Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (August 2013, week 5)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Thu, 29 Aug 2013 00:35:43 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: RedTek and the Sight Glass
Comments: To: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <COL125-W5042D35CE06974EA410F9CF340@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

You really need to see what is happening on the high side. The radiator fan must run at low speed when the compressor is on and when the high side pressure reaches a certain limit the fan should go into a faster speed.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Mike Finkbiner Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 12:14 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: RedTek and the Sight Glass

Dennis -

I'm using the gauge that comes with the RedTek kit, and it's only for the low side. Does the radiator fan have anything to do with AC pressure, or does it just run on temperature. Seems it is on all of the time while I have been running the air conditioner.

Interesting comment about the warm air from the engine compartment. Makes sense.

I'm still curious about whether the sight glass should show bubbles. Perhaps someone who runs RedTek already will be able to answer that.

Thanks!

- Mike

Mike Finkbiner

'87 Westy Moscow, Idaho mike_l_f@hotmail.com

You can't see a thought, you can't measure, weigh, nor taste it - but thoughts are the most real things in the Galaxy. - Richard Baslim

> From: d23haynes57@hotmail.com > To: mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: RE: RedTek and the Sight Glass > Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 22:05:03 -0400 > > What is the high side pressure? 40-50 psi is way too high for any R12 > type replacement. Keep in mind that the AC systems relies in > recirculating sir to cool things down. With the engine compartment > open and the AC sucking all that engine heat you will need see a 40 > degree discharge especially with the fan on high speed. You need to > measure both the high and low side pressures to make sure the > compressor and expansion valve is working. The gauge set will indicate > pressure and ~ coil temperatures. Automotive systems should be filled > by volume, and then tested for proper pressures. Too many variables to > just fill by pressure unless you really know what you are doing. An > overfilled system will damage the compressor in short order. Not being > able to pull down the low pressure side is usually a sign of a bad compressor. Busted valve parts! > > Dennis > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On > Behalf Of Mike Finkbiner > Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 9:29 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: RedTek and the Sight Glass > > I'm running into conflicting advice about what the sight glass should > look like after switching from R12 to RedTek. > > I had the R-12 in my '87 Westy system removed and a vacuum pulled, > then put the adaptor on the low side plug and started installing the > RedTek. After a couple of cans and the can of leak stop, with the AC > running full bore I was getting low-side pressure above 40, but > according to my calibrated hand, no significant cooling from the > vents. The AC fan was running and the low-pressure tube out of the compressor was chilly, but not really cold. > > Looking at the sight glass I saw lots of bubbles, so I assumed I > needed to add more coolant, and did a bit more, but no more cooling. > > Shut down after about half an hour and noticed the low pressure valve > adapter was hissing. When I unscrewed it, that stopped, but I > wondered how much coolant had leaked out. > > I called the RedTek help number and a man in tech support said he > wasn't too familiar with the automotive side, but on some Vanagons I > might need low side pressures over 50 psi. They also recommended > running it again after it sat overnight in case there was some crud > floating in the system that needed to settle. They are shipping me a > replacement adapter and some more refrigerant. > > I borrowed a digital thermometer the next day, started the engine and > ran the air conditioning to see if there was any difference. With an > air temperature in the garage of 74, the AC was blowing 54, so it is > cooling some. I thought it should drop 40 degrees below ambient if it's running OK. > Again, lots of bubbles in the sight glass. > > Then I ran into a note which indicated that the sight glass is not > reliable for RedTek, because it's much lighter. They said I should > expect bubbles, and might actually have too much refrigerant in the > system. They recommended letting enough out to get the low side > pressure down to below 40 and see what happened. > > So - if you are running RedTek, what does your sight glass look like? > > - Mike > > Mike Finkbiner > '87 Westy > Moscow, Idaho > mike_l_f@hotmail.com > > > > You can't see a thought, you can't measure, weigh, > nor taste it - but thoughts are the most real things in the Galaxy. > - Richard Baslim >


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.