I am wondering about all these orifice tubes. I cannot seem to find much information on them. For my rig they offer about five different types starting from really cheap two dollar kind to a kinda expensive 48 dollar type.

Some say variable normal temp, severe temp, fixed.

Can any one help me understand what is the difference between these. Also which one will work the nicest?

 

what kind of truck do you have and where do you live?

 

What bustech81 asked^^
Orifice tubes are listed by color and cost about $3. The color denotes the orifice size. If someone tries to sell you a VOV or "severe duty" tube for $8-28, punch him. If he quotes you $48, you better ask him what motel to meet him at cuz somebody really has the wrong idea about the meaning of "orifice"..

There's only about 4x $3 orifice tubes in common use in CCOT systems. . Post the make, Model and year and the refrigerant you are using, or want to use.
Most Fords use the black or black\white tube OEM (they're the same). For R134a conversion, blue or red is often recommended.

 

1986 F150 302FI. Houston, TX Vicinity

 

R-12-Black orifice tube.
R134a- Red orifice tube. (Adjust the clutch cycling switch about 1/2 turn clockwise and be sure to replace the accumulator).

 

I am not sure what you mean by adjusting the pressure switch. How do i accomplish this?

 

Pull the connector off of the cycling switch mounted to the accumulator. Look between the switch terminals, there's an adjustment screw. Just turn it 1/2 turn clockwise. Don't "fiddle" with it, as this can cause it to leak.

 

Thankyou I will try that.

 

I have found the red tube does much better than the blue. Quicker cooling, and colder air. jd

 

Thanks I will put one of those in soon.

 

Hello, I have a bought used 94 f150 5.0 extended cab 2wd. My compressor went out and I was flushing lines and noticed my truck didn't have an orifice tube. My system is factory r134. So what color should my orifice tube be red, blue or what ?
àny help greatly appreciated.

 

Most likely, you simply haven't found it. If the A/C worked previously, it had to be present.

The orifice tube will be located either directly in the evaporator inlet or somewhere in the liquid line between the condenser outlet and the evaporator inlet.

OEM should have been a RED tube.

 

I found the spot where it's supposed to be inserted but there wasn't one there. The previous owners may have removed it. But red got it,
thanks

 

Do you HAVE to replace the accumulator? Im doing some work on my 89 f150 and ordered a new blue orifice tube and want to know if it is really required

 

It is 35 years old potentially. they are filled with a fiber mesh bag and dessicant beads. they deteriorate, decompose, contaminate the system, restrict passage ways, in addition to not do their job. no its not mandatory, its not mandatory to change your engine oil, or your engine oil filter, as a matter of fact, just take the air filter out completely to gain flow and save money. your engine will soon suffer but you pocket book will thank you. The accumulator needs periodically serviced, like any other filtration element. if you dislike the cost, the work, the idea, or the other aspects, the fundamentals are as follows: #1 don't repair the air conditioning, you do not really need it. your car is perfectly reliable with or without. #2 vehicles are not cheap to begin with, at all. shoes are. lets face it folks, shoes are cheap. #3 it is a federal law to improperly repair or ignore or to charge with freon a not properly maintained or unknown air conditioning system.