1988 e150 smoke pouring out of vents

obi-one · #1 (**permalink**) 02-16-2004, 11:04 AM

oily vapor from leak in the evap for the front a/c unit.
i'm ready to tear into it, but was wondering if anybody had experience with an e150 van evap unit removal?

JoeP · #2 (**permalink**) 02-25-2004, 02:11 PM

I replaced mine in my '81 about twelve years ago. It was pricey but I bought a new one from Ford. There are other places nowdays to get a better deal on one. It took several hours working with my arms extended and working more by feel than by sight to remove and replace parts. There is a temperature sensor (your old one) that has to be forced through about 12 inches of fins until it is fully seated. It takes time and care to do this properly. I may have used a steel rod the same diameter (sharpened on one end) to puncture the first few fins. The sensor has to fit tight into the fins. I would oil your seals with whatever lubricant is compatible with your refrigerant. Make sure your airflow seals are in good shape and the drain path for the condensate flows where it should. A shop manual will be very helpful. A good pump-down and re-charge will finish the job off right.

Slade901 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-25-2004, 05:02 PM

Could it be coming from the Heater Core instead?

Knightmayre · #4 (**permalink**) 02-25-2004, 05:15 PM

When the heater core goes, it's steam that you normally see coming out of the vents, put it on defrost & watch your windshield steam up before your eyes!

obi-one · #5 (**permalink**) 02-26-2004, 10:14 AM

I want to thank you all for your replies... turned out to be the heater core! The oiliness, I guess, was from the coolant. I just didn't recognize the odor of vaporized coolant. It took about half a day to swap it out with new... Napa had the core in stock. After about two or three hours of driving the odor faded out ( new part,gasket sealant around the core, and whatever else was cooking when the new core heated up).
Mine is a "Royal" conversion, w/ 302 FI stock...the A/C is 134a (my own conversion about 4yrs ago) has a small leak, gotta add a can every 10 mos or so... not bad for a dual system thanks, again.

Knightmayre · #6 (**permalink**) 02-26-2004, 12:30 PM

Glad you got it fixed!

bluedund · #7 (**permalink**) 04-13-2004, 06:09 PM

If you have a rear heater and the front core went, expect the rear to go soon also...exactly what happened to mine