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A/C repair - part #3 [Archive] - Aussie Phorums

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Ext User(the_dawggie)
24-09-2006, 01:13 PM
Some time back a mates Smurf A/C died. So I went "Meh, you
likely get that after 17 years", and simply refilled from propane
bottle. That only lasted a few days.

OK, part #2; mate suspects he can smell propane in the vehicle,
so take out evaporator and replace all seals on tubes and in
junctions with TX valve, refill with propane, no difference as it
all leaks out again and still smell of propane.

OK, part #3; many many moons later as it's been winter anyway.
Mate gets shites driving in recent hot weather so tells me get
arse over as your round 'tuit and another evaporator from a
wrecked 4Runner awaits, and "I want you to fix now".

Forgot to take new leak detector pen, so simply swapped around
evaporators using new O-rings on sucktion/discharge tube joins.

Didn't have propane BBQ bottle as I now fill the 9kg bottles
meself from a fork lift bottle which I fill as the servo bowser.
Much cheaper that way as around $20 fills two 9kg bottles.
Use one of these to fill A/C (unknown mix of propane/butane).

Didn't yet measure/compare the vent temps with a thermo,
so not yet sure of what, if any difference. They feel much
the same. Today still no bubbles in R/D sight glass, so I'm
hoping fixed. It still needs a proper service with oil change
and new R/D anyway. Hopefully this will last as a good
test until another round 'tuit comes along.

Hmm, wonder if I put the fork lift bottle in a deep freezer,
if I could separte the propane out, keeping the butane in
the fork lift bottle?

Oh, spotted yet another one of those 100s of local model
4Runner/Hilux verses Smurf that could have been a show
stopper with the 4Runner evaporator. The 'lectrics and
"A/C Amplifier" electronics on the evaporatort were
*totally* different right down to the connector that plugs
into the vehicle wiring. Luckily the mechanics and the
housing of the evaporator were the same, so were able
to swap that around and use the original stuff.

Ext User(John_H)
24-09-2006, 01:53 PM
the_dawggie wrote:
>
>Hmm, wonder if I put the fork lift bottle in a deep freezer,
>if I could separte the propane out, keeping the butane in
>the fork lift bottle?

Wouldn't it be easier, and simpler, to turn the bottle upside down
when charging from it? :)

--
John H

Ext User(the_dawggie)
24-09-2006, 03:43 PM
John_H wrote:

> the_dawggie wrote:

> >Hmm, wonder if I put the fork lift bottle in a deep freezer,
> >if I could separte the propane out, keeping the butane in
> >the fork lift bottle?

I think as gas so would have to recondense it by pumping
as a liquid into the 9kg bottle. Stuff it, would need some real
time pressure/temp readings to do real time PV=nRT calcs ...
it's all too hard, my brain hurts - I'll just go buy bottle of propane.

> Wouldn't it be easier, and simpler, to turn the bottle upside down
> when charging from it? :)

Not the 9kg one of auto LPG?, god no!, especially not with
unknown level of butane in it. Might be amusing way of
drowning the compressor.

Actually right way up is prolly very good for LPG (as a gas,
as I did it). I'm not at all sure, however suspect inserting the
gas as gas will on a full bottle of gas be a higher concentration
of propane than anything else as it should be quick and high
pressure and the propane will be the first to want out. Off the
top of a 9KG bottle you need bugger all of bottle contents
too. Only a guess, my brain hurts thinking about it.

Auto LPG is prolly contaminated with all sorts of other shite,
so it prolly not a good choice. While I'd expect unlikely, the
boiling point of the butane is a bit high for this application as
I'm wondering if it could return to the compressor still as a
liquid. Meh - before I knew better I filled using liquid propane
at the compressor itself.

Ext User(Noddy)
24-09-2006, 05:13 PM
"the_dawggie" <the_dawggie@hotmail.com> wrote in message

> Not the 9kg one of auto LPG?, god no!, especially not with
> unknown level of butane in it. Might be amusing way of
> drowning the compressor.

I've used good 'ol regular auto lpg in car & household air conditioners for
years, and it works just fine regardless of whatever crap is in the mix.

--
Regards,
Noddy.

Ext User(Athol)
24-09-2006, 06:23 PM
Noddy <dg4163@dodo.com.au> wrote:
> "the_dawggie" <the_dawggie@hotmail.com> wrote:

>> Not the 9kg one of auto LPG?, god no!, especially not with
>> unknown level of butane in it. Might be amusing way of
>> drowning the compressor.

> I've used good 'ol regular auto lpg in car & household air conditioners for
> years, and it works just fine regardless of whatever crap is in the mix.

The butane content of autogas should never get past 40%, so never gets
_down_ to the performance of R12.

Makes autogas ideal straight from the bowser (through a drier, perhaps).

--
Athol
<http://cust.idl.com.au/athol> Linux Registered User # 254000
I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss.