radiator vs. condenser headache

Take it in and have the 134a reclaimed. Then you can disconnect the lines at home when you are ready to pull the radiator and cap them off. Normally I wrap them in plastic and use rubber bands to hold it on while working on the system.

And yes, the dryer is THAT prone to being ruined by air exposure. The purpose of the dryer is to absorb moisture in the system. The desiccant can become saturated in minutes when exposed to humid air. In this case I would replace the dryer anyway just to be sure as you need every ounce of performance that the a/c can give you in your application.

Steve B.

That is an apocryphal myth that has circulated for some time, helped no doubt by the manufacturers of auto parts.

Yes, the dryer can become saturated by exposure to humid air. But the process would take many hours to days if you just uncapped it and let it sit. Remember the construction of the dryer (or accumulator if you have that kind of system) is such that the coolant must be circulated inside of it, through the dessicant. And the idea that a dryer that is buried behind a half meter of AC line would absorb significant moisture is even more absurd. Once the A/C line reaches atmospheric pressure, the remaining refrigerant is not going to come out of the line if you have capped off the lines with tape.

The biggest problem here is that the average home mechanic does not have the tools to do this kind of operation with any success. Here's what needs to be done:

Items 1 & 6 generally cannot be done at home.

A complete waste of money and it just gives 2 more areas that you could possibly not get a good seal back on, and more leaks. Also, if your really convinced that your dryer is full of water, all you have to do is bake it in an oven at about 225 degrees overnight (above the boiling point of water, and below the flash/firing point of the refrigerant oil) this will drive all the water out of it and it will be good as new. The oven might stink afterwards, though. ;-)

Ted

I learn something new every day.... !

Do you suppose I could get the A/C shop to reroute those lines for the next time I need to do something to this rig 15 years down the line ? ;-)

/lee

If you've got the bucks, the hardware is available. You could;

A Have Refrigeration Repair company install long flex lines after evacuating, tie lines out of way to service radiator

B Get the shop to add schrader type fittings, allowing you to disconnect hoses at manifold Both lines and evaporator would be so equipt, flex hoses connect both manifolds

C Have system evacuated, and lines capped. I question whether your RV fits inside local radiator shop , if not they could do it outdoors. After radiator repair, uncap, re evacuate and recharge