So finally getting my daughters A/C apart/cleaned and ready to go back together.


When I went to remove the old orifice tube in the bottom of the Evaporator, I notice that it was screen up, lord was it a PITA to remove, after some ingenuity, a 4" deck screw and a pair of channel locks, I got it to break free, without any damage to the Evaporator.


To clarify some things, the A/C hasn't run in this truck for some time, nor do I know if anyone has every messed with or changed this orifice tube or if it was factory original, can someone confirm the which way the tube goes into the condenser? I want to make sure since the one I pulled out sure didn't want to come out and not to mention, this is one of the 40 dollar Variable Valve tubes, and I'd just as soon not mess this one up. The old Orifice tube was inserted so that B (per my pic) was down and first into the Evaporator line.


I've attached some pics of the Evaporator (in its correct orientation) and the actual orifice tube I have.


Thanks for you help.

 

B going in first is correct. Usually on the screen end they have a little flat piece of plastic built in that you can grab with some needle nose and get it out of there. I see the one in the picture doesn't have one. I want to say they also make a special extraction tool, but I am not sure about that.

 

Ok, Thank you Dave, I sure do appreciate it, one thing I have learned is if it wasn't working before, don't go with what you know (current condition) but confirm and verify particularly with the cost of refrigerant now a days. I'm hoping not to worry about extracting this bad boy, do it once and do it right. Thanks again

 

This was my orifice tube.

 

Well, THAT looks good!

 

Google: Ford black death orifice tube...

 

I'm not so sure that is black death. You'd typically see a fine black sludge with a few shiny metal particles. Instead we've got coarse green particles.

Those green bits, are they solid and rubbery? My first thought was a green O-ring (or a gasket inside the compressor) got sucked in and chewed up.

My other though was some kind of reaction happened if different types of compressor oils got mixed. If that was the case, the green debris would not be solid like bits of an O-ring, and could be completely smushed between your fingertips.

You will definitely want to find and fix the cause, and flush the system. There's probably lots of other green debris throughout the rest of the system, just waiting to clog the new orifice tube.

 

I think the debris is just junk of some sort from the compressor, the greenish tint is coming from a dye someone put in the system. My Tahoe has had that green stuff put in it, it's like a green syrup when it runs out of the lines.

 

Uff da! Good point, wish I'd thought of that. I wonder if the particles are from the desiccant bag inside the receiver/dryer.

Since you'll need to change the receiver/dryer anyway, I'd suggest cutting open the old one for investigation. I think you should see a bag full of desiccant pellets, secured by a clip. Can anybody confirm this?