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air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

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  • Harry L.
    Very Frequent User
    • December 22, 2008
    • 370

    air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

    On every compressor which, is 3 that I have had on my car, they all produce an oily discharge underneath the pulley, clutch area, Some oil hits the hood. Is this a common problem? I do not think I am losing freon, or am I? My air works really good! DUTCH
  • Tom L.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • October 17, 2006
    • 1439

    #2
    Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

    The seal on the compressor is leaking oil. Typically, at least on open style commercial refrigeration and air conditioning compressors, oil begins to weep from the seal before refrigerant leaks out. Often refrigerant may not start to leak for some time.

    The only ways to see if you are leaking refrigerant is through leak detection and checking operating pressures. Have fun!!

    Comment

    • Larry M.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • January 1, 1992
      • 2691

      #3
      Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

      Oil from the compressor can/will absorb into the fiberglass hood and cause the paint to bubble and/or lose adhesion. I have seen this on many AC cars. My own car had this problem before I purchased it.

      Suggest buying and installing a shield for the compressor seal. Ad is generally found in the Driveline. If not, I believe that Eckler's is now selling.

      At some point you should consider replacing the seal and felt wick that helps to trap the leaking oil.

      Larry

      Comment

      • Jack H.
        Extremely Frequent Poster
        • April 1, 1990
        • 9906

        #4
        Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

        Additionally, factory original Delco A6 compressors were equipped with a thin wrap of absorbant cloth inside the nose area above the bearing/seal surrounding the drive shaft. This was there to absorb a SMALL amount of refrigeration oil that could weep through the bearing during initial run-in.

        The aftermarket rebuilders generally don't bother to install the absorbant cloth and drop a note in the box to the effect that SOME modest oil leakage is 'normal' during initial run-in and advise you to clock something like two hours of CONTINUOUS run time on the A6 compressor after initial installation.

        Also, most of the aftermarket rebuilders continue to use sintered bronze bearing/seal components instead of the later era ceramic bearing/seal that's well known for its superior durability. The older metal setup is typically good enough to get them through the rebuilt compressor's warranty period and saves them $1-2 per unit...

        Comment

        • Joe L.
          Beyond Control Poster
          • February 1, 1988
          • 43219

          #5
          Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

          Originally posted by Harry Long (49801)
          On every compressor which, is 3 that I have had on my car, they all produce an oily discharge underneath the pulley, clutch area, Some oil hits the hood. Is this a common problem? I do not think I am losing freon, or am I? My air works really good! DUTCH

          Dutch-----


          Of the three that you've had on the car, have any of them been NEW compressors? Due to EXACTLY the kind of problems you describe, I greatly prefer only NEW compressors. Can you have a problem like you describe with a new compressor? Yes, you can, but the chances of it are FAR less.

          You can no longer obtain a new A6 style compressor from GM, but you can still get one manufactured by 4 Seasons, a division of Standard Motor Products.
          In Appreciation of John Hinckley

          Comment

          • Terry M.
            Beyond Control Poster
            • September 30, 1980
            • 15599

            #6
            Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

            A small amount of refrigerant oil seepage is normal with either style of air conditioning shaft seals. It is necessary for the seal to work. That is the reason Frigidare originally installed the absorbent material in the shaft cavity. Oil seepage should not be great enough to be noticed on the hood or inner fender. When the oil gets to the point it is being slung off the the clutch and pulley at the minimum the absorbent material should be removed, cleaned, dried and reinstalled. the best practice would be to replace the shaft seal once a line of oil is visible.

            Pay attention to Larry's warning about paint damage. I have seen some really nice paint jobs, including original paint, damaged in this fashion.
            Terry

            Comment

            • Joe L.
              Beyond Control Poster
              • February 1, 1988
              • 43219

              #7
              Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

              Originally posted by Terry McManmon (3966)
              Pay attention to Larry's warning about paint damage. I have seen some really nice paint jobs, including original paint, damaged in this fashion.

              Terry-----


              Not only that but it's practically impossible to remove the refrigeration oil from an oil-saturated, fiberglass hood. So, once this damage occurs, the hood is, essentially, scrap. ALWAYS check for this when buying a used hood. If this problem is present, the hood is worth absolutely nothing (unless one doesn't care about EVER painting the hood).
              In Appreciation of John Hinckley

              Comment

              • Wayne M.
                Expired
                • March 1, 1980
                • 6414

                #8
                Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

                Here's some visuals. Apparently felt absorber was added in mid-1966 production.

                This is one of the old shaft seal kits, showing both GM and Delco numbers.

                The seat is ceramic (white thing).
                Attached Files
                Last edited by Wayne M.; November 19, 2009, 05:48 PM.

