Here's the long short story. Last winter, it was about 10 degrees and I was running the Defroster. Parked my '94 F150 for about 1 hour, got back in it and started it up to find the compressor frozen. It was cold out, so I didn't worry about it for months, unplugged it and waited until summer.

Bought a remanufactured compressor, flushed system, new dryer, and orifice.

Ran for two weeks, no problem, more or less short runs. Then I helped someone move, drove it for about 50 miles. A/C was perfect. Next day, hopped in truck, no air.. found that there was no charge, and the two piece compressor leaked out all charge and a lot of PAG oil from the seal between the front half and rear half of the compressor, so much so there were three large oil stains on the driveway.

Replaced that free under warranty. This time, I drained the Dryer, and replaced compressor, vac'ed and charged.

This lasted for about 1.5 months. Yesterday, drove the truck again about 60 miles, air fine. Today, I get home (didn't use the truck) and find the same three oil spots under the truck, looked at the compressor, and same thing happened again. This time I could acutally see the oil bubbling from the top of the compressor at the seam.

Any clues to why I keep blowing the seal of the compressor? Currently, the truck is for sale and I want to ensure the new buyer best that I can that the compressor is going to last more than a month.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Has to be the rebuild quality (or lack thereof) of the replacement compressors.

Let me guess... AutoZone?

Steve

 

Well, not Autozone. Bought it on Ebay from someone who sells a lot of compressors. In fact, I bought a GM V5 that I used on a car that I drove over 400 miles a day with no problems. Yes, 400 miles 5 times a week (yikes!)

And not only that, both of the Ford Compressors were packed in a what looked like a factory sealed box that was labeled "York" air compressor. Yes, the same York company that has done well at my house.

Next step is to I guess contact him again. He was very fair about getting another to me.

It's not a big deal on the 5.0 to replace, I just hate doing it every month or so.

Thanks!

 

Many of those cheap compressors on Ebay are poor quality remans from questionable sources. The York that built your home AC does not rebuild compressors. The York on the compressor box was not the same company. f you look closely at the logo, you will find enough subtle differences to keep them out of trouble. Any company that has to stoop to this type of deception has something to hide.

With that said, make sure your high side pressure isn't too high. Excessive head pressure can cause blown body seals. You mentioned short trips and that makes me thing "around town" at low speeds. Make sure the fan clutch is good and the outside of the radiator and condenser are clean.

My money is on poor quality compressors, though.

 

Good information about the York name. Interesting.

I've flushed everything, but haven't blown the outside of the condenser/radiator. It looks to be clean, however. I've not seen extremely high side pressures, even durning the 100 degree stretch we had here lately. As far as the fan clutch, it seems to be working... it's been a long while (with all these FWD cars I've had lately) since I've checked a clutch, what's the proceedure again? I know it has to do with turning it manually with the engine off... I've just forgotten it's been so long.

I purposely UNDER charged the system the second time. (Without going out to the truck I think the label says 2 lbs of charge) I only put just over 24oz in the system, then just enough to maintain a few ticks over the lower typical limit of about 23 psi on the low side even during the hottest of hot weather. I've not seen it ever go over 30 psi low side so I just can't say that it is over charged.

Yes, when I say short trips, they are around town and stop and go. However, the problem with the compressor doesn't occur until we take it for a 55 mph steady trip for more than 20 miles without stopping.

Could there still be a blockage in the system? That would cause a high pressure side problem, correct?