As you release gas that is compressed the pressure drops and so does the temperature. It can ice up on you at the orifice.
CC's advice should work, to put the can in warm water to thaw it out. I'd keep it warm rather than too hot in case the can explodes. A sudden increase in temperature will cause the content pressure to increase.
As you release gas that is compressed the pressure drops and so does the temperature. It can ice up on you at the orifice.
CC's advice should work, to put the can in warm water to thaw it out. I'd keep it warm rather than too hot in case the can explodes. A sudden increase in temperature will cause the content pressure to increase.
Of course there is a method to the madness. I fill a salad bowl with hot tap water, maybe 105*F. Not scalding hot, but hot. I hook up my can and let the contents begin to dispense as a gas, manifold held high and the can held low. The refrigerant must enter the system as a gas. Once the can seems to have exhausted its gas contents it has usually become quite cold and frosty on the outside, that's when I introduce it to the hot water. The can is so cold it's more like adding a giant ice cube into your small cup of tea. The hot water will cool within a minute or two but the contents inside the can will warm back up and boil off as a gas and empty. Dump the water and get another hot bath for the next can, and so on. Don't ever just set a sealed up can in hot water, that will surely become a bomb. The can must be punctured, cold and sharing its pressure with the entire system.
Uh, because the cans were finicky especially near the end, I turned them upside down (as I've read/heard/seen done from numerous sources). I'm guessing about 10-20% went in as liquid not gas. Is this a problem?
No it isn't. It has a can that catches the liquid before the compressor. You only got to worry about slugging the compressor if there is no can between the fill point and compressor.
Liquid refrigerant entering the compressor bends the valves. And ruins it making a horrible racket after that running.
I fill mine every time with the can upside down. It charges so much faster.
Well ya'all might not want to do that with anything bigger than those 12oz cans. Personally if I know the proper way to do something that's how it gets done.
But I'm sure someone will say, "yea I tooks dat 30 pounder keg 'n jus pud her on hers noggin 'n she squirts right in dat thar hole. Ah done."
Would that can be the accumultor? On my Safari, the low pressure refrigerant inlet is on the accumulator. Any liquid that gets in there should immediately vaporize since the boiling point of refrigerants is generally around -15C. That is, they turn to vapour at -15C.
So, if you're not adding refrigerant in winter at -40C you should be OK.
Yes accumulator. And no it is a liquid boiling off on the system. And it takes a while. I have replaced several compressors from people turning the can upside down on a car with out one. Put it in and crunch crunch crunch forever after when the compressor kicks on.
Yes accumulator. And no it is a liquid boiling off on the system. And it takes a while. I have replaced several compressors from people turning the can upside down on a car with out one. Put it in and crunch crunch crunch forever after when the compressor kicks on.
I'm getting a ticking sound from mine and it's not the clutch. I have been meaning to find a used one and pull it apart to see how it works inside, then compare it to mine.
I have turned it off for now by pulling the relay. I'm afraid to leave it running with the ticking in case it jams up in the middle of nowhere. Other than that, it cools fine.
I'm getting a ticking sound from mine and it's not the clutch. I have been meaning to find a used one and pull it apart to see how it works inside, then compare it to mine.
I have turned it off for now by pulling the relay. I'm afraid to leave it running with the ticking in case it jams up in the middle of nowhere. Other than that, it cools fine.
My buddies chrysler did that with a new compressor. I wouldn't worry about being stranded. It should give a loud reminder before it ever locks up. Just turn it off if it does. Keep a extra belt handy if you want to. Once the compressor locks tight the clutch will still spin free. Had it happen on mine.
My buddies chrysler did that with a new compressor. I wouldn't worry about being stranded. It should give a loud reminder before it ever locks up. Just turn it off if it does. Keep a extra belt handy if you want to. Once the compressor locks tight the clutch will still spin free. Had it happen on mine.
Thanks for info and advice, CM. I have a couple of extra belts because I still have the squealing belt. We discussed that, about the belt getting antifreeze on it from a leak. It seems to have settled down in the warmer weather to the point where it's barely noticeable.
If I knew what the ticking was I'd feel more comfortable. I know there are pistons in the compressor, and valves, I think. It may be a noisy valve.
If it wasn't so noisy it would not bother me but I can hear it from inside the cab while I'm driving.
I read somewhere that using heavier PAG oil can quieten a compressor. Don't know what effect that would have on the compressor if it was not designed for the heavier stuff.
I used an armchair mechanic's stethoscope, a length of AC vacuum hose stuck in my ear. :lol: Fits pretty good. I could not identify the exact location of the ticking. It seemed to come from the front of the compressor but not in the clutch.
It can't be heard through the main body of the compressor in the middle or rear, only near the front if I position the hose end facing the compressor end right next to the metal. All I hear over the clutch is the whirring of air and there's nothing on the front shaft end. At a distance, however, it's quite plain and it increases with RPM.
I had not intended to add heavier PAG oil. For one, I don't want to take the system apart at this time to add it. I was just curious.
The thing that bothers me is the compressor turning at an average RPM upward of 2500 RPM while driving. If I could disable the compressor coming on only for a few hours when I need it I would not be as uncomfortable. However, the compressor comes on in the defrost position and a couple of other positions. It's on when I don't need it.
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