                Comment

                • Larry M.
                  Extremely Frequent Poster
                  • January 1, 1992
                  • 2691

                  #9
                  Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

                  Joe and others:

                  I have heard success stories from folks that have used acetone or methyl ethyl ketone to remove the oil from the fiberglass. Reportedly takes MANY applications followed by heat lamp to boil out the acetone/MEK and oil mix. You continue until the oil is gone. Can take weeks to accomplish.

                  You then sand the area lightly and gel coat to seal.

                  I will probably face this someday. For now, I'll just live with the small bubbles. Too bad the prior owner was not proactive and changed/replaced the seal and felt wick earlier.

                  Larry

                  Comment

                  • Larry M.
                    Extremely Frequent Poster
                    • January 1, 1992
                    • 2691

                    #10
                    Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

                    Originally posted by Wayne Midkiff (3437)
                    Here's some visuals. Apparently felt absorber was added in mid-1966 production.

                    This is one of the old shaft seal kits, showing both GM and Delco numbers.

                    The seat is ceramic (white thing).
                    Awhile back I purchased a few ceramic seals from AC DELCO and from GM. I heard that they were getting hard to get, and I wanted a few spares.

                    The AC DELCO seals were ceramic ones that were recently manufactured. One of the GM seals was also similar. The other one came in a dingy DELCO-HARRISON FRIDGEAIRE plastic bag wrapped in brown paper. I'm almost afraid to use this one....I think it must be over 50 years old. I wonder where they found it?? Obviously not a high volume item.

                    Larry

                    Comment

                    • Joe L.
                      Beyond Control Poster
                      • February 1, 1988
                      • 43219

                      #11
                      Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

                      Originally posted by Larry Mulder (20401)
                      Joe and others:

                      I have heard success stories from folks that have used acetone or methyl ethyl ketone to remove the oil from the fiberglass. Reportedly takes MANY applications followed by heat lamp to boil out the acetone/MEK and oil mix. You continue until the oil is gone. Can take weeks to accomplish.

                      You then sand the area lightly and gel coat to seal.

                      I will probably face this someday. For now, I'll just live with the small bubbles. Too bad the prior owner was not proactive and changed/replaced the seal and felt wick earlier.

                      Larry

                      Larry-----


                      The problem is that you never know when you have all of the oil out. You only find out after you paint the hood.
                      In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                      Comment

                      • Joe L.
                        Beyond Control Poster
                        • February 1, 1988
                        • 43219

                        #12
                        Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

                        Originally posted by Larry Mulder (20401)
                        Awhile back I purchased a few ceramic seals from AC DELCO and from GM. I heard that they were getting hard to get, and I wanted a few spares.

                        The AC DELCO seals were ceramic ones that were recently manufactured. One of the GM seals was also similar. The other one came in a dingy DELCO-HARRISON FRIDGEAIRE plastic bag wrapped in brown paper. I'm almost afraid to use this one....I think it must be over 50 years old. I wonder where they found it?? Obviously not a high volume item.

                        Larry

                        Larry------


                        No problem to get the seal kits. GM #12323914, aka Delco #15-2191. These are the latest technology material. They may even be rated for R-134a as well as R-12. I don't know that for sure, though.
                        In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                        Comment

                        • Harry L.
                          Very Frequent User
                          • December 22, 2008
                          • 370

                          #13
                          Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

                          Thanks for all your information. My original compressor leaked oil. I bought another new Delco compressor, that leaked, I got a replacement, that leaks, and now I have one more replacement I can put on at any time. If this next one leaks, I will have to buy the shaft seal kit. I have run my air for 12 years ,never had any trouble with the hood. My electronic freon detector, detects no freon at that point of oil discharge. It must be a very small amount of freon leak. DUTCH

                          Comment

                          • Joe L.
                            Beyond Control Poster
                            • February 1, 1988
                            • 43219

                            #14
                            Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

                            Originally posted by Harry Long (49801)
                            Thanks for all your information. My original compressor leaked oil. I bought another new Delco compressor, that leaked, I got a replacement, that leaks, and now I have one more replacement I can put on at any time. If this next one leaks, I will have to buy the shaft seal kit. I have run my air for 12 years ,never had any trouble with the hood. My electronic freon detector, detects no freon at that point of oil discharge. It must be a very small amount of freon leak. DUTCH
                            Harry-----


                            Was the Delco compressor a NEW unit or a re-manufactured unit?
                            In Appreciation of John Hinckley

                            Comment

                            • Harry L.
                              Very Frequent User
                              • December 22, 2008
                              • 370

                              #15
                              Re: air conditioning compressor, 66 390hp

                              Joe, all have been remanufactured. Is that my problem DUTCH

                              Comment

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