Acumalator Cover

[Andy4639]

Has anybody ever tried to cover the AC acumalator up to see if it helps cooling any better? Just wondering. How about putting hose insulation over the hoses to help also. Just wondering if it would make any differance, the newer vehicles have it so just pondering!
The picture is of a muffler cover but should fit over the acumalator with some work.

[ERASER5]

That covering is more for sound than anything. The refriferant has already expanded and passed thru the evap core. The acumulators job is to catch any liquid that may have formed and keep it away from the compressor. oiling is the secondary but also important job of the acumulator.

OEMs are looking to quiet everything. Ford move the low pressure cut off switch from the acumulator ( the best place for it) to the line because you could hear the switch make and break. The rubber will also control sweating and the appearance of rust. Another thing OEM like to hide.

[Andy4639]

Well I covered mine with some black insulation foam to see how it does. I guess if nothing else it will help it from condensating. I didn't wrap the lines but may just to help heat transfer on them.

[piecesparts]

The accumulator is exposed for a reason. It is the last place that the refrigerant can pick up any amount of heat and ensure that the freon is in a true gas form as it goes to the compressor. The compressor can pump a gas, but a liquid will sooner or later take out some mechanical part inside it, since liquid does not compress. It would be my recommendation to not insulate the accumulator and make it inefficient in it's design. The liquid refrigerant is supposed to be down stream of the condensor and not before the compressor.

Refrigerant cycle= Accumulator-gas, compressor-high pressure superheated gas, Condensor coil-gas change to liquid, thermal expansion valve- liquid metered at small liquid laden amounts to evaporator cooling coil, Cooling coil- heat is absorbed from inside the cab to make a gas again, accumulator- collection point after the evaporator coil to boil off the last of the liquid to ensure a good gas is sent to the compressor.

Just my .02, as a refrigerent jockey from the past.

[truckdude239]

i see them on alot of gms wraped up include some ford about all its good for is causeing the accumultor to rust out

[Andy4639]

OK then I guess I'll take it all back off. You talked me into it.Well at least it didn't cost me anything other than a few tie wrapps.

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by truckdude239

i see them on alot of gms wraped up include some ford about all its good for is causeing the accumultor to rust out

Most accumulators are made of aluminum, to allow for maximum heat transfer.

[truckdude239]

I know our company truck was a 97 ranager and it was wraped up and the bottom rusted out i forget that most gms where alliuman

[Andy4639]

Mine is aluminum also!

[truckdude239]

Then it on there!