Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 07:44:05 -0400
Reply-To: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Bottom line on A/C ?
In-Reply-To: <005d01c586b6$e80504a0$6401a8c0@user0kd6qtvux6>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I spent a bit of time investigating this.
VW changed the AC in our vans around 1986 or 1987. From what I can
tell '86 2WD do not have the change, but '86 syncros have a partial
upgrade (fan, condesnor, compressor), '87 and newer had even more
(this coincided with the switch to the grey interior).
In terms of the condensor, with the '86 syncro they moved from
255272413A that has two sections of fins (with none behind the
separation of lower and upper grilles) to 253260403 that basically
covers the whole rad.
Compressors were upgraded around '86 as well some got the SD510 and
some the SD709. Both were an improvement over the SD508. The first
number refers to pistons, the second to total displacement. In this
case the SD510 is about 11% more powerful than the SD709 but the SD709
is aparently much quieter and saps less power (and it is13% more
powerful than the SD508).
Both are available from Busdepot. I had the more powerful SD510 in my
syncro but its dead now and in the interest of future availability
(Sanden is no longer producing the SD510 - pity it is 25% more
powerful than the SD508 of earlier vans) I will be replacing it with
an SD709. The procedure is detailed in Bentley 87.16 and requires two
specialized refrigerant lines: 253260708E and 253260716A and two each
of these o-rings: 803260749B & 431260749.
Also around '86 fans were also upgraded from 251959455G to the more
powerful 251959455M.
The '87 and up grey interior vans got the extended AC ducting off the
rear AC as well as a larger evaporator and more powerful evaporator
fans.
So, it is possible that the other vanaagon owners who are reporting
50F at the vents have newer vans with the VW AC upgrades noted above.
I was lucky enough to already have the upgraded condensor and fan. I
am changing out the compressor and plumbing in a BEHR aftermarket AC
unit that has a second evaporator and fans up front. I am hoping to
catch a cold this summer...
Chris
On 7/12/05, Vince Jahn <vljahn@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> Howdy,
>
> Plenty has been written about the Vanagon A/C system, but I was intrigued recently when I read that someone was getting about 50F from the vents with R134. I checked my 85 and it can only muster about a 15 degree reduction from the outside air temperature using the same refrigerant. Note that its currently a 102 degrees outside and my A/C is managing to blow 87 degree hot air!. Huuummm... given the same size condenser and evaporator as other vanagon owners have, what gives?
>
> I then visited our local auto A/C shop and they claim that the Westy condenser is too small for R134 but was fine for R12, for which it was designed. This begs the question "what is the average ambient temp reduction one should expect when using R-12 and R-134 in our Vanagons?". Perhaps my system is partially plugged (I never did change the expansion valve) and it can do better!.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Thanks everyone,
>
> Vince
>
