A/C compressor lifespan maintenance

[Chimp]

i ask around some mech but seems there is 2 schools of thoughts regarding how to prolong compressor lifespan:

 

1. set thermostat to coldest, so that the compressor will keep running because if set to middle/lower, the compressor will shut on/off/on/off repeatedly which will shorten the lifespan of the compressor.

 

2. set thermostat to middle/lower, so that the compressor will cut off earlier, and the compressor will not need to work so hard continously to generate "freezing" air.

 

anyone can comment?

The compressor usually can take a lot of abuse. However, the clutch is the place where it will fail early if you set the temp. too high. i.e. if you set the temp to switch off at around 25 degree, then in SGP weather, the a/c clutch will be on/off/on/off like crazy. After a while, this is the mechanical part that will fail. Replacing the clutch is not as expensive as replacing the whole compressor but for a conti car, it can still set you back $600-$800. Perhaps that's why some mech recommend 1). so that the clutch will not be switching on and off that often.

[Elfenstar]

Any idea how mcuh it costs to do it here in Sgp?

 

Its abt $150 in melbourne and thus it should be about the same in singapore (this is for the flush the system, refill oil and put in new refrigerant gas). I could be wrong so i would suggest you bring the car to an aircon specialist (markcool seems to be highly reccomended in our forum) and ask them for a quote. This should also cover checking for leaks in the system.

[Elfenstar]

Hi, can I check whether our compressor needs to be dismantled to change its oil?

 

Honestly I don't know, but when watching my specialist retrofit my system to use R134A refrigerant as well as flush the system, its a no. The closest to dismantling the compressor was him removing the two pipings that joined to it, but that may be because he changed all the o-rings.

 

In addition yeobh has always been on the money and i don't see why he would be wrong here.

[No_worries]

I agree, usually the compressor is the one that will outlast all the other A/C parts. In Singapore's weather, it is usually the cooling coil (under the dashboard) that will fail first followed by other components.

 

Mark Cool is highly recommended , I heard good feedback from one of my colleagues who just got his Matrix cooling coil replaced. The price is not the cheapest but they are the specialists in this field of A/C repair.

[Meganeii]

Thx That means I will at most flush my aircon refrigerant and add a can of air-con enhancer. No dismantling for me if it ain't broken.

[Frankloh]

My aircon maintainence I service every 2 years or 50K, by hooking up to a aircon svc machine, no dismantling.

 

Now 5 yrs old and clocking 150k, aircon still running strong as ever. Wonder the rest of the bro here manage to squeeze how much mileage out of their compressor before they kaput?

[Geogeo]

Where do you go for the no dismantling aircon service? How much does it cost, and how much does it take?

[Cyberet]

i think its flushing the internal gas?

anyway my ride is 4yrs and clocking 150k, only topped up gas, and oil once a year

[Pisces69]

I heard the Chevy AC is constantly on, so maybe u or your fren is driving a Chevy?

 

All other AC has a thermostat which switches the compressor on & off according to the temp inside.

[Gravestone]

get the compressor oil changed once a year, get the piping flushed and oil changed every 2 years and make sure that you turn on your a/c for abt 5 mins everyweek to ensure the seals don't dry out.

 

Other than that just use it as you want to. like our other bro said, we've paid so much for our cars already, might as well enjoy it!

 

Anyway, any recommendations for aircon compressor replacement? and how much roughly ya? my 91 sunny 1.6auto has that whining sound following the engine revolution speed but as the compressor switched to fan mode automatically, the sound goes off...and this happens as long as the aircon is on. one mechanic casually told me that my compressor is going to koyak but could it be due to the "oil change" issue? Can you or anyone enlightened me?

[Pisces69]

Sometimes the squeaking sound is just a loose belt. It cud also b the compressoe clutch.

 

Try spraying some belt dressing on your belts & see if the sound goes away.

