These R/34 recharge kits i see at walmart in the automotive departments, good idea ? bad idea ? junk ? My dads willing to give it a shot before paying a shop to recharge.. i told him id check with the BITOG'ers and get some opinions before he buys a can.
Automotive a/c recharge kits.
- Thread starter OtisBlkR1
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if you are to try, get the pure R134a refrigerant type with no sealers of any kind.
Any sealers introduced into your A/C system will wreak havoc when you decided to bring it in for servicing, citing that for most A/C recovery systems used in shops will be plugged up by these sealers, costing the shop thousands of dollars to purge/repair.
Q.
Any sealers introduced into your A/C system will wreak havoc when you decided to bring it in for servicing, citing that for most A/C recovery systems used in shops will be plugged up by these sealers, costing the shop thousands of dollars to purge/repair.
Q.
How does he know it needs freon?
My suggestion is to get a manifold gauge set ($50, HF is fine) and use that along with a can of freon and UV dye. No stop leak.
Without a fancy machine, you need to fill it monitoring high and low pressure.
I would not buy a cheap kit. Either get the gauge set or take it somewhere.
My suggestion is to get a manifold gauge set ($50, HF is fine) and use that along with a can of freon and UV dye. No stop leak.
Without a fancy machine, you need to fill it monitoring high and low pressure.
I would not buy a cheap kit. Either get the gauge set or take it somewhere.
his appears to have a built in guage... No good ? ? ? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Deluxe-R-134a-Recharge-Hose-and-Gauge/16888796
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Good reviews on this one and if it doesn't work Walmart has a good return policy.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/AC-Pro-Professional-Formula-Refrigerant/20461354?findingMethod=rr
http://www.walmart.com/ip/AC-Pro-Professional-Formula-Refrigerant/20461354?findingMethod=rr
Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
his appears to have a built in guage... No good ? ? ? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Deluxe-R-134a-Recharge-Hose-and-Gauge/16888796
nope. That's a low side guage. We need a high side guage to properly charge or diagnose an R134a system.
his appears to have a built in guage... No good ? ? ? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Deluxe-R-134a-Recharge-Hose-and-Gauge/16888796
nope. That's a low side guage. We need a high side guage to properly charge or diagnose an R134a system.
Originally Posted By: satinsilver
Good reviews on this one and if it doesn't work Walmart has a good return policy.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/AC-Pro-Professional-Formula-Refrigerant/20461354?findingMethod=rr
that contains a sealer. Like Donald said it will cause $1000 in damage to my RRR machine. If you put that in your car don't even think of bringing it to a shop in the future.
Good reviews on this one and if it doesn't work Walmart has a good return policy.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/AC-Pro-Professional-Formula-Refrigerant/20461354?findingMethod=rr
that contains a sealer. Like Donald said it will cause $1000 in damage to my RRR machine. If you put that in your car don't even think of bringing it to a shop in the future.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
his appears to have a built in guage... No good ? ? ? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Deluxe-R-134a-Recharge-Hose-and-Gauge/16888796
nope. That's a low side guage. We need a high side guage to properly charge or diagnose an R134a system.
is what your telling me the "propper/shop way" wich im sure is correct, but from the reviews on these cans, people seem to be having good results using this off the shef kit in a more "shade tree" fashion.. what's the real downside/danger of this kit other than it not working and you loose $40.00 ? I appreciate the feedback.
Danger being it has sealers and will muck up a shop machine if it fails to work on your car and you go to a shop ? otherwise ?
Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
his appears to have a built in guage... No good ? ? ? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Deluxe-R-134a-Recharge-Hose-and-Gauge/16888796
nope. That's a low side guage. We need a high side guage to properly charge or diagnose an R134a system.
is what your telling me the "propper/shop way" wich im sure is correct, but from the reviews on these cans, people seem to be having good results using this off the shef kit in a more "shade tree" fashion.. what's the real downside/danger of this kit other than it not working and you loose $40.00 ? I appreciate the feedback.
Danger being it has sealers and will muck up a shop machine if it fails to work on your car and you go to a shop ? otherwise ?
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It gums up your entire ac system. What may have been as easy and cheap as a loose fitting,oring or whatever for $100ish will now cost $1500 once that sealer hardenes in your system.
Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
These R/34 recharge kits i see at walmart in the automotive departments, good idea ? bad idea ? junk ? My dads willing to give it a shot before paying a shop to recharge.. i told him id check with the BITOG'ers and get some opinions before he buys a can.
A/C is one of the few things that just has to be done right if you want good results.
Recharge a leaking system and it'll just keep leaking, and probably get worse over time.
If you plan to keep the car, take it somewhere and pay them to do a diagnostic.
Go to Harbor Freight, get a vacuum pump and set of gauges - should run less than $200 for both, and you'll have the tools you need to do the job right.
These R/34 recharge kits i see at walmart in the automotive departments, good idea ? bad idea ? junk ? My dads willing to give it a shot before paying a shop to recharge.. i told him id check with the BITOG'ers and get some opinions before he buys a can.
A/C is one of the few things that just has to be done right if you want good results.
Recharge a leaking system and it'll just keep leaking, and probably get worse over time.
