Can anyone confirm which direction the "flow" is in the A/C system through the dryer on a US market 1996 XJS 4.0?

We bought a new one for our 1996 XJS 2+2 4.0L which has a sticker on it with an arrow saying FLOW > pointing toward one end, but the old factory drier has no indication of flow so we don't know which way it was flowing.

Unlike most cars you can actually put these on backwards on an XJS it seems as it's just a long cylindrical tube and each end is identical.

 

Assuming the plumbing is identical to a pre-facelift (and i think it is), the direction of flow through the dryer, (as you sit in the US side driver's seat) is from the driver's side to the US passenger's side.

This can easily be verified on the car, as the outlet from the dryer is attached to the high pressure side feed to the cabin, and this runs just under the radiator cross panel through a very short flexible and then down a solid stainless pipe to the chassis rail and along to the firewall and up to the firewall top and across it to the expansion valve.

Greg

 

Well the only thing I found online last night was in the "Experience in a Book", which indicated the flow was always from left to right, which is what you indicated.

HOWEVER, That contradicts part of what you said because you said that makes the outlet go into the cabin and across the radiator, etc. but on my car it doesn't do that; on my car the hose on that side which would be attached to the outlet side if the flow is left to right actually goes directly down into the compressor right off.

 

Does anyone in the US have a 1996 model with the 4.0L that has cold properly working A/C that they could take a moment to look under their hood and see if their dryer has an indication of flow and let us know for sure which direction it goes on this particular model/version?


I looked at our V12 car and it's, well, 1995 for one, a V12 for another thing, and beyond that it's dryer has had all the stickers (including any that might have indicated flow direction) washed off over the years.


In light of all the conflicting info (possibly caused if they used different orientations on different models/versions/engines), I'd really Really REALLY appreciate it if someone with an actual 1996 US version with the 4.0L inline 6 cylinder could look at theirs and please confirm the direction of flow if possible before I go wasting expensive freon to put into it.

Some have a sticker with an arrow, some have an engraved arrow, some simply say "in" and "out" on one end or the other either on a sticker or stamped into the end of the tube.

 

It is simple, you follow the hose from the compressor to the condenser, that is inlet side. The pipe directly connects the condenser to the expansion valve, I mean straight from front to the bulkhead, it is outlet side.
Don't think too much, the compressor makes the flow, and it compress the gas to cool it down in the condenser, so it has to be BEFORE the condenser.

 

True as far as it goes, but you have missed out an element of the system. On an XJS V12 pre facelift, at least, the fluid goes from the condenser to the dryer and from the dryer to the expansion valve.

The dryer lies across the top front of the radiator top closing panel. The high pressure line from the dryer to the expansion valve on the firewall is NOT, repeat NOT a rubber flexible hose. It is a solid steel pipe about 3/8 or 7/16 inch diameter. You will find that pipe (which AFAIK is the same on all XJS models, but I am open to correction as always) running along the lower chassis rail on the A bank side, up to the firewall and along towards to expansion valve where it ends. The flow is along this pipe towards the expansion valve. Apart from a short flexible swaged into the system where the pipe runs downwards to the rail, the line is solid from the dryer to the valve. As in this photo, the line is the silver one:


Greg

 

Greg, thank you for the correction.
Yes, I missed the statement about the condenser.
Freon circuit route is almost the same in all 4.0s basically. So as far as I recognize from the pics I googled, the US driver side is inlet, and the other is outlet. The black pipe from the condenser is inlet, and the silver aluminum/steel pipe which Greg refers is the outlet.

 

Just for clarification, is the sight glass on a six cylinder dryer on the passenger side or the driver's side? I just changed mine and cooling is good. Did not realize there was flow direction. Not indicated on dryer. Probability of success 50%

Also introduced Enviro-Safe, an R134 substitute, instead of R12 and cooling is good.

 

I do not think there is a direction on most XJS-type horizontal tubular dryers. Basically it is a cylinder full of dessicant, and I do not think the dessicant knows which way it is facing! Always open to correction, naturally.
Greg

 

On a US model the flow is from left to right and the sight glass is on the right (passenger) side.

 

Yes, all A/C system driers are directional, it will reduce efficiency quite a bit to hook them up backwards.

 

Yeah! I got it right.
Thanks guys

Surprise there was no comment on the Enviro-Safe. I think it is a highly refined propane.
Costs about $6,00 a can from manufacturer Requies no modifications to R12 system except the high and low pressure service valves.

 

Enviro safe is a propane product. EPA has fined them as well. Imagine if that leaked in engine compartment or cab. Kaboom.

 

Not so as far as EPA. I ordered and receive three and have an order of 12 on the way. The KABOOM factor is higher for Envro-safe than R12 or R134. That is the latter flash at a lower temperature