tire pressure OPEL GT-R 1973 User Guide

3G- 621973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
1. Clean rims thoroughly, using No. 3 coarse steel
wool to remove all oxidized rubber, soap solution,
etc. Remove rust with wire brush.2. Inspect butt weld and other areas of rim contactedby tire beads to make certain there is no groove or
high spot. Remove any groove or high spot by tiling
smooth.
3. Inspect valve stem and replace it if damaged.
Make certain that valve stem is properly installed to
provide an air tight joint.
4. Before mounting a tubeless tire on a wheel, mois-
ten a cloth with mounting compound or soap solu-
tion and wipe rim-seal ridges of both beads to remove
all foreign substances.
5. Moisten base of both beads with mounting com-
pound or soap solution to help beads snap into place
when tire is inflated. Start tire over rim flange at
point opposite valve stem.
6. Inflate tire until both beads are firmly seated
against rim flanges and temporarily over inflate.
Leak test wheel and tire assembly and if satisfactory,
reduce to recommended pressure.
SPECIFICATIONSWHEEL AND TIRE BALANCE
Wheel and tire balance is the equal distribution of the
weight of the wheel and tire assembly around the axis
of rotation. Wheel unbalance is the principal cause of
tramp and general car shake and roughness and con-
tributes somewhat to steering troubles.
The original balance of the tire and wheel assembly
may change as the tire wears. Severe acceleration,
severe brake applications, fast cornering and side slip
wear the tires out in spots and often upset the origi-
nal balance condition and make it desirable to rebal-
ance the tire and wheel as an assembly. Tire and
wheel assemblies should be rebalanced after punc-
tures are repaired.
Because of the speed at which cars are driven, it is
necessary to test the wheel and tire assembly for
dynamic balance. Dynamic balancing of a wheel and
tire assembly must be done on a machine designed to
indicate out-of-balance conditions while the wheel is
rotating on the car. Since procedures differ with dif-
ferent machines, the instructions of the equipment
manufacturer must be carefully followed.
General SpecificationsWheels
Opel 1900
- Manta and GT ,._......,,,._.................,...,,..............................~,,,.................... 5.J x 13
Tires
1900 - Manta __.......,,___.,...,,..,.....,,....,,...........,...,,.,,...,.........,,..................,....................... 165-13
GT . . . . . . . ..__........_..............,...,,........,,,...,,..........,....,..,,...,,........,..................,,,.....................165-13
Tire Size and Pressures (Pounds Per Square Inch
Cold)
ModelTire Size51.53.54.57
165-1357R.57L165-13
77
165-13Recommended(Standard
PressureInflation)
FrontRear24
PSI32PSI23
PSI26PSI
19PSI23
PSI
NOTE:
1.Tire inflation pressures may increase as much as 6 pounds per square inch
when hot.
2.For continuous high-speed operation (over 75 MPH), increase tire inflation
pressures 4 pounds per square inch over the recommended pressures up to a
maximum of 30 pounds per square inch cool for 4 ply rating tires. When the
4 psi pressure adjustment for sustained high speed with maximum vehicle load

WHEELS AND TIRES36-63would require inflation pressures above the maximum allowable, speed must be
limited to 75 miles per hour.
3.Cool tire inflation pressure: After vehicle has been inoperative for 3 hours
or more, or driven less than one mile. Hot tire inflation pressure: After vehicle
has been driven
10 miles or more at 60-70 MPH.
4.Vehicles with luggage racks do not have a vehicle load limit greater than
specified.
5. When towing trailers, the allowable passenger and cargo load must be
reduced by an amount equal to the trailer tongue load on the trailer hitch.
Torque SpecificationWheelNuts
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65lb.ft.
IFigure 3G-8 Wheel and Tire - Exploded View

5B- 121973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
A = BRAKE ON
THE RUBBER FLUID SEAL TIGHTLY GRIPPING PISTON
IS DEFLECTED IN DIRECTION OF PISTON TRAVELAFRICTION PAD
BRAKE DISCRUBBER FLUID SEALBRAKE
IICALIPER
IPISTON
I
CE BETWEEN RUNNING CLEARAN
FRICTION PAD AND BRAKE DISC
B = BRAKE OFFBTHE PISTON IS RETRACTED BY THE AMOUNT OF
RUBBER FLUID SEAL DEFLECTION. THIS AMOUNT
IS EQUAL TO RUNNING CLEARANCE.SBZZ
Figure 58-22 Rubber Fluid Seal -Automatic Piston Retractiondraulic pressure, and the friction pads and pistonsmove away from the brake disc, leaving a small run-
ning clearance. The brake disc can now rotate freely.
