Old Amana 18 "Energy Saver" 'fridge: noise

[Puddin' Man]

I bought the Amana 18 cu. " in 1984. It's been a good 'fridge.

Lately it makes a sort-of growling noise when the compressor runs, kinda like:

"grrROWLgrrROWLgrrROWLgrrROWLgrrROWL ..."

varying in intensity from second to second, but in a regular fashion.

I checked the fins/tubing underneath: a little dirty, but not clogged up at all.

Sound like the compressor going south? This'd be an R12 system?

It's 22 years old. Can one nurse say 30 years outa such a unit?

TIA, Puddin'

[JimL]

Ignore the noise until you can't stand it anymore, then get a new fridge. Repairing that unit will cost over $400.