AC Condenser

[Full-Timers]

Can an AC Condenser on a 2002 W22 chassis be flushed? The shop says it won’t do any good because of its design. They said it is a Parallel Flow Condensers rather than a serpentine flow.

[TonyMac]

Your engine radiator is Z-path (in at the top, out at the bottom) parallel flow, and it can be flushed. What does the shop want to do? Replace the condenser because "it cannot be flushed"? I call BULL. if they remove it, it can be flushed while laying flat. If the condenser is on the bench, it can be flushed in both directions, for crying out loud. If they are gonna remove it to replace it, tell them to remove and flush it in both directions, then reinstall the same condenser. They want to sell you another condenser. Oh my heck, the factory that builds the condenser flushes them.

[Randalpho]

Yes but probably won't work.

"Something else to keep in mind about flushing is that it follows the path of least resistance. In a serpentine-style condenser, there is only one path the refrigerant can follow so the flushing chemical will follow the same path from the entrance to the exit. In a parallel flow condenser, the flush may not flow through all the tubes if some are partially or completely blocked. Attempting to flush a dirty parallel flow condenser, therefore, is probably a waste of time."

A/C Condensers - Flush Or Replace

[Full-Timers]

Originally Posted by TonyMac

Your engine radiator is Z-path (in at the top, out at the bottom) parallel flow, and it can be flushed.

OK you have confused me. You say it is a Z-path parallel flow. Are you saying it has numerous Z-paths in parallel? Would this be different than a serpentine type with one continuous tube? If this is true than it can’t be thoroughly flushed because the flush will go through the open Zs and bypass the blocked Zs.