The amount of brake travel is dependent upon the
amount of running clearance. For this reason therunout of the brake disc should be checked, besides
bleeding of the brake system and adjusting the rear
brake shoes, when the pedal free travel is too great.during braking, the rubber seals in the annular
grooves of the brake caliper bores deflect laterally in
the direction of piston movement. See Figure
5B-22,View (A). The seal remains deflected for the duration
of the braking operation. After braking, the caliper
bores are relieved of hydraulic pressure and the rub-
ber seals resume their normal position, thus pulling
or retracting the pistons. The distance traveled by
the pistons is equal to that of the running clearance
between brake disc and friction pads.
The running clearance between brake disc and
fric-tion pads is attained as follows: When the pistons in
the caliper halves are moved towards the brake discThe shifting of the pistons in the direction of the
brake disc due to friction pad wear has no effect on
the running clearance. The running clearance re-mains the same in all piston positions.
DIAGNOSIS
DISC BRAKE TROUBLE DIAGNOSIS
ConditionPulls
Possible Cause
I. Incorrect tire
pressures.Correction1. Inflate evenly on both sides to
the recommended pressures (see
Owner’s Manual).

FUEL SYSTEM6C- 41
covered with sound deadening compound. See Fig-
ure
6C-10.7. Remove fuel tank vent hose and tiller hose. See
Figure 6C- 11.
8. Remove fuel tank attaching bolts and gauge wire
and remove tank.
Installation
1. Install tank and tighten attaching bolts.
2. Replace gauge wire. Install vent hose, making cer-
tain it is not kinked and seal vent hose hole in floor.
3. Install spare tire support attaching brackets, sup-
port panel, hold-down, and brackets.
4. Install spare tire and jack.
5. Install fuel line and rubber cap.
6. Connect battery.FUEL LINES. FUEL GAUGE TANK UNITS
All fuel lines are plastic and have an outside diameter
of
,240 inches. Unlike metal lines, plastic lines are
not flared.
When replacing a plastic line, place the line in hot
water to make it flexible. Using the old line as a
pattern, form the new line. Let the line cool com-
pletely, then route it in the same location as the old
line. To prevent chafing against the underbody, nine
(9) rubber grommets are placed at points on the line
between the fuel tank and the fuel pump. When re-
placing fuel gauge tank units, coat gasket on both
sides and first threads of attaching screws with seal-
ing compound.
CLEANING FUEL TANK
1. Remove fuel tank.
2. Empty fuel tank through filler neck.
3. Remove fuel gauge tank unit, together with suc-
tion tube and screen. Clean screen and blow out from
cover side. Flush fuel tank.
SPECIFICATIONSFuel Tank Capacity (Gallons)
Opel 1900 and Manta
....................................................................................................11.9GT
....................................................................................................................................13.2FuelGaugeType
........................................................................................................Electrical
Fuel Pump Type
......................................................................................................Mechanical
Fuel Pump Drive
..................................................................................Eccentric on Camshaft
Fuel Pump Pressure at 1950 (RPM)................................................................3.1 to 3.7 P.S.I.FuelFilter
............................................................................................................In-LineFilter

7C.1241973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
14. Remove the downshift timing valve plug retain-
ing pin and remove downshift timing valve plug.
Remove the low speed downshift timing valve and
spring.
15. Remove the manual low and r&erse control
valve retaining pin. Remove the spring and the
manual low control valve and the reverse control
valve.
16. Remove the l-2 accumulator valve retaining pin
and remove the l-2 accumulator valve plug, l-2 ac-
cumulator valve and spring.
17. A clean work area which is free of dirt and dust
should be used to inspect, clean and install the valves
in the valve body. Handle valve components with
clean hands and tools. Since most valve failures are
caused initially by dirt or other foreign matter pre-
venting a valve from functioning properly, a
thorough cleaning of all the components with a
cleaning solvent is essential. Do not use paraffin toclean out the valve body passages and valve bore.
Compressed air may be used to blow out the pas-
sages.18. Inspect each valve for free movement in its re-
spective bore in
t.he valve body. If necessary, use
crocus cloth to remove small burrs on a valve. Do
not remove the sharp edges of the valves as these
edges perform a cleaning action within the bore.
