Aircon repairs
Author
Discussion

21TonyK

Original Poster:

13,167 posts

235 months

Tuesday 23rd June
quotequote all
I've ordered a new compressor as thats got UV dye all over the pully end so I suspect thats leaking from the shaft and now having removed the pipework to it I find half the O-rings are perished to the point there are gaps so I've ordered a big selection box of silicone o-rings as well.

The car is 2010, the condenser is original. Is it mad to not replace this and the built in dryer as well?

E-bmw

12,859 posts

178 months

Tuesday 23rd June
quotequote all
If you are doing the condenser definitely do the drier also.

Especially if the system has leaked flat ever as there will be water in the drier.

21TonyK

Original Poster:

13,167 posts

235 months

Tuesday 23rd June
quotequote all
As far as I can see the dryer and condenser are one unit...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236768410654?_skw=r56+c...

The system is old but when regassed it worked for a summer but this year its just leaking out as soon as you put it in.

Plan is to replace the compressor and the seals on the pipework then get it professionally regassed (not a bottle job). He will regass while the car is still in pieces so any leaks can be fixed there and then.

Its really a case of is it worth another 120 quid (on top of 250 so far) to get the aircon going for a couple of years... think I answered my own question.

richhead

3,119 posts

37 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
21TonyK said:
I've ordered a new compressor as thats got UV dye all over the pully end so I suspect thats leaking from the shaft and now having removed the pipework to it I find half the O-rings are perished to the point there are gaps so I've ordered a big selection box of silicone o-rings as well.

The car is 2010, the condenser is original. Is it mad to not replace this and the built in dryer as well?
I might be wrong, but im not sure silicone o rings is the right fit for aircon, might be worth double checking

E-bmw

12,859 posts

178 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
21TonyK said:
As far as I can see the dryer and condenser are one unit...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/236768410654?_skw=r56+c...
They frequently are combined.

E-bmw

12,859 posts

178 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
richhead said:
21TonyK said:
I've ordered a new compressor as thats got UV dye all over the pully end so I suspect thats leaking from the shaft and now having removed the pipework to it I find half the O-rings are perished to the point there are gaps so I've ordered a big selection box of silicone o-rings as well.

The car is 2010, the condenser is original. Is it mad to not replace this and the built in dryer as well?
I might be wrong, but im not sure silicone o rings is the right fit for aircon, might be worth double checking
HNBR for air con, they are normally green.

I bought a set similar to this one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/137310649855?_skw=air+c...

stevemcs

10,099 posts

119 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
On minis it’s usually the condenser that fails, usually half way up and towards the centre, look for the oily patch. So yes I would replace the condenser

Make sure you read the instructions on the compressor, sometimes they come with oil, sometimes they don’t, sometimes they come with transport oil.

21TonyK

Original Poster:

13,167 posts

235 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
E-bmw said:
richhead said:
21TonyK said:
I've ordered a new compressor as thats got UV dye all over the pully end so I suspect thats leaking from the shaft and now having removed the pipework to it I find half the O-rings are perished to the point there are gaps so I've ordered a big selection box of silicone o-rings as well.

The car is 2010, the condenser is original. Is it mad to not replace this and the built in dryer as well?
I might be wrong, but im not sure silicone o rings is the right fit for aircon, might be worth double checking
HNBR for air con, they are normally green.

I bought a set similar to this one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/137310649855?_skw=air+c...
Similar to what I've ordered, green and 100's in a box from Amazon.

21TonyK

Original Poster:

13,167 posts

235 months

Wednesday
quotequote all
stevemcs said:
On minis it s usually the condenser that fails, usually half way up and towards the centre, look for the oily patch. So yes I would replace the condenser

Make sure you read the instructions on the compressor, sometimes they come with oil, sometimes they don t, sometimes they come with transport oil.
I'll have a good read, I'll be physically installing and then getting the aircon guy in same day to get it running.

21TonyK

Original Poster:

13,167 posts

235 months

Thursday
quotequote all
stevemcs said:
On minis it s usually the condenser that fails, usually half way up and towards the centre, look for the oily patch. So yes I would replace the condenser

Make sure you read the instructions on the compressor, sometimes they come with oil, sometimes they don t, sometimes they come with transport oil.
Compressor arrived and looks like the right one so thats a good start!

It says "All compressors are shipped with 60 up to 300ml of prefilled lubricant. It is the responsibility
of the purchaser of the compressor to determine the appropriateness of the amount, type and
viscosity of oil contained within that compressor for a particular application and/or refrigerant."

Which really means bugger all to me other than I probably need to add oil.

Also ordered a new condenser and drier. Might as well do it all while its apart.

E-bmw

12,859 posts

178 months

Thursday
quotequote all
21TonyK said:
stevemcs said:
On minis it s usually the condenser that fails, usually half way up and towards the centre, look for the oily patch. So yes I would replace the condenser

Make sure you read the instructions on the compressor, sometimes they come with oil, sometimes they don t, sometimes they come with transport oil.
Compressor arrived and looks like the right one so thats a good start!

It says "All compressors are shipped with 60 up to 300ml of prefilled lubricant. It is the responsibility
of the purchaser of the compressor to determine the appropriateness of the amount, type and
viscosity of oil contained within that compressor for a particular application and/or refrigerant."

Which really means bugger all to me other than I probably need to add oil.

Also ordered a new condenser and drier. Might as well do it all while its apart.
That is just so it doesn't get fitted dry.

The lubricant required for running is entrained in the air con gas when it is charged, don't worry about it.

tr7v8

7,599 posts

254 months

Thursday
quotequote all
How do you intend refilling it? Will need regassing and that will add the oil. The machine will vacuum it down and check for leaks as well.

21TonyK

Original Poster:

13,167 posts

235 months

Thursday
quotequote all
E-bmw said:
That is just so it doesn't get fitted dry.

The lubricant required for running is entrained in the air con gas when it is charged, don't worry about it.
tr7v8 said:
How do you intend refilling it? Will need regassing and that will add the oil. The machine will vacuum it down and check for leaks as well.
Ideal, thanks both. I will physically bolt everything in place and a mobile aircon guy will gas and test.

Sounds like a relatively painless job now!

stevemcs

10,099 posts

119 months

Thursday
quotequote all
We usually drain it and check the amount in the compressor then refill

ffc

772 posts

185 months

21TonyK

Original Poster:

13,167 posts

235 months

gearing up to do this on monday but might not be able to get the system gassed for a few days

I assume its ok to install and just run the fan as normal without pressing the AC button?

finlo

4,397 posts

229 months

21TonyK said:
gearing up to do this on monday but might not be able to get the system gassed for a few days

I assume its ok to install and just run the fan as normal without pressing the AC button?
It won't do anything until there is a certain amount of pressure in the system.

E-bmw

12,859 posts

178 months

Yesterday (07:22)
quotequote all
finlo said:
21TonyK said:
gearing up to do this on monday but might not be able to get the system gassed for a few days

I assume its ok to install and just run the fan as normal without pressing the AC button?
It won't do anything until there is a certain amount of pressure in the system.
Correct, without enough to overcome the pressure switch it does nothing.