1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Refrigerant Replacement

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by C-in-DC, Apr 10, 2023.

  1. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,708
    39,248
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Groan, right you are. Try this, bit of a tome:
     

    Attached Files:

  2. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    So I recall a lot of oil from the compressor falling out when I did the engine swap back in the winter initially. I took the compressor out the other day and drained it completely. Would a good assumption be that 3/4 of the nd-11 oil is held in the compressor?
     
  3. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    I guess this answers the Q if the gen 2 compressor is the same? https://priuschat.com/attachments/picture-3-jpg.10485/
     
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,919
    16,222
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Was there such a Q? Same in what way? Trivial answer, g2 and g3 compressors definitely aren't the same, won't interchange. But maybe the question just concerned something about them being the same?
     
  5. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Basically I can assume the amount based on what I visually caught when oil came out and what I drained out later it looked like it had at least 1.5 oz to 2 oz. But I don’t know because I didn’t catch the oil when it drained out the first time. The manual alludes to the total amount the system has and says subtract the old oil compressor amount from this new amount. Kind of difficult to guess if you didn’t measure the first spill amount.

    I bet a professional would probably flush out the system somehow or just replace the compressor with a new one that comes filled with oil already.
     
    #85 C-in-DC, Jul 27, 2023
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2023
  6. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,312
    1,019
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I think this is the answer you were looking for, “most is probably still in the system”.

    I also agree that it may be once you’ve assembled everything (maybe sans the desiccant), have a professional vacuum and refill the system.

    The question now is finding a reliable place to take to in your area…
     
  7. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    can’t afford a professional. Research time.
     
  8. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Got a new bolt and o ring. Installed them to 7lbs torque. Pulled a vacuum to 29 microns for an hour. Let it sit for an hour. No change on the gauge. I'm going to pull a vacuum again for another few hours tomorrow morning before trying to add oil and change the desiccant. Then I guess it's charge the system time.

    Today's high in the nation's capital is 97.
     
  9. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Crucial @lech auto air conditionin video I was looking for. @Paladain55 mentioned the Schrader valve needs to removed from the high side before connecting the injector.

    Something that's not clear yet is purging the charge hose at the gauge. There was a video of dude just pressing on the Schrader valve until refrigerant came out. That seemed like the wrong illegal thing to do, any other suggestions?

     
    #89 C-in-DC, Jul 30, 2023
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2023
  10. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,919
    16,222
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    There's an exception in the law for "de minimis" releases in the course of doing reasonable things, but it looks like the typical view is you've got to be trying to do the reasonable thing. A quick-connect on the end of the hose and a manifold set you can evacuate of air first might be helpful. Letting any refrigerant in the high hose be slurped through the low hose before disconnecting might be helpful. And so on.
     
  11. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Receiver drier wasn't that bad 20230730_122300.jpg
     
  12. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Done. Getting Cold air now. Thanks to everyone who assisted.


    1 ounce of poe oil was added on the high side(liberal guess) with an injector while pulling a vacuum. Continued to pull a vacuum, purged the hose up to the gauge and I filled based on weight. The ac 1423 code I was getting is gone now. Gonna go back to the manual to check the gauge reading, I think I was around 99. Hope that isn't bad.
     
  13. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
  14. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Screenshot_20230730_181231_ThinkDiag+.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

  15. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Someone please explain why the psi is so high but I'm not getting any fault codes. I read another thread that quoted the psi a lot lower. I would think there'd be a fault code if the expansion valve froze due to bad charging because of any inaccurate vacuum and if the psi is higher than usual. I understand it's variable rate but don't get the readings completely.

    Air is nice and cold but for how long? Paranoia
     
  16. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Rpm around 4000-5000 at low fan setting.
     
  17. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,312
    1,019
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    Could you not find this info in Mendel’s attachment?
     
  18. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    Only reference I see is 0-10000 rpm with 6000 being the max IMG_0972.png IMG_0972.png
     
  19. lech auto air conditionin

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    830
    601
    261
    Location:
    san francisco
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    99°. Sounds OK for a nice cool day..
     
  20. C-in-DC

    C-in-DC Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2023
    473
    68
    0
    Location:
    Washington D.C.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    After running it for a few minutes it climbed to 150+ psi.