19. Inspect the valve springs for distortion or col-
lapsed coils. Replace the entire valve body assembly
if any parts are damaged.
20. Inspect the transfer plate for dents or distortion.
Replace transfer plate if necessary.
21. Reassemble the valves, springs, plugs and retain-
ing pins in their proper location and order into the
valve body using a liberal amount of transmission
fluid. See the spring data chart which includes the
spring identification sizes in the event springs have
been disarranged.
LocationApplication
PumpPressureRegulator Valve....................................................
PumpPrimingValve
...........................................................
.............Valve Body1.2ShiftValve......................................................................
Valve Body2-3ShiftValve......................................................................
Valve BodyDetentPressureRegulatorValve......................................
Valve BodyHigh-Speed Timing Valve....................................................
Valve BodyLow-Speed
TimingValve....................................................
Valve BodyReverse and Low Control Valve
........................................
CSSDetentValve..........................................................................
Valve Body1-2 Accumulator Valve........................................................
Valve Body3-2Control
Valve..................................................................
Gov. BodySecondary
Governor Valve................................................
Valve BodyAccumulator Piston
..............................................................
CaseServo Return..........................................................................SHVOServoCushion
........................................................................
Clutch PackClutchReturn(All)................................................................ SPRING IDENTIFICATION CHART
FreeOuter
HeightDiameter
2.756
,7601.043
,3202.467
,7201.769
,7001.625,474
1.349
,4061.380,406
1.343
,4062.569
,6751.072
,5201.853
.4061.317
,4061.9171.224
2.2401.850
1.0391.267
1.050
,42422. Install spring and accumulator piston in valve
body.
23. Compress accumulator piston with C-clamp and
install retaining ring.
24. Install new valve body gasket.2. Inspect and clean oil passages with cleaning sol-
vent and air.
3. Check for good retention of band anchor pins.
25. Bolt the transfer plate and gasket to the valve
body. Torque to 6-8 lbs. ft.
Disassembly, Inspection and Reassembly of Case
1. Inspect case for damage. See Figure
7C-202.4. Inspect all threaded holes for thread damage.
5. Inspect detent valve and modulator valve bores for
scratches or scoring.
6. Inspect case bushing inside of case at rear. If
da-maged, remove bushing with remover and installer
tool J-23 130-3 and driver handle J-8092. See Figure
7C-203.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 7C-1251. CASE VENT4.3RD CLUTCH7.SUCTION
2. CONVERTER OUT5MODULATOR8.LINE/3.2ND CLUTCH
6. BOOST9.REVERSEFigure 7C-202 Case Front View Oil Passage
Identification
7.
!nspect reaction sun gear drum bushing sleeve
inside case at rear for scoring. If necessary, replace
sleeve before installing rear case bushing.
8. Remove sleeve by grinding. Care must be used in
order that aluminum case is not damaged when
grinding sleeve.
9. Install new sleeve using installer tool J-23130-7
and driver handle J-8092.
10. Install new case bushing using remover and in-
staller tool J-23130-3 and driver handle J-8092.
Bushing should be installed flush with case at rear.
See Figure
7C-203.Figure 7C-2031. Drain Converter. If clutch disc material or
foreign matter has been found while draining con-
verter,
replace entire converter assembly as it can not be
cleaned properly.
2. Air check converter for leaks using converter
checking tool J-21369. Install tool and tighten. Ap-
ply 80 psi air pressure to tool. See Figure
7C-204.Figure 7C-204
3. Submerge in water and check for leaks.
4. Check converter hub surfaces for scoring or wear.
Installation of Selector Lever and Shaft1. Install new selector lever shaft oil seal in case.
Insert selector lever shaft through case from outside.
Care should be exercised so that oil seal is not da-
maged. See Figure
7C-206.2. Insert spring pin in case to secure selector lever
shaft.3. Guide selector lever over shaft and secure with
lock nut.
4. Insert parking
paw1 actuator rod from front of the
case and through hole in case at rear. See Figure 7C-
207.5. Install parking
paw1 actuator rod retaining ring.
Installation of Low Band1. Turn transmission case so that front of case is
upward.

9B-24 1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
Figure 9B-15 Compressor Assembly - GT Shown
Figure 3B-16 Condenser Assembly
condenser. The refrigerant vapor gives up its heat,
which is quickly and easily radiated into the sur-
rounding air through the large finned surfaces of the
condenser. In giving up its heat, the refrigerant vapor
condenses back into liquid which collects in a pool
at the bottom of the condenser.
