AC condenser/Oil cooler leak

Started by udidwht, August 02, 2022, 03:45 AM

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udidwht

Noticed after my trip to Vancouver BC that down low on the passenger side of the AC condenser/oil cooler seems to be leaking. The fins were wicking oil upwards about 1.5-2in. Ran my finger across the lower side and sure enough engine oil. Did just over 400 miles with no oil needing to be added. I'm certain it was these damn rough roads. Not decided whether I'll tackle this job myself or have a shop hit it. Any idea what a fair price is for a shop?

Where can I get the dual unit?

As for the AC it works and is cold. Has since I bought the RV in Sept 2014. Don't use it often though.
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

udidwht

Given thought to getting rid of the AC condenser altogether and just install a stand alone oil cooler. Any suggestions on which cooler (plug & play). The dash AC even though it works is an oxymoron given it doesn't keep anything cool except your knee. LOL!

Will likely leave the  AC system in place just tied off. What method or plug can be used to seal the fitting/s?
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

eXodus

Isn't the oil cooler integrated into the Radiator?

Shouldn't be impacting the A/C.  If it's only Oil you can move to a separate Oil Cooler. Or a get another radiator

udidwht

That is what I thought. There's a line from AC at top drivers sides that connects then straight down from it at bottom there's an oil cooler line that connects on a separate row on the same cooler. It goes back to where the two run from engine near filter.

I'm out of town but will get some pics of it and upload them. Some of the manuals refer to it as AC condenser (w\oil cooler). Best description of mine (1994) is the following...


Appendix 2-4 page 2-15

https://www.gmcmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/P30-Chassis-Manual.pdf


Best I can tell is that the oil cooler is in the lower end of the condenser unit. IOW...separate but combined unit.

Off hand what size are the oil fittings? (The ones pictured at the lower right of the unit near item 8.)
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

eXodus

interesting haven't seen that configuration yet.

My 1996 P30  454 has the Oil lines going to the main radiator, seems like yours going around.

GM usually keeps all fittings the same, no idea what they are but when you buy a stand alone GM Oil cooler from that time period, I would assume it fits.

udidwht

Found this on Ebay and it appears to be the same as mine best I can tell. I contacted the seller to see if he can give me some more pics of the fittings.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/295101004424

As for the oil lines from the engine (near filter) which is output & input?

Items 5 rear & 6 forward (5 lists as inlet and 6 lists as outlet) Correct?

Some better pics...

https://www.comfortairgr.com/product/condenser-coil-oil-070-07963-084-00230-040-00117-091-00136/

Found a pic of mine showing drivers side top AC fitting...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aj1kmiue625gn4u/20180514_165042%5B1%5D.jpg?dl=0
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

udidwht

Found another pic and it indeed does look like the one in the following link...

https://www.comfortairgr.com/product/condenser-coil-oil-070-07963-084-00230-040-00117-091-00136/

Mine: (lower left of pic) see the oil lines going around?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qjmtq3wy0nnsps8/IMG_0415%5B1%5D.JPG?dl=0

Found a guy on Ebay who has (or will soon) new ones (3):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/295101004424?mkevt=1&mkpid=0&emsid=e11051.m43.l1123&mkcid=26&ch=osgood&euid=355dc6db1a3c41569603f6d1e82ae119&bu=43141998322&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20220807093947&segname=11051

Emailed him and sent pics of mine his reply was...

Standard condenser for Workhorse chassis, 2000-5/2004 production date.
Drier fitting is 18 mm female, discharge fitting 20 mm male o-ring, oil cooler standard workhorse block fitting.

In 1999 Workhorse took over the building of GM & GMC chassis.
This is the correct condenser.
unfortunately, it will not ship until Aug 16th.

Thanks

Richard

1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

udidwht

Found this site:

http://acmeairparts.com/home.html

Any recommendations as to what cooler I should use? Looking for one that can install rather easily and doesn't take much space. Should a fan be used?

As luck would have it I just changed the oil not ~500 miles ago. Can the new cooler be installed without dropping the oil?
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

udidwht

Quote from: eXodus on August 07, 2022, 05:42 AM
interesting haven't seen that configuration yet.

My 1996 P30  454 has the Oil lines going to the main radiator, seems like yours going around.

GM usually keeps all fittings the same, no idea what they are but when you buy a stand alone GM Oil cooler from that time period, I would assume it fits.

Got my hands on a schematic of the AC condenser w/integral oil cooler that is installed in my 94...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3jtwk6g774rn35f/RV%20Condenser-Oil%20cooler.jpg?dl=0

Fittings for the oil cooler (lower right in schematic) are 3/4-16 male
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

eXodus

You can change the oil cooler without draining the oil. 
I would just let it sit overnight - so the oil cooler will be almost empty when you work on it.
Just refill what you loose.

Can't tell you which fittings you got.  The 90s had been the period where GM slowly transitioned from SAE to Metric. 
My 1996 was mostly Metric.   yet even in on my 2003 P30 - the Hydroboost threads are still SAE threads but with a Metric Head.