 

Your Sunny uses the Sanden compressor. Only use the same make & model if u change. Best is to get a 2nd hand Jap made for abt $100 only. Markcool can do this for u very easily. Ah Huat can also check the condition of your compressor if u r not sure how to do.

 

This is the only honest AC shop I have found in SG so far. All the others I went to were dishonest in some way or another.

 

Sometimes if u get a new replacement, they wil charge u >$500 & u might get a SG or MY made compressor which is not as good as the Jap made one.

 

B careful as many many car AC shops r very dishonest. I've been there & done that.

[Jusnel]

i also got this problem and the ws told me the whining sound comes from the evaporator or the value.... at first i thought its the air con belt, but ws hear already, told me tat.

 

no need to do anything now. so long as yr air con is cold and working properly.

 

change the evaporator or the value only when you need to replace the parts due to leak or other air con related reasons. labour charge can be expensive, so save it until its really necessary to do it

[Gravestone]

Ok thanks for the advise people. Will drive until really spoilt then change. As for now, my aircon is actually cold and blower is rather strong....btw, its not the belt coz i've sprayed some belt dressing and changed the bearings and pulley. Its not squealing but deep whining....oh never mind, juz wait till it goes kaput!!

[Hattee]

i ask around some mech but seems there is 2 schools of thoughts regarding how to prolong compressor lifespan:

 

1. set thermostat to coldest, so that the compressor will keep running because if set to middle/lower, the compressor will shut on/off/on/off repeatedly which will shorten the lifespan of the compressor.

Unlikely compressor can run to freezing point because not too far from the cooling coil there might be a thermostat that trips the aircond when the OEM cold air limit is reached (about 15-20 deg C) which will drop to 20-25 deg when circulated in the cabin

 

2. set thermostat to middle/lower, so that the compressor will cut off earlier, and the compressor will not need to work so hard continously to generate "freezing" air.

Not sure if compressor works less in our hot climate when set to any position away from COLDEST. Many climatic control re-direct some cabin air to be heated by the water radiator and then mixed with the compressor cooled air before returning to the cabin.

 

Suggest a simple trial to see if you are wasting energy to cool heated air with no outside ventilation. Try setting to COLDEST for 15-20 mins drive. Push a/cond button to OFF and turn selector away from COLDEST. Do you notice hot air comes in immediately. Turn back to COLDEST, do you get back cold air?

 

If the immediate hot air is part of the cabin cold air heated by the radiator, are we wasting energy to cool hot air heated by the water radiator when setting away from COLDEST?

 

anyone can comment?

[Spycraft]

Mark Cool is highly recommended , I heard good feedback from one of my colleagues who just got his Matrix cooling coil replaced. The price is not the cheapest but they are the specialists in this field of A/C repair.

 

May I know the address of Mark Cool?

[Evilernie]

Mark-Cool Auto Air-Conditioning Service 106 Woodlands Industrial Park E 3 Singapore 757840

Tel : 6367-7666

Fax : 6363-4275

[Kklee]

i ask around some mech but seems there is 2 schools of thoughts regarding how to prolong compressor lifespan:

 

1. set thermostat to coldest, so that the compressor will keep running because if set to middle/lower, the compressor will shut on/off/on/off repeatedly which will shorten the lifespan of the compressor.

 

2. set thermostat to middle/lower, so that the compressor will cut off earlier, and the compressor will not need to work so hard continously to generate "freezing" air.

 

anyone can comment?

 

AFAIK, the above is based on fixed displacement compressor. Depending on the ride, some use variable displacement compressor which is forever turned on thus the above does not apply.

[Rairai]

Wanna add on to air-con woes,

 

There's this tube underneath the engine bay, presumably it's the condensate water outlet.

 

Recently, the water condensate flow like no business, it's like I parked at a lot and observed underneath. THe water instead of dripping slowly now becomes very frequent. Just a few seconds and there's a pool of water on the floor liao.

 

Any idea why like that? Air-con still cold and functioning well...

Thanks.