Your AC guy is correct if the system has been empty for an extended period - not just a winter with a properly charged system, but the system idle for several years and no charge in the system. Air and moisture in the system will rot the hoses and lack of circulating some oil will allow the seals including the ones in the compressor to dry and rot. If you are in Arizona you might get lucky - in Florida or any other place where humidity can get to extremes - you're probably in trouble. Moisture on the inside of an AC system can corrode the metal too. I have seen condensers destroyed from the inside out because of moisture in the system. An idle open system requires many new parts to be reliable including a compressor replacement. If the system has been functional for 25 years and you just want to put in new refrigerant and oil - I wouldn't be too concerned - just do it. You didn't mention the compressor. If you are not replacing the compressor - at least drain the oil from it and put in new. Harold McElraft - 3354 --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Kevin Heller <howdyhoho@...> wrote: > > Group, > > I'm cracking open the emptied AC system tonight to > flush the lines in preparation for a new AC > accumulator, orifice, and new refrigerant. My AC man > tells me I should replace the hoses in the system > while I'm at it since the car is 25+ years old and the > lines may be deteriorating from the inside (AKA, > "Black Death" contaminating the refrigerant.) > > Is this sound advice? Are there many drivers out there > who are still running the original AC lines and aren't > having problems? If I swab the inside of a hose with a > cotton swab will I be able to judge/see if the line is > deteriorating? > > Thanks in advance for the insight. > > -Kevin > VIN 2234 > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ ______________ > Be a better Heartthrob. Get better relationship answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. > http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545433 > To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/