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#199 |
Not quite a noob
Drives: e46 325 Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: edmonton
Posts: 1,408
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I just wrapped mine. What I thought was a 1 man, 5 minute job tuned into a 2 man, 15 minute job. I used 1/2 in. wrap instead, it fit nicely when it was straight, but at the bends it was a pain. Some of the bends aren't fully wrapped, I couldn't get it all the way around. C'est le vie.
EDIT: And yes, JUST in time for summer! |
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#200 |
![]() ![]() Drives: 07 lb jeep tj Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: dirty south
Posts: 126
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Am I the only one who thinks the yaris a/c works very well even down here the florida humidity?
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#201 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Drives: 09 Meteoric Metallic 3 door HB Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Atlanta Georgia
Posts: 419
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Hey guys, I just bought the stuff to do this with.
I got the insulation and the zip-ties, and now I need to get the tape to reflect the heat. I've got a few concerns though... What if moisture gets under the insulation? The pipe won't rust will it? I'm rather worried about the long-term affects. I'll give it a whirl anyway seeing as how nobody has said anything bad about it. ![]() |
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#202 |
![]() ![]() Drives: 2008 yaris hb Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: ne ct
Posts: 68
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ss Zip ties
I put the insulation on with ss "zip ties" you can get them at harbor freight
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#203 |
![]() ![]() Drives: 2007 2DR Liftback Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: N.E., KS
Posts: 115
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I too did this modification, a couple of months ago, in response to the very weak AC performance. Thanks for the idea!
I did the entire suction line, from the firewall to the compressor. I mostly used insulation for 1/2 in. copper tubing (one stick, from Home Depot), but also a little for 3/4 in. on some bigger sections. For even bigger parts, like the in-line accumulator, I had to wrap with two split pieces. There's definitely more cooling capacity, but at the cost of fuel economy. Before I could barely detect a difference in lugging of the engine with the compressor engaged. But now there's a big AC load on the engine. On warm days I now get 40F air, but today, at 105F outside, I only got 52F. And still definitely not enough total cooling capacity even though the supply air is much cooler than before. But much better than no AC at all! ![]() In response to some questions/concerns by prior posters, yes, there should be insulation on this line (but do at your own risk). My RAV4 does have some factory-installed insulation for part of the run. And if you have a split-system AC at your house/apartment, look at its large line ("suction"/"vapor") -- it hopefully still has its black foam insulation. But the small line ("pressure"/"liquid") definitely should not have insulation -- the refrigerant is still very hot coming out of the condenser, so losing more heat on its way to the expansion valve is a good thing. Also, yes there is danger in doing this mod. First, lots of sharp edges, etc. under the hood! But there's also a danger that if the system is overcharged, or the AC is operated when too cold outside, that "liquid" refrigerant could enter the compressor and damage/destroy it. The accumulator is there to help prevent this, and I almost left it uninsulated. But I've done AC work, so repairing a system isn't that scary to me, and this insulation mod was intriguing. Glad I did it, so far. You, though, might want to have your refrigerant pressures checked immediately after doing this mod. |
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#204 |
![]() ![]() Drives: 2007 Yaris Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Laval, Canada
Posts: 74
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i tried it and it melted , it's a fire hazard from my point of view even with reflecting tape,
if the car burns the insurance won't cover the only solution would be exhaust insulating fabric |
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#205 |
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Is this true? I can't see how insulating a line would actually affect the load of the compressor. It should simply be reducing the lost cooling in the pipes.
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#206 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Drives: 2008 Yaris LB Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Posts: 198
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#207 | |
1NZ-6spd
Drives: '05 6-Spd Vitz RS Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,967
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Quote:
http://www.thesolarshop.eu/acatalog/...nsulation.html |
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#208 | |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Drives: 2009 5-door, 5-speed Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 687
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Quote:
Probably less likely in ridiculously hot/arid places where the evaporator will deal with it. But in humid areas, or more sane temperatures, you may run into this. Cheers. |
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#209 | |
![]() Drives: 2010 Yaris LB Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: PNW
Posts: 29
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Quote:
The accumulator is there to prevent any liquid from reentering the compressor, but I guess we'll wait and see if there are a lot of A/C failures reported in the future :) |
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#210 | |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Drives: 2009 5-door, 5-speed Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 687
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Quote:
As I said, I am not certain that you would end up w/ liquid. It's certainly possible, and hearing that guys are noticing more load on the engine makes it seem more probable. ![]() Cheers. |
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#211 | |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Drives: '09 Yaris carmine red 2d HB Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Middletown, NY
Posts: 1,501
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Quote:
So, I don't see how adding a bit of insulation to simulate lower ambient temps will be detrimental. |
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#212 |
![]() ![]() Drives: 2007 2DR Liftback Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: N.E., KS
Posts: 115
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#213 | |
![]() Drives: 2010 Yaris LB Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: PNW
Posts: 29
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Oh yeah! I hated that "feature" and was happy to disable it :)
Quote:
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#214 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Drives: Yaris HB Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Central Alabama, GOD BLESS AMERICA
Posts: 755
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I've had mine insulated for 3 years or something now, and left it on during cold season, and have never restricted my use of A/C when cold outside. No problems at all, and the high temperature resistant tape holds up nicely.
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#215 |
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So now that some time has passed since it's first been tried, what I'm taking from this is that there don't seem to be any long term negative effects. Correct?
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#216 |
![]() ![]() ![]() Drives: 2008 Yaris LB Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Posts: 198
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I'm at 2 or 3 years, and no problems here.
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