Results of a Thermal Dispersant on an AC condenser

[Tuesdak]

In searching for way to improve my AC for the 121 degree summers we get I wanted to share my results of using a Thermal Dispersant on a new condenser. This technology, now banned by NASCAR, is now affordable. The Thermal Dispersant coating is more efficient by 33% than a layer of aluminum oxide (unpainted) or insulating layer of black paint.

My results are not as clear as they could be because the new condenser itself is a more efficient OEM design than the original OEM/Factory one I removed.

Megacab owners may benefit from also coating the evaporator. "High Idle" would also help, but, my 2003 truck doesn't support due to old style cruise control, ECM being the year of in-house non-Cummins code, and aftermarket kit needing the TPS on the engine... A brick will help AC performance getting off idle.

Your mileage will vary as Refrigerant used is 2LB equivalent of Envirosafe Industrial.

Before Results: (past the critical 105 outside temp) at 106 degrees F:
AC High side pressure runs away to over 400 psig with blower on high at idle. (Compressor max pressure short term peak spec is 430 psig. Long term best life under 300 psig. System vents over 450 psig.)

Blower speed 3 will creep up to 400 psig from 350 psig at idle. Note the AC high side pressure in the lower right corner of the display.

Blower speed 3:

 

[Tuesdak]

After New Coated condenser installed:
AC High side 302 psig blower on high at idle. I am now able to idle the truck with the blower on high and have reasonable AC pressures. (Not using high idle for these results.)

Also noted going down the road 45- 75+ MPH high side is around 200 psig. Before it was kicking the fan on over 230 - 250 psig .

Paint removed in prep to coat:

Coated and installed:

I have no affiliation with the outfit below that coated the condenser for me at full price. This shows the results of an affordable $200 coating (+shipping) on a new Mopar $180 condenser. Of course there are other outfits that can do a coating. As a courtesy I asked before so company posted with site admin permission. I hope this helps fellow Cummins owners stay cool!

Twisted Steel Performance
Pauline, SC 29374

http://twistedsteelperformance.com/

 

[Wayne M.]

Not taking anything away from your effort, and I don’t know if you’ve posted about this issue before, but how’s your fan clutch?

 

[KATOOM]

I'm intrigued by not only your understand of the AC system but also what this coating actually is..... Can you enlighten more as to what it is and why it was banned from NASCAR?

Also, have you measured the outlet temperature of the AC vents before and after? Lastly, have you tried insulating your freon lines after the condenser?

 

[Twisted Steel Performance]

I'm intrigued by not only your understand of the AC system but also what this coating actually is..... Can you enlighten more as to what it is and why it was banned from NASCAR?

Hello, I am the one that does the coatings, I am not a vendor here yet but am checking into what is involved in becoming one so I will limit my comments.

The Thermal Dispersant coating is NOT a paint product, but rather a ceramic based product that is applied and oven cured. I can't explain the makeup of the product as I don't know, however it has been tested and proven countless times through controlled & racing data collection methods by the maker Tech Line coatings.

I am a approved applicator for Tech Line which means I have been trained and TL trusts that I know how to apply their products the correct way and I'm licensed to apply their products.

To answer your question about Nascar, remember a few years ago when the cars would lock bumpers for the entire race, well at that time the radiators were coated with this very product. Fans complained the race was boring with everyone was bumper to bumper, well Nascar prohibited this coating on the radiators and any other cooler, breaks, etc to allow everything to heat up more so the cars would half to spread out to keep things cool...

It's proven this coating provides 30% better thermal transfer than bare metal be it Aluminum, steel, brass, etc... This coating is used inside & outside motors, CAC, break parts, etc, anywhere more rapid cooling is needed.

Their are a multitude of coatings with different benefits, basically 4 different groups of coatings that cover nearly any need in today's racing needs as well as everyday drivers, most of these coatings were developed for Top Fuel teams and are slowly making their way to others.

Thanks Chris

 

[Tuesdak]

I couldn't find a lot of info to answer the above questions - it's not that common yet having just become "affordable". The bottom line is the Thermal Dispersant is the equivalent of putting a larger condenser in the system to dissipate the heat. Not much room for "us" to put a bigger condenser in.

My main goal was to get the high side pressures down at idle in extreme temps while using alternate refrigerant.

My vent temperatures going down the road is near 32 degrees. Except at extended idle the temps start to warm up esp if the truck is heat soaked. It's 106 out and 8% humidity and there is water coming out of the AC drain on my truck. Others still running R134a won't have water coming out in these conditions. Because of the refrigerant I use my system is moving more heat evidenced by the lower vent temps than R134a can achieve in these conditions. In fact more heat movement may be why my head pressures are so high during extended idle. The refrigerant change is a discussion all on it's own. All I can say about it is that it would remind you of a system running R12 - recall that bitter cold "bite" the vents had with R12? I do. The Envirosafe Industrial refrigerant I run already makes a big improvement to the system alone. Many other things I can do to improve the AC system, yes. Fan clutch appears to work to the point of belt slip at full lockup during max engine RPM, but, is old. However in the interest of the controlled test above only the condenser was changed with the condenser design change, as pictured, being the X factor. I can't say how much of the difference, if any, the condenser design change alone made.

 

[KATOOM]

Interesting nonetheless... I may have to consider trying this on something.

 

[Tuesdak]

I finally obtained a proper vent temp probe to get an accurate reading. My IR gun was giving me impossible low temps. At around 20% Humidity and 102 degrees F I am getting 37F degrees out the vents at speeds over 35 MPH after the heat soaked cab cools down: blower on high, max. Idle is 40 degrees.

Again the coated condenser is only 1/2 the equation as the alternate refrigerant is moving more heat than garbage R134a.

 

[DavidC]

Now that's COOL. Pun intended.

Dave