<VV> A/C care during extended storage

[FrankCB at aol.com]

Jim,
       I agree, what you say makes a lot of sense to me.  Of course if you 
ARE running the engine, you can simply activate the A/C for a few minutes.  On 
my regularly driven A/C equipped cars, I try to run the A/C for at least a few 
minutes EVERY month of the year.  That means trying to find a mild day in 
January and February here in northern NJ so the A/C clutch will activate.  My 10 
year old Pontiac TransSport is still cooling fine on the ORIGINAL factory 
charge of R-134a, while the 16 year old Chevy Beretta does require one can of R-12 
about every 3 or 4 years to "maintain its cool".
       Frank "use it or lose it" Burkhard 

In a message dated 7/2/05 3:42:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jlstuk at juno.com 
writes:

> The A/C compressor needs to be turned periodically when a car is stored for 
> an extended period.  A Frigidaire engineer told me some years ago that 
> turning the compressor over by hand just a few turns once a week is sufficient to 
> keep the seal lubricated so that it won’t leak. Doing it this way eliminates 
> the need to start the engine.  The compressor can be turned over fairly 
> easily by hand just by grabbing the part sticking out ahead of the compressor 
> pulley.  Best to use a glove since there is always some dirt or oil on it.  Jim 
> Stukenborg
>