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Refrigerant is black

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by kolez2000, Mar 8, 2022.

  1. kolez2000

    kolez2000 Junior Member

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    my ac compressor as not been working well for sometime now. On Sunday it stopped chilling finally. Today I check the low pressure line and saw that he refrigerant was black. Pls what could be the cause of this? I am going to buy another compressor tomorrow as I can't drive without ac in this hot weather.
    What else do I need to check before I fix my new compressor? Hoping for response. Thanks @bisco
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i wonder if mold could be growing inside the lines
     
  3. kolez2000

    kolez2000 Junior Member

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    So I need to flush the system? I left it open for about a week in December while I removed the ice for overhaul.
    What do you suggest?
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it sounds like it, but idk how it's done, or what to kill the mold with. perhaps it isn't mold though, someone else might know.
     
  5. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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  6. kolez2000

    kolez2000 Junior Member

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    I remember when i imported the Prius, the refrigerant is the system was back. I changed the compressor and flushed the system and that was the end.
     
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  7. kolez2000

    kolez2000 Junior Member

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    I am in Nigeria, Africa.......I believe he is not here......I need more advice on what to do before I fix it tomorrow
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    interesting. i've never heard of black refrigerant. how long did it last until it turned black again? maybe wasn't clean and slowly grew back?
     
  9. kolez2000

    kolez2000 Junior Member

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    I got the car last year august and I changed the compressor and condenser.......from August 2021 till March 2022
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i suppose it's possible then. perhaps there is something that would totally kill all bacteria, idk. hopefully, lech will respond to sfo's tag. he is an expert, even over the net.
     
  11. kolez2000

    kolez2000 Junior Member

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    @lech auto air conditionin I need you imput on my qc issues. Pls help

    my ac compressor as not been working well for sometime now. On Sunday it stopped chilling finally. Today I check the low pressure line and saw that he refrigerant was black. Pls what could be the cause of this? I am going to buy another compressor tomorrow as I can't drive without ac in this hot weather.
    What else do I need to check before I fix my new compressor? Hoping for response. .
     
  12. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Wondering if the black stuff is fine metallic particles suspended in the refrigerant.
     
  13. kolez2000

    kolez2000 Junior Member

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    Not particles at all, just the refrigerant..... viewing from the sideglass, one would see it's dark
     
  14. lech auto air conditionin

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    If it’s truly black that means most likely your compressor was very low on charge compressor got very hot and cooked oil the dark gray that appears to be black also is a fine oxide metal powder from the compressor from a little metal to metal contact also there’s a black Teflon tape coding material on some internal components on the scroll that wears off when there’s contact and you have find needle bearings located in the compressors

    As you take apart your components at each connection you will probably find a light gray to black film on the inside of all the white should be bright shiny clean aluminum lines

    this can be flushed out any components that have mufflers attached to them get replaced

    you would be doing a new expansion valve and because you already had the evaporator out to get to the expansion valve on this 2009 vehicle and evaporators are the mother of all leaks other than condensers on Prius is at this age don’t try cleaning it save yourself a lot of grief and just replace it.

    so you will basically have an entirely new system did I forget to mention the condenser replacement.

    I myself cannot live without air-conditioning in my vehicle that’s why I never ever allow the system to get any lower than 1 to 2 ounces usually less because I do not want to allow my compressor to burn out.

    sometimes you’re lucky sometimes you’re not some people can completely run the compressors down to almost no refrigerant and they survive and they have no problems and then you have the unlucky guys who just do it once or twice and they have a two or $3000 bill after that it’s a roll of the dice do you feel lucky today .
     
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  15. kolez2000

    kolez2000 Junior Member

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    Thanks for your response, I would change the components today.

    Compressor changed and ac chilling over a month now
     
    #15 kolez2000, Mar 8, 2022
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 15, 2022
    Mendel Leisk likes this.