Where Is the Orifice Tube Located?

Q: Where Is the Orifice Tube Typically Located?

A: One of the most important parts of a vehicle’s air conditioning (A/C) system is the orifice tube, which controls the amount of refrigerant that enters the evaporator.

Its exact location can vary depending on the vehicle’s make and model, but you can typically find the orifice tube between the condenser and the evaporator in the small liquid line.

Manufacturers put a crimp in the evaporator’s inlet line to keep the orifice tube from moving, so it should be easy to spot from other lines.

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Pro Tip: Not all systems use a fixed orifice. The thermal expansion valve (TXV) is a variable orifice, so if you have this kind of system, you won’t have a fixed orifice.

On most General Motor (GM) and Ford vehicles, you can find the orifice tube inside the inlet line to the evaporator. In some vehicles such as the 1997 Chevy 1500, the orifice tube is located in the condenser outlet pipe instead; the grille has to be removed to access the line that contains the orifice on those.

Tips on How to Access the Orifice Tube

Sometimes, the plastic material of the orifice tube can crumble, making it hard to pull out in one go. Usually though, it comes out very easily with a pair of needle nose pliers. There’s also a special orifice tube removal tool that you can use to make the whole thing easier. If you can, try to use those instead of needle nose pliers.

Here’s an important tip: if you’re dealing with a clogged orifice tube, then you’ll want to flush your entire A/C system with a specialized cleaner. Even if you replace the orifice tube, it’ll most likely end up clogged again unless you get rid of whatever’s causing the blockage in the first place.

Orifice Tube Installation Directions

Installing the New Orifice Tube

The process varies depending on the vehicle model and its orifice tube design. Recall how you removed the old tube. Take note that the orifice’s tube orientation is important to ensure it can separate the high and low-pressure parts of your A/C system. Make sure that you replicate the original orientation during the installation.

Installing the New Seal

Install a new seal over the tube before connecting the orifice tube to the couplings that hold the orifice tube. If you’re installing a new orifice tube, it’ll likely come with new seals. Ensure they’re properly installed in the middle of the tube. If not, just push the seal into the appropriate notches in the middle.

Before connecting the orifice tube to the coupling, apply some refrigerant oil. Once the tube is in the couplings, you can reconnect the A/C lines.

Recharge Your A/C System

Once you’ve sealed the A/C lines, you can proceed to recharge your A/C system with refrigerant. You’ll need a technician with the appropriate tools for this.