Does your older truck AC take forever to get cool?

[Yupster Dog]

My AC was taking longer and longer to cool until I had to be on the interstate for at least 10 minutes before it starts to cool.

Well, it finally just wouldn’t cool at all and it was registering full of refrigerant.
I thought it was bad reading and it probably had leak. So, I vacuumed system out and to my surprise and anguish it held the vacuum. (I thought oh no not the compressor)
So, I put new oil and 6 lbs. of new refrigerant back in and WOW as soon as I start the truck and turn AC on it's coming out cold.
I mean cold!
So, if some of y’all trying to beat the heat in your older vehicle, this might be something to try.

 

[tommyddsr]

My 2009 stills blows cold almost immediately. Been lucky on that one.

 

[riphip]

But you didn't replace the drier, Correct? I would think the drier was saturated would cause this. How long did you vacuum?

 

[Aspen03]

My Expedition did this though turned out to be a leak in condenser. I feel like the navigator ac was never quite as strong as it, oddly being the same year. It is black on black so it may very well just be a temp difference inside and the dash area. Either way, having access to the equipment when I button up the expy and do some annual maintenance on the nav I plan to do the same, vac and fill and see what changes, if anything.

 

[Yupster Dog]

But you didn't replace the drier, Correct? I would think the drier was saturated would cause this. How long did you vacuum?

Did not replace anything but the refrigerant. Didn't really time it 20-30 min or so. Turning the vacuum off and checking, run a little longer turn off and check, run a little longer.....

I Would like to know myself why this worked. Does refrigerant go bad? was the dryer full of something and i got it out? Any AC specialist please chime in. It was a 90 degree day and the truck had been off for a couple of days when this was done.
But I'm not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth because it went from nothing to gets so cold my nips get hard before i get out the driveway.

 

[riphip]

Got me unless the drier gave up a little maybe but wouldn't think so in 20-30 minutes as you stated. I've worked on HVAC (home, commercial & auto/large equip) for 40 years, maybe you just knocked something loose in the system, time will tell. ENJOY!!!!
Refrigerant does get 'dirty', reason for drier. Hope I get as lucky some day, NAH ain't gonna happen

 

[GAINMOB]

my condenser was bad

 

[Trainmaster]

Lucky guy.