As we have said before, when the refrigerant con-
denses into a liquid, it again is ready for boiling in the
evaporator. So, we can run a pipe from the condenser
back to the evaporator.
Main Units of the SystemThese three units then; the evaporator, the compres-
sor, and the condenser are the main working
parts of any typical air conditioning system. We have
the evaporator where the refrigerant boils andchanges into a vapor, absorbing heat as it does so. We
have the pump or compressor to put pressure on the
refrigerant so it can get rid of its heat. And we have
a condenser outside the car body to help discharge
the heat into the surrounding air.
Pressure and FlowThere is one more unit that co-operates with thesethree. It doesn’t do any real work, but it does act as
sort of a traffic officer in controlling the flow of the
refrigerant through the system. To get a better idea
of what this does. let’s first do a li,ttle exoerimentine
with an ordinary’ tire pump.
When we use a
t,ire pump to Sate an automobile
tire, we are creating pressure only because we are
“pushing” against the air already entrapped inside
the tire. If you question this, just try pumping up a
tire that has a large puncture in it. You could pump
all day, and still not be able to build up any pressure.
As fast as you would pump the air in, it would leak
out through the puncture.
Abou~t all you would be
doing would be circulating nice fresh air through the
tire.
1Jnless you have something lo push against - to
block the tlow of air
- you can’t create more than a
mere semblance of pressure.
The same situation holds true in an air conditioning
system. The compressor can pump refrigerant vapor
through the system, but unless it has something to
push against, it cannot build up pressure. All the
compressor would be doing would be to circulate the
vapor without increasing its
pres,sure.Yet we can’t just block the flow through the system
entirely. All we want to do is put pressure on the
refrigerant vapor so it will condense at normal tem-
peratures. What’s more, this
musi: be done some time
after the vapor leaves the evaporator and before it
returns again as a liquid. We can’t have high pressure
in the evaporator because that would slow down the
boiling of the refrigerant and thus penalize the re-
frigerating effect.
Controlling Pressure and FlowPressure and flow can be controlled with a float
valve, or with a pressure-regulating valve. They do
the same job, but in a different way.
Since the float valve type will give us a better idea of
pressure and flow control, let’s look at it first (Fig.
9B-17).It consists simply of a float that rides on the surface
of the liquid refrigerant. As the refrigerant liquid
boils and passes off as a vapor, naturally the liquid
level drops lower and lower. Correspondingly, the
float, because it rides on the surface of the refriger-
ant, also drops lower and lower as the liquid goes
down.By means of a simple system of mechanical linkage,
the downward movement of the float opens a valve
to let refrigerant in. The incoming liquid raises the
fluid level and, of course, the float rides up with it.
When the surface level of the refrigerant liquid re-
aches a desired height, the float: will have risen far

98-26 1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
greater than the opposing pressure in the power ele-
ment. Therefore, the valve remains closed. When the
compressor is started, it will reduce the pressure and
temperature of the refrigerant in the cooling coil to
a point where the vapor pressure in the power ele-
ment becomes the stronger. The seat then moves off
the orifice and liquid starts to flow through the valve
orifice into the cooling coil.
The purpose of the power element is to help deter-
mine the quantity of liquid that is being metered into
the cooling coil. As the temperature of the low pres-
sure line changes at the bulb, the pressure of
the
vapor in the power element changes, resulting in a
change of the position of the seat. For example, if the
cooling coil gets more liquid than is required, the
temperature of the low pressure line is reduced and
the resultant lowering of the bulb temperature
reduces the pressure of the vapor in the power ele-
ment, allowing the seat to move closer to the orifice.
This immediately reduces the amount of liquid leav-
ing the valve. Under normal operation, the power
element provides accurate control of the quantity of
refrigerant to the cooling coil.
To employ our tire pump analogy once more for
clarity, it is the same situation that would exist if you were inflating a tire with a very slow leak. Providing
you pumped the air into the tire as fast as it leaked
out, you would be able to maintain pressure even
though the air would merely be circulating through the tire and leaking out through the puncture.
To Sum Up
So far, we’ve discussed only what each unit in an air
conditioning system does. We’ve learned that the
evaporator is the unit in which liquid refrigerant
soaks up heat from the air, the compressor is a pump
for squeezing this heat out of the vapor, the con-
denser is a radiator for getting rid of the heat, and the
thermostatic expansion valve is a device for regulat-
ing the pressure on the refrigerant. Now, let’s
find
out how the temperature of the cooled air is con-
trolled.
