A/C Oil Charge
#1
05-10-08, 08:58 PM
A/C Oil Charge
Is it necessary to put in an oil charge each year?
And if the A/C works fine, will I wake a sleeping dog by adding an oil charge?
I have never serviced the A/C since new.
The car is 7 years old with 190,000 mi.
GM sedan 3.1L V6
And if the A/C works fine, will I wake a sleeping dog by adding an oil charge?
I have never serviced the A/C since new.
The car is 7 years old with 190,000 mi.
GM sedan 3.1L V6
#2
05-10-08, 09:03 PM
Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Shenandoah Valley
Posts: 1,116
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
neither oil nor refrigerant is consumed in an AC system. as long as it works properly, it does not need anything added to it.
adding a can of oil charge each year would eventually result in an overcharge of both refrigerant AND oil...since both are in a can of oil charge.
adding a can of oil charge each year would eventually result in an overcharge of both refrigerant AND oil...since both are in a can of oil charge.
#3
05-10-08, 09:22 PM
Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northeastern PA.
Posts: 2,113
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
I dont want anyone taking offense, because this is exactly the type of situation that leads to further chaos......
Carguy is on the money. In a properly sealed and operating system, refrigerant and the necessary system lubricant are "Lifetime" products. Leakage, is the only way to lose a charge.
I have had many years of success with my methods of A/C work, Because I refuse to "CAVE-IN" to the misconceptions that have been spread among the General public.
"I need a Freon Charge"........
This vehicle has the system completely EMPTIED...or "Evacuated" and the amount of oil and refrigerant removed is noted. Starting from empty, the system is charged to the FACTORY STATED amount, the amount of oil removed is the amount replaced. The car is injected with a Flourescent dye , and it is leak tested before it leaves.....Not 100% foolproof, but at least I have a direction to go in , if the car comes back.
"Tapping -In" refrigerantor oil , seasonally is a recipe for disaster. There is No way of knowing for sure how much is needed , unless you empty the system, measure what was taken out, and add what is required.
Carguy is on the money. In a properly sealed and operating system, refrigerant and the necessary system lubricant are "Lifetime" products. Leakage, is the only way to lose a charge.
I have had many years of success with my methods of A/C work, Because I refuse to "CAVE-IN" to the misconceptions that have been spread among the General public.
"I need a Freon Charge"........
This vehicle has the system completely EMPTIED...or "Evacuated" and the amount of oil and refrigerant removed is noted. Starting from empty, the system is charged to the FACTORY STATED amount, the amount of oil removed is the amount replaced. The car is injected with a Flourescent dye , and it is leak tested before it leaves.....Not 100% foolproof, but at least I have a direction to go in , if the car comes back.
"Tapping -In" refrigerantor oil , seasonally is a recipe for disaster. There is No way of knowing for sure how much is needed , unless you empty the system, measure what was taken out, and add what is required.
#4
05-11-08, 04:02 PM
Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Shenandoah Valley
Posts: 1,116
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
that is exactly my approach to leak diagnosis...or beginning diagnosis if someone has been adding refrigerant and the amount is unknown. as you and I have posted before, there is very little fudge factor in refrigerant volume.
slightly off topic...one of my best friends added charge/sealant to his xterra. worked for a few days...when it stopped, he added more and it didn't work at all.
i removed the juice, put in the correct amount and guess what...it still didn't work and the pressures were off. I determined a hi side restriction at the receiver-drier and replaced it. now it cooled, but not in the right place...right after the condenser...hmmm...pressure drop across the condenser, so i replaced that as well. now it cools fine at the evaporator...root cause was the leaking line between the compressor and the condenser, so i replaced that. Now...being as this was a good friend, i was doing the work grattis...he still spent nearly 500 bucks in sealer, a drier, a condenser and the line + refrigerant. and that was at cost...the mass merchandizers are guilty as sin in promoting that "fix in a can" crap and costing folks alot more money than would be needed if they just bit the bullet and took it to a QUALIFIED ac tech...*hops off the soapbox*
slightly off topic...one of my best friends added charge/sealant to his xterra. worked for a few days...when it stopped, he added more and it didn't work at all.
i removed the juice, put in the correct amount and guess what...it still didn't work and the pressures were off. I determined a hi side restriction at the receiver-drier and replaced it. now it cooled, but not in the right place...right after the condenser...hmmm...pressure drop across the condenser, so i replaced that as well. now it cools fine at the evaporator...root cause was the leaking line between the compressor and the condenser, so i replaced that. Now...being as this was a good friend, i was doing the work grattis...he still spent nearly 500 bucks in sealer, a drier, a condenser and the line + refrigerant. and that was at cost...the mass merchandizers are guilty as sin in promoting that "fix in a can" crap and costing folks alot more money than would be needed if they just bit the bullet and took it to a QUALIFIED ac tech...*hops off the soapbox*
#5
05-11-08, 04:39 PM
This is EXACTLY the answer I was looking for.
I also know a thing or two about a/c and my theory is correct.
If the system is sealed then all of the contents that were filled at the factory should still be their, but wasn't totaly sure. Now I know.
Thank you.
I also know a thing or two about a/c and my theory is correct.
If the system is sealed then all of the contents that were filled at the factory should still be their, but wasn't totaly sure. Now I know.
Thank you.
#6
05-11-08, 04:41 PM
Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Northeastern PA.
Posts: 2,113
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
*hops off the soapbox*
To the posters.......
This is by all means a DIY forum, and In no way is anyone being discouraged to work on their own Vehicles. However, there is a right way , and a wrong way of doing anything. Some of the equipment and Knowledge, to do things the right way , is just simply "Beyond Practical" for the Do it yourselfer to become involved with.
It isnt a "PLUG" for the industry, but repairs and maintenance to some Highly Complex systems on todays vehicles, In many cases are just simply Better left to the Pro's.
There is No "Magical Potion" or Spell, or Incantation, that we use to repair vehicles. In the Case of CARGUYS last entry, If the leak had been Located and repaired properly,at the onset, a major portion of the expense could have been avoided. Even the best Mechanic cannot UN-DAMAGE a system that has been hurt by poor service practices, or "Magic in a Bottle" type remedies.
