2003 Ford Excursion cool not cold

[Erik In TX]

Am I missing where the engine size is listed for these Excursions? Better yet, post the VIN.

6.0 PowerStroke Diesel
https://www.ackits.com/index.php?route= ... 29476_6196

[Tim]

Conflicting data from corporate. 6mm t&F v PFC. An old Motorcraft would have been the 6mm T&F multi-flow. I have to check on Monday.

[Erik In TX]

Conflicting data from corporate. 6mm t&F v PFC. An old Motorcraft would have been the 6mm T&F multi-flow. I have to check on Monday.

Thanks, look forward to what you find.
If the currently available condensers are microchannel vs OE 6mm T&F multi-flow what changes would you expect to make to get the best performance?

I short-charged one of the vehicles we are struggling with by 16 oz.......and it got better, not great, but better.
Headed to the shop now to play with mine..going to evac and charge to 60 oz and see what it changes from full charge of 68 oz.

Thanks

[Tim]

I always used the parallel flow style over the 6mm T&F model. I usually don't ask this, but what brand of parts have you bought already?

[Erik In TX]

Conflicting data from corporate. 6mm t&F v PFC. An old Motorcraft would have been the 6mm T&F multi-flow. I have to check on Monday.

The current condenser Im using is a described as "parallel flow micro-channel"
Using the parallel flow micro-channel in place of the discontinued Motorcraft 6mm Tube & fin multi-flow, should I use a different r134 charge?

As I mentioned, I short charged one of the vehicles by 16 oz and temps decreased ......still not as cold as other vehicles we have with similar designs and general original production age. But am I on the right track?....parallel flow micro-channel in place of the discontinued Motorcraft 6mm Tube & fin multi-flow requires less charge?

Would tracking charge amount, static pressures, ambient temp, LP&HP readings at 1500 rpm lead me to an answer? If not what direction?

Thanks

[Erik In TX]

I always used the parallel flow style over the 6mm T&F model. I usually don't ask this, but what brand of parts have you bought already?

Ok so don't shoot the AC hack........ For several years we used 1-800 radiators, as they were quick to deliver to the shop, fairly priced and frankly, we never had any issues. Delivery and getting the correct parts, or all the parts we order became an issue, we already used Oreilly's for the few things we did not use OEM parts on or other trusted brands, so we have been using the Murry line from Oreilly's for about 1 year now. The business model does not allow us to wait for days on parts most times.....so ordering from other non local suppliers is tough, on top of the additional wait when something gets lost in shipping, damaged, or wrong part picked and shipped.

The frustrating part is, AC repair has not been an issue for years on the Forc and Ram trucks we work on daily..nor the occasional other vehicle are regular customers ask us to help with. We do more than 1,000 invoices a year... a large percentage of those get the cabs lifted, so we are servicing the AC systems. Its never been in issue until we got heavy into the Excursion world about a year ago.

[Tim]

The corporate group I do catalog work for is one supplier for 1-800. I was checking to see if we would overlap the parts you already have.

When we had our shop, I never needed to undercharge a system with a genuine version of the parallel flow condenser. But, even on the weekend, I reached out to one of the tech staff via text. He said on many of these Fords, they (do) suggest about a 10% reduced charge rate for some vehicles, many Fords. The only condenser we have in all locations is the parallel flow version.

I also noticed this during the forum cleanup. We lost the post on condenser designs with images and such.

[Erik In TX]

The corporate group I do catalog work for is one supplier for 1-800. I was checking to see if we would overlap the parts you already have.

When we had our shop, I never needed to undercharge a system with a genuine version of the parallel flow condenser. But, even on the weekend, I reached out to one of the tech staff via text. He said on many of these Fords, they (do) suggest about a 10% reduced charge rate for some vehicles, many Fords. The only condenser we have in all locations is the parallel flow version.

I also noticed this during the forum cleanup. We lost the post on condenser designs with images and such.

Ok 10% is at least as a target point to check. 61.2 oz it is for the daily AC service.

[Tim]

Just keep in mind that less refrigerant means less oil carried for reliability. It will be a balancing act, so sometimes you need all the equipment to get the best performance out of a system, i.e., reclaimer.

[Erik In TX]

Just keep in mind that less refrigerant means less oil carried for reliability. It will be a balancing act, so sometimes you need all the equipment to get the best performance out of a system, i.e., reclaimer.

reclaimed? as in a refrigerant? Absolutely, evac refrigerant (and some oil), vacuum down and recharge is what Im doing.
Removed the variable OT and went back to a standard red OT, then tried -10% charge at 61 oz.... pressures indicated undercharged, 85 deg ambient I was at LP 40 HP 190 and vent temp was 55 or so.

So I tried 1 oz overcharged at 69 oz at 80 deg ambient I was at LP45 HP 200 vent temps were 50 on way home from shop that's only a 30 deg drop at speed.
The constant here is parts source... while I can warranty out the parts as I wish.....Im just getting back the same parts. Found a dozen flakes of metal on the OT I removed.....can not be from previous failure as the entire system has been replaced twice minus lines from front to rear and those have been thoroughly flushed out with solvent / air, then further dried out with nitrogen

So Im concerned for the current compressor ...