F 350 4WD Super Duty V8-7.3L DSL Turbo VIN F (2001)
Refrigerant: Vehicle Damage Warnings
CAUTION:
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To avoid damaging the vehicle or A/C components, the following precautions must be observed.
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The A/C refrigerant of all vehicles must be identified and analyzed prior to refrigerant charging. Failure to due so can contaminate the shop
bulk refrigerant and other vehicles.
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Do not add R-12 refrigerant to an A/C system that requires the use of R-134a refrigerant. These two types of refrigerant must never be mixed.
Doing so can damage the A/C system.
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Charge the A/C system with the engine running only at the low-pressure side to prevent refrigerant slugging from damaging the A/C
compressor.
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Use only R-134a refrigerant. Due to environmental concerns, when the air conditioning system is drained, the refrigerant must be collected
using refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment. R-134a must never be removed without the appropriate equipment or released into the
atmosphere. Use of a recovery machine dedicated to R-134a is necessary to reduce the possibility of oil and refrigerant incompatibility
concerns. Refer to the instructions provided by the equipment manufacturer when removing refrigerant from or charging the air conditioning
system.
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Refrigerant R-134a must not be mixed with air for leak testing or used with air for any other purpose above atmospheric pressure. R-134a is
combustible when mixed with high concentrations of air and higher pressures.
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A number of manufacturers are producing refrigerant products that are described as direct replacements for Refrigerant R-134a. The use of any
unauthorized substitute refrigerant can severely damage the A/C components. If repair is required, use only new or recycled Refrigerant
R-134a, Motorcraft(R) YN-19 or equivalent meeting Ford specification WSH-M17B19-A.
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To avoid contamination of the A/C system:
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Never open or loosen a connection before discharging the system.
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When loosening a connection, if any residual pressure is evident, allow it to leak out before opening the fitting.
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Evacuate a system that has been opened to replace a component or one that has discharged through leakage before charging.
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Seal open fitting with a cap or plug immediately after disconnecting a component from the system.
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Clean the outside of the fittings thoroughly before disconnecting a component from the system.
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Do not remove the sealing caps from a replacement component until ready to install.
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Refrigerant oil will absorb moisture from the atmosphere if left uncapped. Do not open an oil container until ready to use, and install the cap
immediately after using. Store the oil in a clean, moisture-free container.
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Install a new O-ring before connecting an open fitting. Coat the fitting and O-ring with refrigerant oil before connecting.
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When installing a refrigerant line, avoid sharp bends. Position the line away from the exhaust or any sharp edges that can chafe the line.
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Tighten threaded fittings only to specifications. The steel and aluminum fittings used in the refrigerant system will not tolerate overtightening.
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When disconnecting a fitting, use a wrench on both halves of the fitting to prevent twisting of the refrigerant lines or tubes.
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Do not open a refrigerant system or uncap a replacement component unless it is as close as possible to room temperature. This will prevent
condensation from forming inside a component that is cooler than the surrounding air.
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Good ventilation is necessary in the area where electronic A/C leak testing is to be carried out. If the surrounding air is contaminated with
refrigerant gas, the leak detector will indicate this gas all the time. Odors from other chemicals such as anti-freeze, diesel fuel, disc brake cleaner,
or other cleaning solvents can cause the same problem. A fan, even in a well-ventilated area, is very helpful in removing small traces of
contamination from the air that might affect the leak detector.
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During normal A/C operation, oil is circulated through the system with the refrigerant, and a small amount is retained in each component. If certain
components of the system are removed for new installation, some of the refrigerant oil will go with the component. To maintain the original total
oil charge, it is necessary to compensate for the oil lost by adding oil to the system with the new part.
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If contaminated refrigerant is detected, DO NOT recover the refrigerant into your recovery/recycling equipment.
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Place protective caps over the open refrigerant lines to avoid contamination of the A/C system.
