Going to try an AC recharge kit, should I add oil or UV dye?

[Nukeman7]

Thanks all, really helpful advice. No stop leak additive it is and I think I'll order an amazon refill hose with gauge for $13 and a $10 can of R123a from walmart. I do have actual gauges somewhere but they are very old.

This is the $13 gauge on Amazon that I recommend. The knurled textured QD coupler is sturdier than the other charging hoses with the smooth rimmed coupler.

 

[BigCahuna]

As mentioned above, if the system has stop leak in it, repair shop evacuation/recharge equipment will detect the foreign material (stop leak) and shut down.

If the car in question is on the path towards the scrapyard in a couple of years, I'd day go ahead with the stop leak and dumping in a can of refrigerant. If the car has a longer glide path, you may be shooting yourself in the foot using it.

It doesn't sound like he's going to take it to a shop for a quick fix. And I doubt he's looking to keep his 20 year old car until the cows come home. But if he can get thru the rest of summer with a cheap fix, I'm willing to bet he'll take the easy cheap route. And as a side effect, have cold air blowing on him for less than what a world class air conditioning repair would cost.,,

 

[loneryder]

AC stopped working for the first time in the life of the vehicle (2005 Odyssey). I verified the relay is okay. I assume the refrigerant just finally got low enough to trip the low pressure switch. I scheduled a visit with my local guy but won't be until next Thursday so I figured I could try a $30 kit with some stopleak in it just to see if it's simply too low to kick on. I don't know if it would be worth adding a drop or two of UV die or PAG oil (I think they make this a combo nowadays). Any advice would be appreciated, especially if I missed a basic troubleshooting step.

Most of the recharge kits have a leak detector in them.

 

[jayjr1105]

It doesn't sound like he's going to take it to a shop for a quick fix. And I doubt he's looking to keep his 20 year old car until the cows come home. But if he can get thru the rest of summer with a cheap fix, I'm willing to bet he'll take the easy cheap route. And as a side effect, have cold air blowing on him for less than what a world class air conditioning repair would cost.,,

Still runs and shifts great with no rust in the northeast. Trying to keep her going as long as possible.

 

[brages]

It would be helpful if you had absolute proof that stop leak caused your problem, instead of just assuming it did.,,

Filter from the oil port in the accumulator clogged up with brown stop leak material...

 

[D60]

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Filter from the oil port in the accumulator clogged up with brown stop leak material...

Oh he's got the receipts!! Nice work.