AC - High pressure lines HOT

[turbojimmy]

I don't remember if it was always like this, but....

I finally got around to replacing the a/c lines on the GN (compressor to accumulator and condenser). I had converted it to R134a a couple of years ago but it all leaked out because of the bad lines. It worked fine after the conversion.

I vacuumed it down for about an hour. I charged it up so I got around 35 on the low side and 230-240 on the high side. I used R134a "treatment". It supposedly has oil and some "supercool" additive. It was all Wal Mart had. Anyhow, ambient temps are in the mid-high 80s and humidity is darn near 100%.

The A/C works AWESOME - man did I miss it. The Four Seizens compressor sounds like a box of rocks (grrrr - it's not very old, probably 5k miles on it), but it still works. I got back from a drive and went to hook the gauges back up to check it out and touched the high side and OWWWW! it was f'n hot. Like way too hot to touch.

Is this normal? The old lines had that black coating on it and these don't. Maybe they've always been hot but insulated?

TIA,
Jim

 

[jays87gn]

I just had mine converted and the high pressure line is hot also not sure if it is normal or not but the a/c sure blows cold

 

[Bent6]

High side line will always be hot - this is normal. High side = hot and low side = cold. This applies to any type of refrigeration whether automotive, residential, commercial, etc. The 134A refrigerant is a little slower to cool than the old R12 but once the head pressure comes up, it's good to go!

 

[turbojimmy]

Thanks for the info. The black paint/rubberized stuff must have had an insulating effect. The new lines are bare metal.

One less thing to worry about......

Jim

 

[norbs]

The compressor should not sound like a box of rocks, if the compressor is over 140 degrees its on its way out, theres no or too little lube???????

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by norbs
The compressor should not sound like a box of rocks, if the compressor is over 140 degrees its on its way out, theres no or too little lube???????

It's always sounded bad - since the day I bought it. I should have bought a GM one but I thought the remans were a lot less $. Turns out they aren't (they're less, but not enough to warrant the risk of buying a reman IMO).

I don't remember how much oil I put in it, but I followed the directions that came with it. I think the remans are just unreliable.

Jim

 

[norbs]

touch the compressor housing with your hand if it burns the skin instantly you got a problem. Put a thermometer on the case somehow or try those lase things

 

[Red Regal T]

Start cruising the U-pull-it junkyards now. You'll find compressors you can use on late 80s, early 90s, Camaros with 2.8s. You might find a nice one or recent replacement Harrison unit. I just put a junkyard unit on my car. Looked like new. Works like new. $25.

 

[turbojimmy]

I'll have to run it and see how hot the case gets. Sounds like there's a lot of friction, though, so it's gotta be hot.

I'll just get a new GM one. Since I converted to R134a I don't want to get a junkyard one full of the wrong oil.

Thanks all,
Jim

 

[turbojimmy]

I just went and checked it out.....

I started it up, turned on the AC, popped the hood and felt the compressor. It was HOT - in less than 30 seconds. Lines were smokin' hot too in such a short period of time. So now I've got to have it evacuated and replace the fargin compressor.

It was nice having AC for the day.....

Jim

 

[norbs]

Its going to get hot, its normal but if you burn your hands on the compressor its not right.

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by norbs
Its going to get hot, its normal but if you burn your hands on the compressor its not right.

It got hot enough to burn my fingers within about 45 seconds of running. I'm not going to run it anymore. The lines were hot enough to burn my fingers, too, after such a short period of time. It's definitely not right.

Thanks,
Jim