Charging A/C from empty
#1
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Charging A/C from empty
My condensor died after my accident, and I replaced it. Since I had all the hoses off while replacing the condensor, and nothing came out..I'm going to assume that my A/C system is empty. Right? Can I just go ahead and add the R134A and oil, or do I have to have the whole system evacuated professionally?
I'd love to save a few bucks if I can.
I'd love to save a few bucks if I can.
#2
Contributing Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Richmond, Va
Posts: 4,218
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gapguy
My condensor died after my accident, and I replaced it. Since I had all the hoses off while replacing the condensor, and nothing came out..I'm going to assume that my A/C system is empty. Right? Can I just go ahead and add the R134A and oil, or do I have to have the whole system evacuated professionally?
I'd love to save a few bucks if I can.
I'd love to save a few bucks if I can.
hope that helps
#3
Contributing Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: WA ,monroe
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
try a search been alot of ac questions in the past 2 months. if it were me i would charge it with a couple of cans of r134 most of the stuff at the parts store has oil in it.
#4
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the tips. I've been through a lot of old threads, and none of them pertain to an (assumably) empty sytem. My concern is that there may be some moisture in the system since the condensor had a big ole hole in it for some time. I'm assuming that the moisture won't mix well with the gas/oil?
Edit, did I just answer my own question?
Edit, did I just answer my own question?
#5
Contributing Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Trafford, Pa
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If your system has been open, you also need to replace the accumulator (dryer). The old accumulator has been drawing all the moisture out of the air and is useless now.
The best method is having the system sucked down. I've done a few vehicles without vaccumin them (including my toyota truck) and they blow ice cold(40*). Buy the R134a with 2oz of oil.
The best method is having the system sucked down. I've done a few vehicles without vaccumin them (including my toyota truck) and they blow ice cold(40*). Buy the R134a with 2oz of oil.
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: south Fla.
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gapguy
My condensor died after my accident, and I replaced it. Since I had all the hoses off while replacing the condensor, and nothing came out..I'm going to assume that my A/C system is empty. Right? Can I just go ahead and add the R134A and oil, or do I have to have the whole system evacuated professionally?
I'd love to save a few bucks if I can.
I'd love to save a few bucks if I can.
since you've done all the wrenching it should be pretty inexpensive to have a pro vacuum and charge your system plus a pro will use gauges to make sure your pressures are where there suppose to be.
so chargeing it your self is not the place to save money, hope this helped good luck
#7
yeah I'd have it evaced...Although I'm not a auto mechanic I used to be an HVAC mechanic...In an A/C you need to vaccum the system down to about 500 microns before adding refrigerant. The reason being is to remove contaniments from the system ie moisture...The compressor, compresses the refrigerant, since moisture can not be compressed it is very hard on the compressor....If you were to not vaccum down the A/C in your house before adding refrigerant the compressor wouldnt last a week, nor will it cool worth a damn. Even after vaccuming a system down if you have ports on a dryer (helps catch moisture in the system) you can measure a pressure difference on either side, which means it still picked up some moisture....By vaccuming the system down the moisture boils off and is slowly pulled out....Even blowing refrigerant through the system in its entire wont displace all the moisture....
But like I said I'm not an auto mechanic and although the theory of cooling is the same the mechanics of it are probably slightly different....
But like I said I'm not an auto mechanic and although the theory of cooling is the same the mechanics of it are probably slightly different....
Trending Topics
#9
Contributing Member
Originally Posted by 86toyota
If your system has been open, you also need to replace the accumulator (dryer). The old accumulator has been drawing all the moisture out of the air and is useless now.
Exactly what him and Cynicx said. Also you may want to see about jetting some denatured alchohol to clean the sytem out fully and run compressed air through it to completely dry the lines and everything out.
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you've had damage, definately evacuate the system and change the dryer. I would hold a vac on it for a while to be sure it doesn't have any leaks. After you have changed the dryer and your system has held a vac, then you are ready to add refrigerant.
<hijack> The price of r134 has gone up, hasn't it? I had freeze 12 put in mine last week, and my buddy with the HVAC machine told me that both types of refrigerant have gone up </hijack>
<hijack> The price of r134 has gone up, hasn't it? I had freeze 12 put in mine last week, and my buddy with the HVAC machine told me that both types of refrigerant have gone up </hijack>
#11
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Salem,Oregon
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you have a good sized compressor you can vacuum it out yourself. I bought one of those cheap venturi type vacuum pumps from harbor freight for $10. Then I hit napa for a vacuum pump conversion fitting ($17) to get the pump to connect to my 134a gauge set. That crappy little $10 venturi pump drew 30" of vacuum on the system @80psi and held it just fine. I pulled it down for about 30 mins then shut the valve and let the system sit in a vacuum state for another hour to make sure there where no leaks.
#16
I was going to purchase a ventri pump and the vacuum pump conversion fitting so I could pull a vacuum through my a/c gauges, but the Napa I went to was not familiar with the vacuum pump conversion fitting and asked for a part#.
#18
Have a pro vacuum it down and fill with the correct ammount of freon and oil.
Condensation in the lines could be a killer after a system is opened. Not worth the torment of doing it twice.
Condensation in the lines could be a killer after a system is opened. Not worth the torment of doing it twice.
#19
Contributing Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon...east side
Posts: 5,125
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally Posted by sharrack
Have a pro vacuum it down and fill with the correct ammount of freon and oil.
Condensation in the lines could be a killer after a system is opened. Not worth the torment of doing it twice.
Condensation in the lines could be a killer after a system is opened. Not worth the torment of doing it twice.
#20
Registered User
Or spend the money you would have given to a pro to buy a decent 2-stage vacuum pump from Harbor Freight. I broke even the first time, but that was a few years ago and I've done three cars since. Good investment.