In Distress
New FS-10 Compressor failed immediately, why isn't the oil circulating?
By goHTSN Staff
Jul 11, 2006, 08:27

Bill, a longtime A/C Technician, is stumped by a system that failed a compressor immediately upon installation in a 1991 Ford F150.
If you can you help diagnose the problem, please contact Bill and goHTSN.com with your response. Thank you.

This unit was in our shop the summer of '05. The orifice tube was blocked with sludge. Tube was replaced, and unit worked okay. The summer of '06 the unit was in our shop again. This time the tube was blocked with sludge, and also had metal fragments.

Compressor fly wheel would turn, but not pump. Unit was converted to 134a.

The system was dismantled, flushed with solvent and these new parts were installed:
FS-10 compressor
Accumulator-drier
O-tube
O-ring kit
Liquid line filter
POE oil

8 oz. of oil was installed as:
Compressor 4 oz
Evaporator 2 oz
Condenser 2 oz

After leak checking, the unit was triple evacuated, with a 134a sweep between each pumping.

Unit was started after 12 oz. of R-134a vapor was installed. After second can was started, the compressor seized.

Compressor apparently seized because of lack of lubrication.
System was taken apart. Orifice tube had small amount of sludge on it. Compressor had no oil in it. (Upon examination, it was found the original compressor also had no oil in it.)

We isolated the condenser, and upon blowing it, there was no oil coming out. Could the oil be logged elsewhere in the system?

What is the reason the oil is not moving through the system? Could it be sludge lodged in the bottom of the condenser? Would 8 oz. of oil be enough in this system?

Thanks for the help!

Bill Forshier
1309 Grant Street
Redfield, Iowa 50233
Phone: 515-833-2315
E-mail: Iafrosty1@aol.com