Raineman

yeah it was warm in the shop that day, the ambient temp was about 80-90 degrees so the high side should have been cycling somewhere in the 200psi-350psi range. 125psi just doesn't cut it.

I'll let you know if they find anything

Raineman

When air passes through the fins of the A/C condenser, the high-pressure high temperature refrigerant gas within the A/C condenser gives up its heat. The refrigerant then condenses as it leaves the A/C condenser and becomes a high-pressure low temperature liquid. The A/C expansion valve controls the high-pressure, low temperature liquid refrigerant from the A/C liquid line and converts it into a low-pressure, low-temperature mixture of liquid and gas before it enters the A/C evaporator.Refrigerant enters the A/C evaporator from the A/C expansion valve as a low temperature, low pressure mixture of liquid and gas. As air flows over the fins of the A/C evaporator, the humidity in the air condenses on the fins, and the heat from the air is absorbed by the refrigerant. Heat absorption causes the refrigerant to boil and vaporize. The refrigerant becomes a low pressure gas when it leaves the A/C evaporator.

And that folks is almost as basic as it can be explained, that's how A/C works. So all insulating the low side line is doing for you is helping keep the low pressure vapor a vapor when it goes through the compressor to start the cycle over again. By the time it gets to the line you're insulating the cooling inside your cab has already happened.

I'm pretty sure Ford switched from an orifice tube to a TXV (Thermal Expansion Valve) system and that's when the problems started(could be wrong about that though). Also I'm not trying to say anyones ideas are bad ideas, hell I'm sure I'm going to try a few tricks that have been posted lol

digitaltrucker

Great information. Regarding Fixed Orifice change to TXV, my 08 had a FO.


I wonder what is in an 2013 Edge? I use my wife's Edge for comparison. Her unit will freeze you out and its not even on max air and almost immediately after turning it on. The other thing about her unit is, it only take 19 ounces compared to our 24. My sons 2014, does the same!

RLXXI

That's what I've been saying all along, mine cools pretty good but I checked it with gauges and got nearly identical readings and added another 14-16 oz and it did improve a little bit but as I said it was cooling pretty good before that, I was seeing 42-45* at the vents, probably closer to 40 now.

Raineman

I have an '08 Edge and same thing, cool fast and stays real cold.

I was out today all over the back country and it was working the same as usual (around 58 deg F.), after a few hours of driving it quit altogether. It was blowing 74 deg. and it was 21C (69.8F)outside. So it was cooler without trying the A/C. Sorry for mixing Celsius and Fahrenheit, I'm used to C but my thermometer is in F and that's what I've always done A/C in.

Engineer Guy

To all those contributing...

My own Insulation Add Write-Up is up-Thread. My 2014 5.0 A/C is doing 'OK' up here at Mile High Altitudes. Not great, but it eventually catches up and cools the Cab.

I just wanted to thank Rnlcomp for his tip in Post #362 to add Reflective Tape to the A/C run right down by the Exhaust Manifold. I really hadn't a reason to look closely at it prior to his Post. I see now how addressing that Plumbing would be smart.

Will do soon...
.

RLXXI

Welcome and no one was more surprised than I to see just how close that line is to the manifold and no insulation. It's almost like putting a refrigerator with no insulation next to the fire place.

gwpfan

Yep, I wrapped my suction line with reflective tape. It makes a difference.

Also as a reminder when you first start up your truck crack your windows/sunroof for the first few miles and it'll help. The higher cab heat will be pushed out the windows and put less load on the AC, especially if on high/recirc mode.

Boostking

So I havent done this "mod" yet, however I did get a vent thermometer for my truck to see where its at stock. I felt my ac was lacking in this truck and found this thread. So today its a nice 91-92* according to my trucks dash display. I went for a drive to get lunch and waited for the cab to cool down some and read my gauge. I am only getting around 50* out of the vent. I switched vents to make sure I had the same readings.

IIRC Ford says that 40* difference from outside is "acceptable"? Or is it 40* at the vent?

celltech

They state ambient divided by 2 plus 5 is acceptable. 90 outside would make 50 out the vents OK in Fords mind.