METHOD OF TEMPERATURE CONTROL
To achieve temperature control, the compressor is
run intermittently, automatically turning on and off
as necessary to maintain proper temperature.
Thermostatic Switch
The compressor can be started and stopped au-
tomatically through the use of an electro-magnetic
clutch and a thermostat affected by variations of temperature.
The job is usually done by a gas bulb thermostat (Fig.
9B-21).
Figure 9B-21 Thermostatic Switch Schematic
With the gas bulb type of thermostat, a highly expan-
sive gas is sealed into a metallic bulb which is located
in the air stream as it leaves the evaporator. A small
tube leads from the bulb to a bellows operated switch. As air temperature rises, the gas inside the
bulb expands, travels through the tube to the bellows
and closes the electrical switch that engages the com-
pressor clutch.
Of course, as soon as the compressor starts running,
the temperature begins to go down. As the air being
cooled gets colder, the gas in the thermostat bulb
begins to reduce the pressure on the switch bellows.
This
Ilips “off’ the switch and disengages the com-
pressor clutch.
REFRIGERANTS
No matter how scientifically refrigerating machinery
is built or how
efftciently it runs, it alone cannot
remove heat. The only thing that carries heat out of
a refrigerator cabinet or an automobile is the sub-
stance we call the refrigerant.
There are many refrigerants known to man. In fact,
any liquid that can boil at temperatures somewhere
near the freezing point of water can be used.
But a boiling point below the temperature at which
ice forms is not the only thing that makes a good
refrigerant. A refrigerant should also be non-
poiso-
nowand non-explosive to be safe. Besides that, we
want a refrigerant that is non-corrosive and one that
will mix with oil.
Since Nature did not provide an ideal refrigerant,
chemists went to work to see if they could do any
better. They did! But it wasn’t as simple as that.
At first, they tried to improve existing natural refrig-
erants. But after exploring innumerable trails along

REFRIGERANT COMPONENTS ALL MODELS99.27that line, they still hadn’t gotten anywhere. So, they
started from scratch and juggled molecules around
to make an entirely new refrigerant. Eventually they
succeeded by remodeling the molecules in carbon
tetrachloride. This is the same fluid that is used in
fire extinguishers and dry-cleaners’ solvents.
From this fluid, the chemists removed two chlorine
atoms and replaced them with two fluorine atoms.
This newly-formed fluid carried the technical chemi-
cal name of dichlorodifluoromethane. Today, we
know it as Refrigerant-12 or R-12.
Fluorine is an extremely temperamental substance.
Under most conditions it is toxic and highly corro-
sive, and after is is manufactured, it has to be stored
in special containers because it will eat through glass
and will dissolve most metals in short order.
Despite its rambunctious character though, fluorine
is completely tamed when it is combined with the
other substances that go to make up the refrigerant.
Each is non-toxic, non-inflammable, non-explosive,
and non- poisonous; however, breathing large quan-
tities of R-12 should be avoided.
Pressure. Temperature Relationship of R-12A definite pressure and temperature relationship ex-
ists in the case of liquid refrigerants and their satu-
rated vapors. Increasing the temperature of a
substance causes it to expand. When the substance is
confined in a closed container, the increase in tem-
perature will be accompanied by an increase in pres-
sure, even though no mechanical device was used.
For every temperature, there will be a corresponding
pressure within the container of refrigerant. A table
of the temperature-pressure relationship of R-12 is
presented below. Pressures are indicated in gauge
pressure, either positive pressure (above atmos-
pheric) m pounds or negative pressure (below atmos-
pheric) in inches of vacuum.
“F-40
-35
i#Pressure
11.0*
8.3*
“F
50
50#Pressure
46.1
52.0
-30~
5.5*6057.7
-252.3*6s67 7__.
-200.6
io70.1
-152.4
76.9
-104.584.1
1;6.8 9.2tz99.6 91.71;
11.8 14.712116.9 108.1
1517.7105126.2
2021.1110136.0
2524.6115146.5
3028.5120157.1
;:
30.1
125167.5
32.6
131)179n
4037.0
4541.7*Inches of Vacuum.-. _.-
1402045
150232.0Thus if a gauge is attached to a container of R- 12 and
the room temperature is 70 degrees, the gauge will
register 70 psi pressure; in a 100 degrees room the
pressure will be 117
ps~
AIR CONDITIONINGBecause air conditioning has always been very
closely allied with mechanical refrigeration, most of
us are apt to think of it only as a process for cooling
room air.
