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shortboxin · 06-09-2020, 02:16 PM

I know, I know. A lot of info, but without it you won't know what I'm dealing with. Posted this on another site and it was suggested that I might have too much oil in the system. That appears to not be the case...

Evacuated and charged the A/C system on my 84 C10 and I'm having issues that I've never experienced before on any vehicle. Of course, it's a kluge, so I should've expected to run into some problems. It cools, but no colder than 78° at idle and it's got very high pressures. System was previously converted to R134 with the 305 engine and worked fine until I opened it up last August to swap in my 5.3 LS engine.

Setup:
Aftermarket fans with shroud which turn on when A/C is switched on (not the compressor cycling)
OEM evaporator
OEM condenser
NEW accumulator
NEW Sanden SD7B10 compressor
NEW custom suction and discharge hoses
NEW orifice tube

Blew as much oil as I could out of the evap and condenser since I don't know what was in it. Connected the hoses, but not until I added 6oz of PAG 46 into the system in various locations. Evacuated the system using a vacuum pump from Autozone. Pulled down to 28" of vacuum and left it for an hour.

Started adding R134 with an outdoor temp of 94° and a jumper on my low side switch until I got 12oz into the system. Pressures at that time with clutch engaged:

LOW = 28PSI
HIGH = 160PSI

Added my second can of R134. Low side jumper removed, but clutch was engaged 100% of the time as the pressure was too high for it to ever cycle off. Pressures now at:

LOW = 60PSI
HIGH = 230PSI

Added most of my third can of R134, but quit due to the high pressures. Probably added 8oz or so. This means I only have 32oz of R134 in the system at most. From what I can tell, capacity is 44oz with R12, so it's technically still 20%-25% low... Clutch still engaged 100% of the time. Pressures now at:

LOW = 90PSI
HIGH = 330PSI

Outside temp had climbed while charging and was around 98° by the time I finished. Interior vent temperature at idle is around 78° (give or take a few degrees), so not working too well. Drove the vehicle on surface streets as well as the freeway. Vent temp dropped to around 58°, but still not great considering.

Someone suggested that I might have too much oil in the system, so I opened it up and collected all of the oil that I could. Got some drips on surfaces, floor etc. Removed the condenser, tipped it and blew it out, blew out the evap, dumped out the accumulator (stored it upside down for 2 hours and kept tipping it into the cup), and dumped the compressor while rotating it four separate times. Still only able to collect just under 3oz total.

In addition, the 7B10 compressor doesn't have a fill hole, so the 6oz I originally added was probably about right. Any help is greatly appreciated!

06-09-2020, 02:16 PM	#1
shortboxin Registered User Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Mesa Posts: 37	A/C issues on 84 C10 with 5.3 LS I know, I know. A lot of info, but without it you won't know what I'm dealing with. Posted this on another site and it was suggested that I might have too much oil in the system. That appears to not be the case... Evacuated and charged the A/C system on my 84 C10 and I'm having issues that I've never experienced before on any vehicle. Of course, it's a kluge, so I should've expected to run into some problems. It cools, but no colder than 78° at idle and it's got very high pressures. System was previously converted to R134 with the 305 engine and worked fine until I opened it up last August to swap in my 5.3 LS engine. Setup: Aftermarket fans with shroud which turn on when A/C is switched on (not the compressor cycling) OEM evaporator OEM condenser NEW accumulator NEW Sanden SD7B10 compressor NEW custom suction and discharge hoses NEW orifice tube Blew as much oil as I could out of the evap and condenser since I don't know what was in it. Connected the hoses, but not until I added 6oz of PAG 46 into the system in various locations. Evacuated the system using a vacuum pump from Autozone. Pulled down to 28" of vacuum and left it for an hour. Started adding R134 with an outdoor temp of 94° and a jumper on my low side switch until I got 12oz into the system. Pressures at that time with clutch engaged: LOW = 28PSI HIGH = 160PSI Added my second can of R134. Low side jumper removed, but clutch was engaged 100% of the time as the pressure was too high for it to ever cycle off. Pressures now at: LOW = 60PSI HIGH = 230PSI Added most of my third can of R134, but quit due to the high pressures. Probably added 8oz or so. This means I only have 32oz of R134 in the system at most. From what I can tell, capacity is 44oz with R12, so it's technically still 20%-25% low... Clutch still engaged 100% of the time. Pressures now at: LOW = 90PSI HIGH = 330PSI Outside temp had climbed while charging and was around 98° by the time I finished. Interior vent temperature at idle is around 78° (give or take a few degrees), so not working too well. Drove the vehicle on surface streets as well as the freeway. Vent temp dropped to around 58°, but still not great considering. Someone suggested that I might have too much oil in the system, so I opened it up and collected all of the oil that I could. Got some drips on surfaces, floor etc. Removed the condenser, tipped it and blew it out, blew out the evap, dumped out the accumulator (stored it upside down for 2 hours and kept tipping it into the cup), and dumped the compressor while rotating it four separate times. Still only able to collect just under 3oz total. In addition, the 7B10 compressor doesn't have a fill hole, so the 6oz I originally added was probably about right. Any help is greatly appreciated!