AC compressor spewing black goo -Pics-

[87maniac]

1987 Carrera. 115K. stock R12 AC.
Hot today in Fresno, CA.
Went to top off my R12 and was greeted by this:
A stream of black oil-like stuff in direct line with AC clutch.
? is this indicate a blown seal on the compressor?
? is it repairable or is it time for new compressor?
I cleaned up the mess and will see how much spews out in a short drive.
--just drove 10 miles, not a drop to be seen.
? might be a result of earlier cleaning AC clutch w Simple Green?

[kuehl]

When:
A) the compressor nose seal fails refrigerant pushes out oil, oil is slung by clutch and carried by belt, dirty belt adds to the goo, belts don't like oil.
The oil and junk is also sucked into engine cooling fan which leads you to
other threads on painting shrouds and fans. Alternators don't like oily debris either nor do cooling fins on cylinders.
B) system pressures get too high refrigerant pushes oil out the nose seal, ditto
C) sometimes a front crank shaft seal, but usually A or B

1) Recover refrigerant
2) Remove compressor
3) Disassemble compressor. Inspect pistons for wear of molybdenum coating (dark grey), cylinders for scratches or chatter marks, wobble plate for grooves, reed plate assemblies for etching or corrosion, shaft seal contact area for rust. If all looks good consider a compressor seal kit, however at 115k miles you are well past the halfway point. When compressors pump with low refrigerant levels they do not get adequate oil flow and that leads to wear Alternative, new Denso
4) Your hoses are original, consider new barrier set.
5) Install a low high binary pressure switch to help protect the system.
6) While you have the compressor apart, inspect the residual refrigerant oil for signs of contamination (debris, metal particles, congealed oil); liquid ac flush the system condensers, evaporator with TEV removed, don't flush driers or compressors.
7) New o-rings for the system and new drier.

[Discseven]

CG... how much oil would be added to system with a new or rebuilt compressor?

[kuehl]

Karl,

You know those kinda of questions are not Friday questions,
that's a Monday question.

So....

It is impossible to precisely calculate the amount of oil to be 'added' to
a system when replacing a compressor because of all the possible scenario's or variables, such as: a new system that never had oil, number of condensers, not replacing a drier, etc. And, unless the previous history of the car's work orders are accurate, and whom ever did the work did it correctly...

A fresh clean bone dry factory 2 condenser system needs 5 to 6 ounces.
Once the system runs for a while the oil is spread out through out the entire system. Evaporators and driers tend to hold a bit more than other components.
The compressor does not have a 'sump' hence oil is spread out through it internally.

But, here are 2 situations:
1) For OP topic here, 3 ounces for just a compressor.
2) add 1 ounce more for a new drier.
Remember that when you get new or rebuilt compressor you have no idea as to how much oil could be in it. So you dump it out, properly dispose of it and put in the suggestion.

FYI, if you are ever filling a system and spilled some on the floor (pavement, driveway, whatever), and you wondered how much you spilled. Get some environmentally friendly like weight oil such as olive oil (don't waste money on
"True extra-virgin"; you know why). Pour 1/2 ounce adjacent to your spill and wait 10 minutes. Compare the 1/2 ounce spill to your spill and guesstimate the approximate square area... You get the idea.

[87maniac]

Update.
Good News. Vacuum and Recharged AC, drove 30 miles with no sign of leak.

It may have been the Simple Green that I used to clean pulleys,
got down between AC clutch parts and later slung off.

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by kuehl

Karl,

You know those kinda of questions are not Friday questions,
that's a Monday question.

So....

It is impossible to precisely calculate the amount of oil to be 'added' to
a system when replacing a compressor because of all the possible scenario's or variables, such as: a new system that never had oil, number of condensers, not replacing a drier, etc. And, unless the previous history of the car's work orders are accurate, and whom ever did the work did it correctly...

A fresh clean bone dry factory 2 condenser system needs 5 to 6 ounces.
Once the system runs for a while the oil is spread out through out the entire system. Evaporators and driers tend to hold a bit more than other components.
The compressor does not have a 'sump' hence oil is spread out through it internally.

But, here are 2 situations:
1) For OP topic here, 3 ounces for just a compressor.
2) add 1 ounce more for a new drier.
Remember that when you get new or rebuilt compressor you have no idea as to how much oil could be in it. So you dump it out, properly dispose of it and put in the suggestion.

FYI, if you are ever filling a system and spilled some on the floor (pavement, driveway, whatever), and you wondered how much you spilled. Get some environmentally friendly like weight oil such as olive oil (don't waste money on
"True extra-virgin"; you know why). Pour 1/2 ounce adjacent to your spill and wait 10 minutes. Compare the 1/2 ounce spill to your spill and guesstimate the approximate square area... You get the idea.

Variables are indeed understood. TY for weights CG. For this moron... is necessary to confirm ounces being fluid measures. ????

Nice tip on accurate spill measuring.