Automotive A/C Condensers
The AC condenser is typically mounted in front of the radiator to take advantage of the cooler air and also uses the air provided by the fan and the forward motion of the car to cool the refrigerant. As the highly pressurized ac refrigerant (in vapor form in the ac condenser) flows into the condenser, the air rushing thru the coils of the ac condenser cools the refrigerant back into cool liquid as it passes the expansion valve, where it then flows back thru the AC Evaporator
In the interest of improving efficiency, saving weight, and reducing size, many Original Equipment Manufacturers are now using aluminum serpentine and parallel flow AC Condensers that can cause A/C service problems.
In the event of a compressor failure, or any failure that causes debris, sludge or foreign material to circulate through the system, the smaller condenser tube designs are very likely to become stopped up.
It is often impossible to completely flush contaminates out of AC Condensers with small passages since the multipass design allows the flushing agent to circulate around the blockage. Replacing the Condenser becomes the only option. The larger passages in tube and fin styles can normally pass the foreign material through to the orifice tube screen or filter/drier, and remaining debris can be removed in the flushing process.
Diagnosing problems on small flat tube condensers can be difficult due to partial restrictions. Symptoms include poor cooling, high temperature and pressure at the compressor, rapid compressor failure, clutch failure, and compressor noise.
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