But true air conditioning goes beyond the mere cool-
ing of the air. It controls the humidity, cleanliness,
and circulation of the air as well.
Whenever it gets warm and muggy in the summer-
time, someone is almost sure to say, “It’s not the heat
it’s the humidity.” But that is only partly right.
Actually it is a combination of the two that makes us
feel so warm temperature alone is not the only
thing that makes us uncomfortable.
Humidity is nothing more nor less that the moisture
content of the air. To a certain extent, it is tied in
with the temperature of the air. Warm air will hold
more moisture than will cold air. When air contains
all the moisture it can hold, we say it is saturated,
and the relative humidity is 100 percent. If the air
contains only half as much water as it could possibly
hold at any given temperature, we say that the rela-
tive humidity is 50 percent. If it contains only a fifth
of its maximum capacity, we say that the relative
humidity is 20 percent and so on. This amount
of water vapor, or relative humidity, affects the way
we perspire on hot days.
Nature has equipped our bodies with a network of
sweat glands that carry perspiration to the skin
sur-faces. Normally, this perspiration evaporates and, in
doing so, absorbs heat just like a refrigerant absorbs
heat when it is vaporized in a freezer. Most of the
heat thus absorbed is drawn from our bodies, giving
us a sensation of coolness. A drop of alcohol on the
back of your hand will demonstrate this principle
very convincingly. Because it is highly volatile, al-
cohol will evaporate very rapidly and absorb quite a
bit of heat in doing so, thereby making the spot on
your hand feel unusually cool.
The ease and rapidity with which evaporation takes
place, whether it be alcohol or perspiration, governs
our sensation of coolness and to a certain extent,
independently of the temperature. Of even more im-
portance, the ease and rapidity of the evaporation are
directly affected by the relative humidity or com-
parative dampness of the air. When the air is dry,
perspiration will evaporate quite readily. But when
the air contains a lot of moisture, perspiration will
evaporate more slowly; consequently less heat is car-
ried away from our body.

REFRIGERANT COMPONENTS ALL MODELS99.29
1 REFRIGERANT LEAVES COMPRESSOR
AS A HIGH PRESSURE-HIGH
TEMPERATURE VAPOR
REFRIGERANT RETURNS TO
COMPRESSOR AS LOW PRESSURE VAPOR
EXPANSION VALVE5 HEAT REMOVED
FROM AIR VAPORIZES
LOW PRESSURE
LIQUID REFRIGERANT
4 HIGH PRESSURE‘JQUID CHANGES
TO LOW PRESSURE
LIQUID AT THIS
POINT
2 UPON REMOVAL OF HEAT
VAPOR BECOMES HIGH
PRESSURE LIQUID REFRIGERANT3 LIQUID REFRIGERANT IS STORED
HERE UNTIL NEEDED
98*II
Figure 98-23
Basic
Refrigeration Cyclewithin certain operating limits. If these limits are
exceeded, many physical and chemical reactions oc-
cur. Since the results of these reactions within the
system cannot be easily removed, they build up into
a constantly accelerating vicious circle to eventually
fail the system.is allowed to enter the system, it can start a chain of
chemical reactions which upsets stability and inter-
feres with the operation of the unit.
Metals
CHEMICAL INGREDIENTS OF AN AUTOMOTIVE
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMAll systems involve metals, refrigerant, and oil which
are basic and essential. The desiccant, or dehydrating
agent, and another chemical ingredient, synthetic
rubber, makes it even more complex.
All of these ingredients have chemical properties
which are entirely different from each of the others.
In spite,of these differences, by proper selection of
the ingredients and controlled processes in manufac-
ture, plus careful servicing procedures they can be
combined so that they “live together” to provide
many years of satisfactory and trouble-free operat-
ion.If, however, only one undesirable element is added orIn most cases, metals contribute to the decomposi-
tion of R-12 and oil in varying amounts. All are
attacked by acids.
Each of the metals in common use in a system has
been selected for a specific reason; heat conductivity,
durability, strength, and chemical composition.
Under favorable conditions, the amounts of decom-
position of Refrigerant-12 and oil produced by these
metals is negligible and allowable. However, if un-
desirable substances are added and the temperature
is increased, the rate of decomposition and the pro-
duction of harmful acids increases proportionally.
RefrigerantThe chemical properties of refrigerants are very im-
portant factors in the stability of a system since the