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Any good ideas on FD AC Dryer Replacement?

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Old 05-23-11, 10:43 PM
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Any good ideas on FD AC Dryer Replacement?

Everyone,

Since it seems that Mazda stopped making Dryers for the Gen 3 AC system years ago, I'm curious to know if anyone has found a good substitute. I purchased an aftermarket aluminum one, but the holes are too large to seat properly and the bolt hold down holes only line up properly on one of the two positions. Tempted just to reuse my stocker (since it was fine before) and evacuate the system longer than normal to work as much out of it as I can. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Anyone have a NOS boxed up that they'd be willing to sell?? Let me know!

Thx
Old 05-24-11, 10:08 AM
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Form follows function

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Just reuse your stocker--as long as the system was properly maintained and evacuated, there is no harm in re-use, and no benefit to changing it. During a hard evac, the desiccant will be rejuvenated; any moisture trapped in it will flash out and it will function as new.

That being said, I continue to use my original 19 yr. old receiver-dryer to this day. Really, the only reason to change it is if you have had a destructive compressor failure (rare).
Old 05-24-11, 10:20 AM
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^+1 Just use the old one. Also do you have a MANA system or the nippondenso system. I remember a thread talking about the differences between the dryers and that one will not work with the other.

How long has the system been opened? You are in AZ... pretty dry there, so the desiccant is probably not saturated anyway. Also, as Speed of light said when a vacuum is pulled on the system most of the moisture is sucked back out anyway.

As a side note, I know some people will not agree with this, but I believe you stand more to gain by using real R-12 in the system as opposed to the substitutes. You can find it reasonably priced on ebay, all you need is two cans.

FWIW, when I repaired the ac on my car due to a rock or something putting a hole in my condenser I used an R-12 substitute and it definately was not as cold. So I switched to R-12 and am happy I did.
Old 05-24-11, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Speed of light
Just reuse your stocker--as long as the system was properly maintained and evacuated, there is no harm in re-use, and no benefit to changing it. During a hard evac, the desiccant will be rejuvenated; any moisture trapped in it will flash out and it will function as new.

That being said, I continue to use my original 19 yr. old receiver-dryer to this day. Really, the only reason to change it is if you have had a destructive compressor failure (rare).
Originally Posted by RENESISFD
^+1 Just use the old one. Also do you have a MANA system or the nippondenso system. I remember a thread talking about the differences between the dryers and that one will not work with the other.

How long has the system been opened? You are in AZ... pretty dry there, so the desiccant is probably not saturated anyway. Also, as Speed of light said when a vacuum is pulled on the system most of the moisture is sucked back out anyway.

As a side note, I know some people will not agree with this, but I believe you stand more to gain by using real R-12 in the system as opposed to the substitutes. You can find it reasonably priced on ebay, all you need is two cans.

FWIW, when I repaired the ac on my car due to a rock or something putting a hole in my condenser I used an R-12 substitute and it definately was not as cold. So I switched to R-12 and am happy I did.
Guys.. thanks for your guidance on this. I DO have a MANA dryer so I'll be reusing with new o-rings and I purchased a few cans of R12 last year, so I'm set on refridgerant. Again, appreciate the input. Speed of Light... hope you can make it up for Sevenstock again in September. Looking forward to it already!
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