Trane Compressor Failures

I had 2 trane systems that also developed a leak at their "roto-lok" fitting right on the compressor. My roto-loks cracked. I don't know how common it is but Trane will never admit to it.

Safe thing to do is check your new ones if they have the rotoloks.

After 2 burnouts, the contamination really gets into the pores of the copper. Need BIG driers and replaceable core suction filters etc. A good HVAC mechanic will know what to do.

Don't just "zero in" on the compressor, there could be other circumstances killing compressors (except for the loose roto-loks, they were a definite death sentence) such as; in-adequate air flow or excessive load or under-voltage or short cycling.

Are the condenser fans running properly, an intermittent fan is a heart-breaker. If you're running low-ambient controls for the fan, get a GOOD one like the Hoffman, that modulate the fan, not turn it off and on.

common issue with the rotolocks should be a scheduled pm thing on the hotgas line. When you get the burn out in the trane you will find a hardened black like coal builds up in the condenser coil and is near impossible to get out. Best bet is to stay away from trane. The eagles have draft inducers that cost crazy money and they are flawed to the point u may change one ayear.

I have found that many HVAC (new construction) contractors skip many of the necessary steps to ensure a clean, moisture-free, air-free, piping system. Many of them never put a vaccuum on the lines.

This icould be a problem for the refrigerant circuit. It will cause acid formation, over-heating, etc.

Triple evacuation, oil acid testing, pressure-testing with nitrogen, over-sized filters are needed to ensure the proper operating conditions. Is the piping the correct size?

Are their hidden line crimps?

There are so many possibilities for mistakes. It is difficult to know whom to trust to have the appropriate skills to solve your problem.

Is the evaporator blower clogged with plaster dust?

Are the units over-charged?

I've had a similar problem with an a/c used for an air dryer. After others have worked on it. I believe the problem, and more than likely with yours as well, is that once you have a motor burn out, the system needs to be flushed. Once it burns out, the oil that is carried throughout the system is contaminated. To properly flush it out, the expansion valve needs to be removed and a jumper installed, disconnect it from the compressor, run some flushing agent through the system with a small pump and the return line to the compressor needs to go in a container. You'ld be surprised at the amount of burnt looking oil will come out. There should be a low pressure switch to cut the compressor off if there is a leak that prevents damage to the compressor. Maybe someone has jumpered them. I have numerous Trane units (100+) at work and there are some compressor failures now and then but the units are nearly 20 years old. Nothing on the order of magnitude you are experiencing though.

Good advice

There should be a low pressure switch to cut the compressor off if there is a leak that prevents damage to the compressor.

Am not an AC man but I've been using the Honeywell Gas Low Pressure Switch on my Burner Gas train as a safety limit and during winter times it gets handy because of pressure drop due excess use of gas for room heating. Try Honeywell Tradeline Catalog detailing Controls & Instruments on both heating & cooling.

Thanks a million for all of your thoughtful comments--very helpful to me trying to understand what is going on. Sniccus, I particularly appreciate your raising the issue of other factors killing the compressors rather than just the compressors having problems. I will check to make sure that the systems are flushed, Guest, and THEOILGUY55 raises many installation questions as well. My "new" contractor seems to be responsive to my concerns so I will raise these points with him. I am also going to call Trane and see if they can shed any light at all on the situation. This just ain't right.

The Trane compressors should have a four year warranty and Trane should be very interested in your problem.

Also consider if the company or person working on your system are Trane authorized represenatives.

My experience (Off late) is Not just trane alone every major equipment manufacturer it may be AC,Elevators,Diesel generators, who have moved their manufacturing base to China or unable to insure quality of their products.may be china is yet to learn understanding English.I have interacted with couple of Chinese engineers they are well qualified and certified as required by American & EC standards but hardly have any field exposure and don't understand the field conditions and very difficult to argue technically with them probably American & manufacturers world wide have traded cost for quality of the product.

crm