If you plan to keep the car, take it somewhere and pay them to do a diagnostic.
Go to Harbor Freight, get a vacuum pump and set of gauges - should run less than $200 for both, and you'll have the tools you need to do the job right.
Originally Posted By: NMBurb02
Don't do it!
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...263#Post2992263
Copy, this was for my step moms car and after reading this thread i called her and advised against it. I explained it all and recomended she just pay the $70 the shop wants to recharge and call in a day.
Thanks to all that posted.
Don't do it!
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...263#Post2992263
Copy, this was for my step moms car and after reading this thread i called her and advised against it. I explained it all and recomended she just pay the $70 the shop wants to recharge and call in a day.
Thanks to all that posted.
Take the advice of the pros here.
If you want to attempt to DIY a recharge make sure you
DO NOT use any refrigerant that contains ANY SEALERS or
CONDITIONERS in them. Not only will it make it more difficult to properly repair your AC if you ever decide to take it to a professional they will simply refuse to repair your vehicle, wirse if the shop doesn't realize there is a sealer in that system you will damage their recovery machine and they will probably tell you they don't want your business anymore.
If you want to attempt to DIY a recharge make sure you
DO NOT use any refrigerant that contains ANY SEALERS or
CONDITIONERS in them. Not only will it make it more difficult to properly repair your AC if you ever decide to take it to a professional they will simply refuse to repair your vehicle, wirse if the shop doesn't realize there is a sealer in that system you will damage their recovery machine and they will probably tell you they don't want your business anymore.
+3 on no sealers/conditioners
Otherwise, hydrocarbon refrigerants work fantastic; better than 134. The problem is THEY CAN'T BE PATENTED AND LICENSED, therefore the big guys will always pooh pooh them, and their minions who buy their patented fluorotoxocrap will snub you big time if you pass the idea in front of them.
Otherwise, hydrocarbon refrigerants work fantastic; better than 134. The problem is THEY CAN'T BE PATENTED AND LICENSED, therefore the big guys will always pooh pooh them, and their minions who buy their patented fluorotoxocrap will snub you big time if you pass the idea in front of them.
Don't bother with those kits unless you are trying to sell the car.
The only proper way to recharge an A/C system is to have the system evacuated, drawn to a vacuum (to boil off any moisture), correct any leaks, then recharge with the correct amount of refrigerant.
At best, the DIY kits will get you ballpark close...since you will be unable to figure out how much refrigerant is still in the system.
The only proper way to recharge an A/C system is to have the system evacuated, drawn to a vacuum (to boil off any moisture), correct any leaks, then recharge with the correct amount of refrigerant.
At best, the DIY kits will get you ballpark close...since you will be unable to figure out how much refrigerant is still in the system.
JHZR2
Staff member
Just 134. Don't trust the gauge to get it exact. If its real low, you might get in the ballpark, but be conservative and keep pressures low. Also expect those cheap things to let air in the system. Try to learn to burp the line.
If you have a leak, you have an obligation to repair it.
If you have a leak, you have an obligation to repair it.
Originally Posted By: Chris142
We need a high side guage to properly charge or diagnose an R134a system.
If he is lucky and his car uses an expansion valve, as opposed to an orifice tube (most imports use an expansion valve), then he has a good chance of having a sight glass on top of the dryer, if there are bubbles in the sight glass, then he is VERY likely low on refrigerant and topping it up until there are no bubbles, while not optimal like having a high side gauge, would likely work in a pinch.
but keep in mind the following - an A/C system does not have a dipstick, and I don't care if the dipstick working on your car has a $10,000 machine, the only way to know you have the correct amount of refrigerant in a vehicle is to evacuate the system and weigh in the charge, anything else is guess!
We need a high side guage to properly charge or diagnose an R134a system.
If he is lucky and his car uses an expansion valve, as opposed to an orifice tube (most imports use an expansion valve), then he has a good chance of having a sight glass on top of the dryer, if there are bubbles in the sight glass, then he is VERY likely low on refrigerant and topping it up until there are no bubbles, while not optimal like having a high side gauge, would likely work in a pinch.
but keep in mind the following - an A/C system does not have a dipstick, and I don't care if the dipstick working on your car has a $10,000 machine, the only way to know you have the correct amount of refrigerant in a vehicle is to evacuate the system and weigh in the charge, anything else is guess!
So what does the $99 (or so) A/C service at a Jiffy Lube type of place buy you? Do they evacuate and refill by weight? Or just refill? In NY they do not have repair licenses for the most part so how much repair can they do if it fails to hold a vacuum for 30 minutes. They might capture your freon but then tell you it needs to be repaired at a real repair shop?
Assume you have ten year or older car. Over the years, the refrigerant has gone down. If that is the case, you have no fixable leak. Then you can go ahead and add little bit at a time. Don't be greedy and stop adding as soon as you find adequate cooling.
On the other hand if your A/C was working great and suddenly you find it is not working good any more, you have a leak and that will need to be fixed. Take it to professional.
On the other hand if your A/C was working great and suddenly you find it is not working good any more, you have a leak and that will need to be fixed. Take it to professional.
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