How can I improve my ac?

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  • psloan
    R3V OG
    • Nov 2006
    • 9815

    #1

    How can I improve my ac?

    It blows kinda cold - but not cold enough. It's fully charged - just not spectacular enough to overcome tx heat. What upgrades can i do to cool it down? Also, how can i tell if it is 134a of r12?
    "We praise or find fault, depending on which of the two provides more opportunity for our powers of judgement to shine."
  • winstontj
    E30 Addict
    • Mar 2007
    • 500

    #2
    dunno about much other than take a look at the condensor and see if it's full of crap like stones, leaves & grass.... get the lady to spend a few hours with a toothpick picking the crap out & it'll cool much better.

    Other than that are you sure you have a good full charge?

    Comment

    • psloan
      R3V OG
      • Nov 2006
      • 9815

      #3
      Yeah - i was thinking about replacing the condensor and drier with larger units on both of our cars.
      "We praise or find fault, depending on which of the two provides more opportunity for our powers of judgement to shine."

      Comment

      • T.Dot_E30
        Wrencher
        • Mar 2004
        • 286

        #4
        check the fittings to see if it has been converted to r134a

        Does it blow colder while the car is moving? A better aux fan in front may help cool the condenser down better.

        Comment

        • psloan
          R3V OG
          • Nov 2006
          • 9815

          #5
          Originally posted by T.Dot_E30
          check the fittings to see if it has been converted to r134a

          Does it blow colder while the car is moving? A better aux fan in front may help cool the condenser down better.

          What do 134a fittings look like? These are my first bmws with working ac...lol
          "We praise or find fault, depending on which of the two provides more opportunity for our powers of judgement to shine."

          Comment

          • RobertK
            Kicked cancer's ASS.
            • Jun 2005
            • 5864

            #6
            The valves are slightly bigger and have a blue plastic cap on the low pressure side and a red plastic cap on the high pressure side.

            If both ends have small black caps on them then most likely it is still R12.

            Comment

            • T.Dot_E30
              Wrencher
              • Mar 2004
              • 286

              #7
              the r134a connections are quick-connects

              The old r12s are screw on types, ull see threads.

              Comment

              • 02stu
                E30 Modder
                • Jan 2005
                • 872

                #8
                Insulate your freon lines by covering them in the foam sleeves they use for household plumbing. Sleeves that are relective are even better. Believe it or not this will make a big difference. Your compressor might also be the problem, they will get warn and won't pump freon fast enough. If your car has high milage and has lived its whole life in texas you might want to track down a compressor that is from up north. Also if your car somehow still has R12 freon in it, which I doubt it does, keep it. I believe R12 is more effective then R134a. The reason we don't use it is it has CFCs in it that kill eagles or kittens or something.
                Stu

                Comment

                • psloan
                  R3V OG
                  • Nov 2006
                  • 9815

                  #9
                  Originally posted by 02stu
                  Insulate your freon lines by covering them in the foam sleeves they use for household plumbing. Sleeves that are relective are even better. Believe it or not this will make a big difference. Your compressor might also be the problem, they will get warn and won't pump freon fast enough. If your car has high milage and has lived its whole life in texas you might want to track down a compressor that is from up north. Also if your car somehow still has R12 freon in it, which I doubt it does, keep it. I believe R12 is more effective then R134a. The reason we don't use it is it has CFCs in it that kill eagles or kittens or something.
                  Stu

                  I'm pretty sure CFCs deplete the ozone layer 8-)

                  I'll have a look at it and try insulating the lines first.
                  "We praise or find fault, depending on which of the two provides more opportunity for our powers of judgement to shine."

                  Comment

                  • rede30
                    R3V Elite
                    • Dec 2003
                    • 4697

                    #10
                    clean everything up, maby get a new compressor and head on down to Mexico for some r12.
                    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-h...wE3UqwjjmaTrXg

                    Comment

                    • psloan
                      R3V OG
                      • Nov 2006
                      • 9815

                      #11
                      The 90 still has r12. I guess I'll top it off with freeze 12?
                      "We praise or find fault, depending on which of the two provides more opportunity for our powers of judgement to shine."

                      Comment

                      • RobertK
                        Kicked cancer's ASS.
                        • Jun 2005
                        • 5864

                        #12
                        Originally posted by psloan
                        The 90 still has r12. I guess I'll top it off with freeze 12?
                        NO.. Freeze 12 is mostly r134a. Do not mix them.

                        It's so simple to swap over to r134a or r152a that you are better off doing it the right way so you're A/C will work better for a much longer period of time.

                        Comment

                        • psloan
                          R3V OG
                          • Nov 2006
                          • 9815

                          #13
                          I thought I needed like a new compressor and a bunch of other crap to convert it?
                          "We praise or find fault, depending on which of the two provides more opportunity for our powers of judgement to shine."

                          Comment

                          • trent

                            #14
                            No, you don't. Just fittings.

                            If it has R134A, I would go back to R12. R12 was pretty efficent. I would rewire your AUX fan to come on to "high" when you turn your A/C on, or, just install a huge new aux fan.

                            Comment

                            • MarshallM
                              Wrencher
                              • Feb 2007
                              • 229

                              #15
                              It should blow cold without upgrades. You have a problem with your A/C system. My guess is you have too much oil circulating in the system and thats taking away from the amout of freon. The only way to fix that is to drain the whole system, clean out all the lines and then replace the oil with the correct amount. Just cause the system is charged dosent mean its working correctly. You may also have a small leak that has slowly let out freon after you charged it. Also make sure your pump can get the pressure high enough for the system to work to spec.

                              Comment

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