Weird stuff.

udidwht

The first (2) are at the lower drivers side condenser/oil cooler. 3rd is where the lines go flex underneath (I do not plan on removing these). They are however the same size as at the cooler fittings. I just need to know what size the threads are on the male end? I was able to crack them free with a shot of PB and 7/8 wrench on hard line side and 3/4 wrench on connector side. Want to make this fix as easy as possible. Looking to use the existing lines to a stand alone cooler.
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

udidwht

To compound things I was giving thought to having a shop do the work but after contacting (16) different shops in the area I either got...

1. No response

or

2. Sorry can't help

One of the last shops I stopped by near home was hilarious...I walk in and there are (4) conversing. Two are customers at counter. So I wait for the (2) to finish (they leave). Mind you no one wearing any mask (no more state mandate). Anyhow I step up to the counter and these (2) employees look as if they saw a ghost. I say what? They say there's a six foot rule. I laugh.

Six foot rule...since when the state isn't mandating distance. Of course they babble on about how the health dept blah...blah...blah. Then I drop the dime on them ( I work for the state health department) and told them they're idiots I'll take my business elsewhere. I don't have time for morons. LOL!
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

Oz

1969 D22, 2 x 1974 D24 Indians, 1977 27' Itasca

Mlw

Content edited by admin.

... I'm doing everything myself, so when I got troubles on the road, I can fix things myself.

Wouldn't be this your biggest nightmare:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBDr6_D0w1I

udidwht

1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

Oz

Back to the topic.
No politics or social issue discussions on this forum.

Please read and heed the rules. Thank you.
1969 D22, 2 x 1974 D24 Indians, 1977 27' Itasca

udidwht

With respect to the size of the fittings...

They (last 2 pics) are either 1/2 or 5/8 YN fittings

The AC drier bottle 3/4"-16UFN
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

udidwht

Alright I've pulled the old condenser/oil cooler out here it is:

1st pic is condenser/with oil cooler unit. The 2nd is of the front of radiator. Going to clean the radiator fins out prior to installing new condenser/oil cooler. At the bottom you can see the bracket the condenser/oil cooler sits in. It rides on the frame via J channel (lifts off). The upper & lower bracket are removed from old one and used on new unit. Have the lower one out and will clean both well before reinstall. Have some coil condenser cleaner (foaming) and long bristle brush to work into and out the other side. Then will follow up with water to rinse.

FYI: The oil cooler is the last (6) double rows (front to back). All else above is AC condenser.


https://www.gmt400.com/attachments/20220822_211513-1-jpg.320562/

https://www.gmt400.com/attachments/20220822_211040-1-jpg.320564/
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

udidwht

1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

udidwht

Used to clean-out radiator (safe on metals such as aluminum, copper etc). Spray on then used a soft synthetic 2-3in wide paint brush to work in. Allow to sit for a few minutes then I followed with spray bottle full of H2O. Had to do it this way given I had no access to air/water hose in RV storage. Did it several times. Worked out very well. Looking thru from inside the coach I can see thru the radiator slots to the outside  :)ThmbUp

https://www.amazon.com/ZEP-Heavy-Duty-Citrus-Degreaser-ZUCIT32/dp/B001PNEVK6

I will have to get a 'Radiator Genie' for future cleaning given once the OEM condenser/oil cooler is back in place there is no direct front access to the radiator. Will have to use the 'Genie' and snake it up after lifting the lower shroud off it's clips on bottom side.
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

udidwht

Complete with exception of filling the AC..

FYI: The oil cooler is the last (6) double rows (front to back). All else above is AC condenser.

The new OEM one is slightly different though in (2) aspects...

1. My old one the AC drier bottle attaches on both the front and back side edge of the the condenser. The new one only has (2) holes for the bracket on the front.
2. There are also no holes (2) on the passenger side edge of condenser for the coolant overflow bottle bracket.

1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

Oz

1969 D22, 2 x 1974 D24 Indians, 1977 27' Itasca

udidwht

Update:

Got some Freon (R-134a) off Fleabay. Drier will be here on the 13th then I will pull vac and leak check and charge the system and put this in the final chapter. Already added approx. 3-4 oz of PAG-100 oil and have some Nylog for the fittings when I button it up to ensure no leak/s.
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

udidwht

Update:

Receive the new drier bottle. Buttoned everything up using some Nylog on o-rings as well. Drew vacuum for roughly an 1 hour. Then let it sit overnight. Roughly 20 hours to be exact. Held perfect  :)ThmbUp

Charged system with (3) 12oz cans and at idle the low was 38psi and high was 255ish. Dash louvers nice and cold. Evap line cold and frosty. But after the system runs for several minutes if I turn off the AC and turn it back on (or it cycles) the clutch will chirp/squeal briefly before fully spinning. Diagnosed as excess air gap. Sure enough after I let it cool down the spec is .4 - .8mm (mine was .9) and once at operating temp larger. Compressor is a Sanden SD7.

Pulling clutch today and will remove a shim and write this off in the history book.

So RV this year received...

New AC condenser, oil cooler, AC drier bottle, AC press switch, AC Freon charge w/ (~4oz oil) and (2) new front air bags and (2) new outer sway bar brackets and thoroughly cleaned radiator fins out.
1994 Fleetwood Southwind Storm 28ft
P30 454 TBI w/4L80E VIN#1GBJP37N4R3314754
78,XXX US as of 8/2/23

Oz

1969 D22, 2 x 1974 D24 Indians, 1977 27' Itasca