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Anyone know how an aircon pump works?


mikec

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As above really, just stripped a p38 compressor to see about oiling for oba, thing is its all seized so can't turn the pump to see how it works, but inside there's two spirals, is that the pump part? Tried looking on google but can't find anything relevant. Cheers mike

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The spiral bit works a ring of piston effectively it is a 6 (?) piston pump working in rotation.

It might be possible to drill the top and have a plug in it that you can periodically spray some oil in.

In practice with nothing what so every I found they generally last several years, and when they fail stripping them shows that the thin sheet that acts as the valves corrodes due to moisture in the intake air so the pump has to progressively work harder to generate the same air pressure / volume leading to eventual failure.

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They usually have a built in "sump" but on initial system fill you add a measured amount of oil type dependent on refrigerant in use . but otherwise as you say just lubricate thru port , dont over do it tho!! a drip oiler as used for UCL is efficacious HTSH

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The spiral bit works a ring of piston effectively it is a 6 (?) piston pump working in rotation.

It might be possible to drill the top and have a plug in it that you can periodically spray some oil in.

In practice with nothing what so every I found they generally last several years, and when they fail stripping them shows that the thin sheet that acts as the valves corrodes due to moisture in the intake air so the pump has to progressively work harder to generate the same air pressure / volume leading to eventual failure.

I've seen the sanden ones referred to as 6 piston types, but not sure this is the same. It seems that the inner spiral is connected to the pulley offset so the inner spiral just moves forward and back on the outer spiral, if that makes sense, and just squeezes the air. Hopefully that makes sense, ill put some pics up in a minute

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Yes, that's a scroll compressor, and it works just as you suggest. Quite common in commercial refrigeration, but I didn't know they were used in car AC systems. I would say it's better than a piston compressor for use without oil, less to sieze up and no reed valves to rust away. What is it off?

Ok just read the first post properly, P38. Wonder what else has them.

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I knew the refrigerant lubed the pump but didn't know it was added to it.

So least I know what it's called now, ill have to google now and see if anyone's used one for oba.

It looks similar it the 3.9 disco engine pump too.

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