Write up on how I made my not so great A/C a little better.
07-30-2013, 09:59 PM
#81
Keepin' the lights on!
I insulated both lines. Every square inch I could get too. No sense in either line picking up heat from the engine. So far, seems like it helps a bunch.
07-30-2013, 11:23 PM
#82
08-01-2013, 05:50 PM
#83
Well I went to HD today and bought a 6' length of 5/8X1/2 they didn't have 1/2X1/2 Armaflex(It's the best, its more like neoprene not foam). Spent $6 on it. Came home and insulated from the firewall to the compressor, only part I didn't remove the factory insulation was on the flex hose part in front the motor. It may be in my head but it fells like its a huge difference. Will know more tomorrow after my truck sits in the parking lot at work all day. Wish I woulda done it months ago!
Wayne
Wayne
I was reading the specs on this product on Armacell Tubolit website, the site has 2 diff heat ratings for it. One is 180 and the other is 200 F MAX.
How safe is this going to be? I live in 95+ weather for most of the year.
08-01-2013, 07:01 PM
#84
Senior Member
I know this is a source of confusion for lots of folks, and I would like to bounce off your comment for a moment, to hopefully, clarify what these lines do...
The "big line" is the suction line. That's the "cold" superheated refrigerant leaving the evaporator heading to the compressor. The compressor increases pressure, which increases the temperature, and sends the now very hot gas to the condenser. The condenser changes the hot gas into a warm/hot sub-cooled liquid, which is the "small line" going to the evaporator. The liquid line has an expansion device right before the evaporator which causes a portion of the liquid to flash into a gas, the rest of the liquid is dramatically cooled by this partial change of state. Then the refrigerant finishes it change of state from cold liquid to superheated gas by picking up heat from the cabin.
that being said, I insulated mine the other day, and it's just not enough in Houston traffic to get/keep the cabin cool when the outside temp is over 90 (300 days a year....) and traffic is only moving 0-20mph (every day that ends in "Y")
My AC is defiantly better with the insulation but it could be better still I think. I have a 2011 titan and the AC rocks!! I'm a loyal ford man but I have to say the nissan ac puts the ford to shame.
08-01-2013, 08:14 PM
#85
I am also concerned. How safe is this with a hot engine bay in the heat of the summer? Fire risk?
08-02-2013, 04:11 AM
#86
Senior Member
Well I am in Vegas and wrapped both the wife's MKT with the eco and her f150 and partially mine and we've been running them for a few weeks with over 100 deg weather. Granted a also wrapped them with foil tape on the exterior of the armaflex, but it's been holding up fine. I think there's enough air moment one doesn't need to. But it does become brittle with heat and will eventually just flake/fall off. Figured might as well take the time to wrap it with foil tape so it lasts.
The wife drove her truck about 2,000 miles round trip, granted headed north and back, and towing stuff one way, but it's all still intact. My biggest concern would be closer to the engine.
Also try to ignite armaflex, it really doesn't burn very well, more so melts and goes out even to an open flame.
The wife drove her truck about 2,000 miles round trip, granted headed north and back, and towing stuff one way, but it's all still intact. My biggest concern would be closer to the engine.
Also try to ignite armaflex, it really doesn't burn very well, more so melts and goes out even to an open flame.
08-03-2013, 12:48 AM
#87
Not Quite There (yet?)
Let me start by saying I've already done the mod.
I think "scap99" is dead on about how things work. I've read things from the HVAC guys about returning a "liquid slug" of coolant back to the compressor somehow shortening the lifespan. But I simply don't see how that would be possible in this case. Therefore it's all about the "Delta T"- a couple of degrees lower pre-compressor should mean less work FOR the compressor. But I really do wish we had a real HVAC guy in the forum comment on this.
And yes, it's working for me too. On regular AC, all the way cold, lowest fan, my feet were getting cold INSIDE of my shoes. This didn't even happen on the wife's '02 Expedition.
I also hit samples of both the poly foam and rubber foam insulation rated for home plumbing with a MAP torch- and yes, they both burn. Poorly. Very non-energetic. I feel comfortable using both on my truck, but ended up using the rubber foam because I had more short scraps of that.
I think "scap99" is dead on about how things work. I've read things from the HVAC guys about returning a "liquid slug" of coolant back to the compressor somehow shortening the lifespan. But I simply don't see how that would be possible in this case. Therefore it's all about the "Delta T"- a couple of degrees lower pre-compressor should mean less work FOR the compressor. But I really do wish we had a real HVAC guy in the forum comment on this.
And yes, it's working for me too. On regular AC, all the way cold, lowest fan, my feet were getting cold INSIDE of my shoes. This didn't even happen on the wife's '02 Expedition.
I also hit samples of both the poly foam and rubber foam insulation rated for home plumbing with a MAP torch- and yes, they both burn. Poorly. Very non-energetic. I feel comfortable using both on my truck, but ended up using the rubber foam because I had more short scraps of that.
08-03-2013, 09:53 AM
#88
From my experience the small (liquid) line is generally hotter than engine compartment ambient temperature while the system is in operation. By insulating this line you are keeping more heat in the refrigerant where an uninsulated line would radiate some heat out of it.
08-03-2013, 01:06 PM
#89
Senior Member
08-03-2013, 08:47 PM
#90
F150 Greenhorn
Did the mod this morning using 1/2" rubber insulation ($4.98 at Lowe's). It's only 79 degrees here today but I did drive around and test it. Thermometer read 44 degrees with AC on, recirculate on and fan on 3. It read 41 degrees with MAX AC on. I don't know where these numbers stack up but it feels cooler to me. Thanks again [MENTION=116016]LS1POWERED[/MENTION]!