
     right?
     A  A I do have 15 12 oz cans of old school R12 I bought way back
     when, so I
     A  A could switch to R12, but I would have to take the car to have
     the 134
     A  A recycled, replace the dryer, put the system under vacuum, etc
     so would
     A  A like not to.
     A  A Thank you,
     A  A Jim
     A  A -----Original Message-----
     A  A From: JEFFREY COBB <[5]jeffcobb1 at me.com>
     A  A To: Pantdino <[6]pantdino at aol.com>; detomaso
     <[7]detomaso at detomasolist.com>
     A  A Sent: Fri, Aug 5, 2016 3:37 am

   A  A Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] use sight glass in AC that has been
   retrofitted
   A  A to 134a?
   A  A Jim,
   A  A All cars use differentA  pressures and for examples this week we
   did a/c
   A  A work on a 124 Fiat, many Benz-Bmws-Toyotas, a 71 e-type, Ford
   +Chevy
   A  A trucks, a Cobra kit car and a Mangusta.
   A  A But basic pressures at 1,500 rpm with cooling fans on and on high,
   with
   A  A both windows open, rear and front hatch closed, high fan and not
   on
   A  A recirc should be about 35 + - low side and 250 + - high. Seems
   like a
   A  A 7:1 ratio works the best. Converted systems do need different
   numbers
   A  A but never too much of a change. So your low range should vary from
   20
   A  A to 38 psi and the high 210 to 260 psi as long as above written
   A  A parameters are meet. The proper pressures will equate to the
   coolest
   A  A temps. You have to note that and remember you are just setting the
   vent
   A  A output for the coolest temp not some pre-considered ideal temp you
   hope
   A  A for.
   A  A About 30 % of all of our a/c fixes are fixing the stuck on
   heaters. We
   A  A are in hot Louisiana, make sure your heater is truly shut off by
   doing
   A  A a liquid test.
   A  A Do use the correct oil and add 2 oz if you are not sure of how
   much is
   A  A in. You can always expel the working high side into a cloth or jug
   for
   A  A 2 seconds to get an idea if you are oily enough. A lot of spit
   A  A indicates fine but dry expelled gas needs oil.
   A  A  Keep cool,
   A  A Jeff
   A  A Jeff Cobb- I pad
   A  A W-225-343-7525
   A  A C-225-907-4514
   A  A Jeff Cobb Auto Works
   A  A 1316 S. Acadian Thruway
   A  A Baton Rouge, La.
   A  A 70806
   A  A [1][8]www.LiveOakConcours.org
   A  A On Aug 4, 2016, at 11:05 PM, Pantdino <[2][9]pantdino at aol.com>
   wrote:
   A  A Hi, Jeff,
   A  A What should the pressures be?
   A  A Thank you,
   A  A Jim
   A  A -----Original Message-----
   A  A From: Jeff Cobb <[3][10]jeffcobb1 at me.com>
   A  A To: Pantdino <[4][11]pantdino at aol.com>; detomaso
   A  A <[5][12]detomaso at detomasolist.com>
   A  A Cc: Jeff Cobb <[6][13]jeffcobb1 at me.com>
   A  A Sent: Thu, Aug 4, 2016 6:55 pm
   A  A Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] use sight glass in AC that has been
   retrofitted
   A  A to 134a?
   A  A The sight glass is always used as a reference point. You must go
   by the
   A  A dual gauges.
   A  A Never by the low side only.
   A  A Jeff Cobb
   A  A On Aug 4, 2016, at 8:44 PM, Pantdino via DeTomaso
   A  A <[7][14]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com> wrote:
   A  A > After switching the AC system to 134a, do you use the sight
   glass in
   A  A > the dryer or go by the pressure at the low pressure port like
   with
   A  A > modern cars?
   A  A >
   A  A > Sorry, but I don't recall what I learned several years ago when
   I
   A  A > switched the system over.
   A  A >
   A  A > Jim Oddie
   A  A > _______________________________________________
   A  A >
   A  A >
   A  A > Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA
   A  A > Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
   A  A > DeTomaso mailing list
   A  A > [8][15]DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   A  A > [9][16]http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
   A  A >
   A  A > To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe,
   etc.)
   A  A use the links above.
   A  A >
   A  A > Members who post to this list grant license to the list to
   forward
   A  A any message posted here to all past, current, or future members of
   the
   A  A list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an
   archive
   A  A or approve the archiving of list messages.
   References
   A  A 1. [17]http://www.LiveOakConcours.org/
   A  A 2. mailto:[18]pantdino at aol.com
   A  A 3. mailto:[19]jeffcobb1 at me.com
   A  A 4. mailto:[20]pantdino at aol.com
   A  A 5. mailto:[21]detomaso at detomasolist.com
   A  A 6. mailto:[22]jeffcobb1 at me.com
   A  A 7. mailto:[23]detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   A  A 8. mailto:[24]DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   A  A 9. [25]http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso

     _______________________________________________
     Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA
     Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
     DeTomaso mailing list
     [26]DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
     [27]http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
     To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe,
     etc.) use the links above.
     Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward
     any message posted here to all past, current, or future members of
     the list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an
     archive or approve the archiving of list messages.

References

   1. http://www.acsource.net/acforum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8578
   2. http://server.detomasolist.com/pipermail/detomaso/2008-April/031257.html
   3. http://www.autoactech.com/issues.htm
   4. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   5. mailto:jeffcobb1 at me.com
   6. mailto:pantdino at aol.com
   7. mailto:detomaso at detomasolist.com
   8. http://www.LiveOakConcours.org/
   9. mailto:pantdino at aol.com
  10. mailto:jeffcobb1 at me.com
  11. mailto:pantdino at aol.com
  12. mailto:detomaso at detomasolist.com
  13. mailto:jeffcobb1 at me.com
  14. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
  15. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
  16. http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
  17. http://www.LiveOakConcours.org/
  18. mailto:pantdino at aol.com
  19. mailto:jeffcobb1 at me.com
  20. mailto:pantdino at aol.com
  21. mailto:detomaso at detomasolist.com
  22. mailto:jeffcobb1 at me.com
  23. mailto:detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
  24. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
  25. http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
  26. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
  27. http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso


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