hvac

AC Hose - High Side

for 2017 Ford F-150 5.0L V8 Coyote · RWD

Editorial review:Chris Hackleman — Master Technician · 20+ years · Jeff Moore — Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years

Difficulty

Moderate

Time

2.0 h

Tools

Steps

✓Expert-verified. Personally reviewed and approved by OLP's master technicians (Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — 20+ years each). Always follow the vehicle's factory service information and torque specs.

Replace the high-side AC hose on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 5.0L Coyote V8, requiring refrigerant recovery, hose replacement, and system recharge.

Warnings

⚠️AC refrigerant must be recovered by EPA-certified equipment. Venting refrigerant to atmosphere is illegal and environmentally harmful.

⚠Residual refrigerant pressure may remain in lines. Wear safety glasses and gloves when disconnecting fittings.

⚠PAG oil is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture rapidly. Keep new parts sealed until installation.

ℹ️This procedure requires AC system evacuation and recharge, which must be performed with certified equipment.

Tools required

AC refrigerant recovery machineEssential

Torque wrenchEssential

Socket set (metric)Essential

Line wrench setEssential

Oil drain panEssential

AC vacuum pumpEssential

AC manifold gauge setEssential

PAG 46 oil applicatorEssential

Pick set for O-ring removal

Shop towelsEssential

Parts

AC high-side hose assembly × 1 — Use OEM Ford part for proper fitment
AC line O-rings × 4 — OEM or compatible R-134a rated
R-134a refrigerant × 1 — 1.75-2.0 lbs capacity
PAG 46 compressor oil × 1 — Use with R-134a systems

Fluids

PAG 46 AC Compressor Oil — 0.125 qt

Preparation

Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
Allow engine to cool completely if recently operated
Disconnect negative battery terminal to prevent compressor engagement
Gather EPA-certified AC recovery equipment and ensure proper operation
Locate AC high-side hose routing from compressor discharge to condenser inlet (driver side of engine)
Place oil drain pan under work area to catch residual compressor oil

Procedure

1
Recover AC refrigerant
Connect AC recovery machine to service ports. Recover all refrigerant from the system according to machine instructions. Record amount of refrigerant and oil recovered for proper recharge quantities. Wait 5 minutes after recovery completes to ensure all pressure is released.
2
Remove engine cover
Remove the plastic engine cover by pulling upward on the front clips and lifting off the ball studs at the rear. Set aside to provide access to AC components.
3
Disconnect high-side hose at compressor
Locate the high-side discharge line at the top of the AC compressor on the passenger side. Use a line wrench to loosen the fitting bolt. Catch any residual oil that drains. Remove and discard the O-rings from both the hose and compressor port. Plug the compressor port with a clean shop towel to prevent contamination.
⚠Small amount of residual oil and refrigerant may spray when loosening fitting. Wear eye protection.
4
Disconnect mounting bracket at cylinder head
Remove the high-side line mounting bracket bolt from the passenger side cylinder head near the rear of the engine. This bracket secures the line routing. Retain the bolt for reinstallation.
Torque spec
Mounting Bracket Bolts30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
5
Trace and release line routing clips
Follow the high-side hose forward toward the condenser. Release any plastic routing clips securing the line to the engine or frame. On F-150, the line typically routes along the passenger side of the engine bay toward the front of the vehicle.
6
Disconnect high-side hose at condenser
At the front of the engine bay, locate where the high-side hose connects to the condenser inlet (driver side of condenser). Use a line wrench to loosen the fitting. Catch any residual oil. Remove and discard the O-rings. Plug the condenser port with a clean towel.
7
Remove high-side hose assembly
Carefully extract the entire high-side hose assembly from the engine bay, noting its exact routing path, bracket locations, and clip positions for proper reinstallation. Inspect the old hose for signs of damage, abrasion, or oil leakage that caused failure.
8
Prepare new high-side hose
Remove new hose from sealed packaging only when ready to install. Inspect all fittings and O-ring sealing surfaces for damage. Apply a thin coating of fresh PAG 46 oil to all new O-rings provided with the hose. Install new O-rings onto hose fittings.
9
Install new O-rings at connection points
Remove plugs from compressor and condenser ports. Clean sealing surfaces with a lint-free cloth. Apply thin coat of PAG 46 oil to new O-rings. Install new O-rings into the compressor discharge port and condenser inlet port, ensuring they seat properly in their grooves.
10
Route and position new hose
Route the new high-side hose through the engine bay following the exact path of the original. Ensure the hose does not contact any sharp edges, hot exhaust components, or moving parts. Position mounting bracket tabs and routing clips at their proper locations.
11
Connect hose at condenser
Hand-thread the fitting at the condenser inlet to ensure proper alignment and prevent cross-threading. Once seated, use a line wrench to tighten the AC line fitting to specification. Do not over-tighten as this can damage the O-ring seal.
Torque spec
AC Line Fittings20 Nm (15 lb-ft)
12
Connect hose at compressor
Hand-thread the fitting at the compressor discharge port carefully. Once properly seated, use a line wrench to tighten the AC line fitting to specification. Verify the fitting is snug and the connection is properly aligned.
Torque spec
AC Line Fittings20 Nm (15 lb-ft)
13
Secure mounting brackets and clips
Install the mounting bracket bolt at the cylinder head and torque to specification. Secure all routing clips along the hose path. Verify the hose has adequate clearance from all moving and hot components throughout its routing.
Torque spec
Mounting Bracket Bolts30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
14
Evacuate AC system
Connect AC vacuum pump to service ports. Evacuate the system to 29+ inches of mercury vacuum for minimum 30 minutes. Close valves and observe vacuum hold for 10 minutes. If vacuum drops, there is a leak that must be repaired before charging.
15
Recharge AC system
Using AC manifold gauges and refrigerant recovery/recharge machine, add the proper amount of R-134a refrigerant (1.75-2.0 lbs per system capacity label under hood). Add PAG 46 oil equal to amount lost during recovery plus 1 oz for new hose. Start engine, set AC to MAX and monitor pressures until proper charge is achieved.

Reassembly

Reinstall engine cover by seating ball studs at rear and pressing front clips until they click
Reconnect negative battery terminal
Verify all tools and shop towels have been removed from engine bay
Check that no connections were missed and all fasteners are tight

Verification

Start engine and turn AC to MAX cold with fan on high
Verify compressor clutch engages and remains engaged
Check both AC service port pressures: low side should be 25-45 PSI, high side should be 150-250 PSI at idle (varies with ambient temperature)
Verify cold air is blowing from vents at approximately 40-50°F
Inspect all connections for signs of oil seepage or refrigerant leaks using leak detector or soap solution
Let system run for 10 minutes and recheck all fittings for leaks
Verify proper AC performance in vehicle during test drive

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