A/C charging issue resolved.

[Ed Lijewski]

My next car is likely to be a used Lexus 460 A/W (no immediate plans ..but lusting for a loaded one).

"Oscillating AC vents."

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YMMV

[Ed Lijewski]

Re 1234yf (note it is "slightly flammable.")

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.YMMV

[brokencase]

These new refrigerants are a money making scam for the chemical companies involved.

The only problem with the propane/isobutane mixtures is that they are cheap and plentiful. There is no money in it for them.
They've been making money on refrigerants for so long they can't envision that revenue stream drying up.

The difference between "slightly flammable" and "flammable" is splitting hairs and is not worth the cost.

It is not a certainty that upon a frontal impact that the leaking refrigerant will ignite. I'll bet in most cases it just leaks out.

[Ed Lijewski]

Agree; a crash would have to result in a continuing ignition source almost directly upon the point of leaking refrigerant for a possible self-feeding fire of nearby flammable materials.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Aa0xko3TS3c? ... bFg4kexecC

On A/C, I doubt this guy's premise that manufacturers intended for condensation to pool as shown, but his postulate that the fan blades slinging water into the condenser to cool it might be genius. So, on our cars we might extend the blower box drains to the front of the condenser for that same effect. Like, why should that condensate get wasted directed directly to the ground. ()

On such condensate, I've checked both drain hoses by removing them and cleaning their insecticide prevention discs, first after acquiring Shadow in 2019 and again last summer. Yet I never notice any wet spots below the car after a/c on and then stopping it. I can only assume that all condensate flowed freely out those drain hoses without first pooling somewhere due to crud buildup.

YMMV

[brokencase]

His premise is correct Ed.

I have a recently purchased home wall A/C unit and it does sling the water on to the condenser.

Such an arrangement could be implemented into vehicles, but the condenser and evaporator are far apart.
I guess the effort required to get the water from the evaporator to spray on to the condenser makes it not worthwhile.

[Ed Lijewski]

Some YT video comments complain about the sound of the fan blades slinging water at the compressor-evaporator. I can imagine it could be irritating as such sounds would be at varying frequency and amplitude, and not conducive to sleep.

YMMV

[brokencase]

I don't have central air. On the ground floor of the house I have a large wall a/c unit.

If I am outside I can hear it sling the water into the condenser. But I don't hear it on the inside of the house.

It is funny, the old A/C had a drain. I used to have a pipe setup to a tray to collect the condensate.

I was about to drill a drain on the new A/C unit until I read the manual.

But I do worry about corrosion in the long term. I'm going to blast it out with the pressure washer at the end of every season.

[brokencase]

BTW, It was 88F ambient this afternoon.

Took the Scorpio out on an 8 mile round trip to the Fried Chicken joint.

Absolutely blown away at the performance of the A/C.

I ran with the moonroof popped open initially then closed it. A/C on full recirculation. Fan High.

On the return leg I set it to fan Low setting.

Just wonderful. Really impressed. Best the A/C has ever been.

[Ed Lijewski]

I too find the Scorpi a/c system up to the task when ambient temps are no more than lowest nineties. And when the heat index isn't upper single digits above those.

Yesterday was a low humidity day here and I bet in your area also. Partly cloudy skies as well. A/C fully up to yesterday's challenge

High nineties temps with heat indices in single digits above those with flame radiant solar heat through clear skies presents a system challenge in slooow traffic.

Maybe 30 years ago an acquaintance invited me to go Soaring with him in his vintage glider (can't recall its name). It was late summer, beautiful partly cloudy skies, normal temps for that period.

I noticed among others there was an airline pilot (I was told) and friend who were also going soaring. Our two parties wrapped things up about the same time.

Then I noticed the airline pilot heading to and getting into a black Scorpio/black interior parked directly facing the sun. I remember thinking I was jealous (I didn't yet have a Scorpio) and assumed for granted that the Scorpio's a/c system surely was super efficient at cooling that hot car. Hah.

Re window a/c unit condensate, I wouldn't be comfortable accepting it puddling for providing a conducive environment for both microorganisms and oxidation. For me it's Drill Baby, Drill.

YMMV

[Ed Lijewski]

This YT mechanic does the Hedin Electric Fan Mod Plus by adding a pressure switch to limit the fan running constantly in Not-High Heat temps to prolong compressor life:
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https://youtube.com/shorts/8qhEz8IirY8? ... DB0EvU84TH

Note: I also observed in your prior post on your fan mod that the continuously running condensor fan was not optimum for all-season.

YMMV

[brokencase]

No, My electric fan runs whenever the a/c clutch is activated. This ideal in all seasons and situations.
It is inefficient (from an A/C performance perspective) to wait until pressures or temperatures get too high before turning the fan on.

You just can't do it with the stock electric fan. It draws too much current for this more continuous duty.

So basically the original concept is" "Let's wait until things get out of hand and then let's blast it with a high power fan (20+ amps) to cool it down. Hopefully this fan will not have to run very long."

Versus my concept: "Lets cool the condenser with a less powerful fan (8-10amps) continuously and things will never get out of hand...and the a/c will perform better overall"

[Ed Lijewski]

'88 Scorpios came with two-speed wiring of condensor fans, Low and High via a resistor in the wiring harness.

The Low speed sounds similar to newer cars condensor fans operating at idle.

So Low probably draws around the same ~8 amps.

I've experienced both Low and High fan speeds on my '88.

IIRC the '88 radiator fan switch is different from the '88.

I tried installing an '89 style fan in the '88 but went back to the '88 style fan after several weeks of use in summer the '89 fan didn't actuate under similar conditions, just to be safe.

YMMV

[brokencase]

They way I look at it is the original fans are getting long in the tooth anyway. So I'm happy I have done the bracketry work to allow the fitment of a modern aftermarket fan. If ever needed, a new 14" fan will only cost about $25. My only burden is to periodically verify it is operating.

BTW, it is advisable to drop the A/C fan fuse down from 30A to 15A when you make this conversion.

[Ed Lijewski]

You need this shirt:
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.YMMV

[brokencase]

I almost bought that shirt from here:

https://www.lightinthebox.com/search?q= ... ery_type=1