E30 A/C Evaporator and Condenser

[Jean]

Do these wear out over time or are they OK to use if they don't leak? Would there be any difference in performance between a used one vs a brand new one?

Also, E30 evaporator and condensers are designed for r12 but compatible with r134a, there isn't a specific r134a vs r12 part correct?

Thanks

[NC325iC]

just a valve on the evaporator(the one thats in the car)

should be ok to use if they dont leak, only thing that "could" effect is some kind of buildup inside the tubes, but id doubt there would be much effect.

[jlevie]

They can get dirty and loose efficiency and it is possible for part of the condenser to be plugged after a catastrophic compressor failure or they can develop leaks. Only the later two cases would warrant replacement.

The E30 A/C system was designed for R12. R134a needs a larger evaporator and condenser for proper operation. As a result converting to R134a yields a system that won't cool the car nearly as well as R12 (or one of the R12 replacements). As far as I know, a larger condenser suitable for R134a has never been available.

If the system is free of leaks and doesn't need replacement of parts, keeping it as an R12 system is the best choice. If the charge has to be pulled for repairs I'd refill with Freeze12 (an R12 replacement) as that will result in a system that comes close to matching original performance.

[Jean]

Thank you both for confirming!

[mutty]

Is there a particular reason why the e30[a smaller car] uses more refrigerant[r12] than an e39[a much bigger car] which uses r134a. If it is true that evaporator/condensor of the e30 is too small to work efficiently with r134a, why the much bigger car uses less refrigerant to cool a much larger space?

[gearheadE30]

Given that the e39 is a much newer and larger car, the AC system is likely much more efficient than an e30 system, and it is optimized for r134a.

[mutty]

What makes it more efficient? r134a? In refrigeration, retrofitting is done simply by changing the expansion valve and drier. You get the same condensing unit save and except for the compressor; which is r134a specific; and that works. I would like to find out if anybody has retro-fitted their system and actually weighed the exact amount of refrigerant into the system and compare its performance. I not share the view that the e39 has a more efficient system because r12 has superior thermal properties compared to r134a.