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AC recharging... at home?

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hillbillyOH

07-16-2006 18:44:51

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I see that a lot of the parts stores carry cans of AC recharger. Anyone tried DIY recharging? How hard or dangerous is it? We have a 1990 GMC truck that could really use a shot, and I hate to pay a mechanic if I could do it myself.

TIA!

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Bryan in Iowa

07-17-2006 11:13:35

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to hillbillyOH, 07-16-2006 18:44:51

We do a lot of a/c work in my shop. Convert a system to 134 is not that big of a deal .134 is more prone to leaking because of smaller molecules. There is no damage cauused by 134 , it is lack of proper oil charge in system or wrong type of oil when changed over . As far as changing o-rings hoses etc ,,unlseee they are leaking already , they will be fine . Add 8oz of PAG or Ester oil whichever manufacturer reccommends . Vac system down and let sit for a bit after to verify no leaks , charge system with r134 , typically system will require 10% less 134 than r12 .Any overcharge of 134 will greatly affect cooling, even as small as 3-4 oz over . Also , if you use any type of SEALER PLEASE make note of it under the hood somewhere . Sealer will plug a kill most a/c machines in the shop , there are filters avail now to install on machines,,but it is still a pain if you miss one and it goes though a machine . ALso I use an Indentifyer to make sure what is actually in system before even hooking machin eup to it . Lots of blends , butane, mystery freon out there . Don't want to contaminate whole tank of 134 . As far a propane ,,,i saw a picture of a truck that had used a blend ,,,small leak in Evap core,,,blower motor ignited mix and totaled truck .

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Steve Crum

07-17-2006 04:43:51

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to hillbillyOH, 07-16-2006 18:44:51

I replaced a cracked hose in my wife's 93 cadillac and then pulled the system do down with a vaccuum pump. Recharged the system with one of those R-134a kits from wally world. Thatsystem has been working OK for 4 years now. This system was an R-12 system. One can in the kit is seal conditioner and the oil charge, the other 2 are the refrigerant

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MeAnthony

07-16-2006 20:21:27

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to hillbillyOH, 07-16-2006 18:44:51

I knew some ol' boys in Oklahoma that recharged all their farm equipment with propane. Worked good, they said, and cheap to do. BUT on a 100+ degree day, you had a fair-to-middlin' chance of the A/C system exploding.

Never tried it myself! :)

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Ray

07-16-2006 20:07:13

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to hillbillyOH, 07-16-2006 18:44:51

I've got some left over freon 12 from my farming days when you didn't need a license,wonder what i'm supposed to do with it if i can't sell it?

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Bob

07-16-2006 21:46:27

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to Ray, 07-16-2006 20:07:13

AFAIK, you CAN sell it, as long as the buyer can produce a Freon license.

Sure are lots of folks selling it on ebay, apparently with ebay's (and the epa's) blessing.

CAUTION... do not take this as legal advice... check out the rules for yourself!

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Pooh Bear

07-16-2006 19:44:09

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to hillbillyOH, 07-16-2006 18:44:51

If your system is setup for R134a then it is easy.
Just get a kit with hoses and follow the directions.
If your system is completely empty you need to have
it vacuumed first to remove the humidity. If you
don't then it will freeze up inside the pump and ruin it.

If your system is setup for R12 then forget it.
You can only buy that stuff with a license.

If you put R134a in an R12 system it will dissolve the seals.
To change it over just about all the components have to be replaced.

Pooh Bear

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jdemaris

07-17-2006 05:00:32

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Seal damage?? I don't think so in reply to Pooh Bear, 07-16-2006 19:44:09

I've got several cars and trucks that I changed over (R12 to 34A) years ago - and they're fine. No seals got destroyed, and I changed NO internal parts. E.g., 1979 Datsun 280ZX, 1983 Chevy K5 diesel Blazer, 1987 diesel Chevy Suburban, 1985 Ford F250 diesel, 1990 Subaru Loyale, and two 1991 Volkswagen diesel Jettas. The only component that I know of - that can cause problems when using an R12 designed system with 134A is the hoses. The older rubber hoses intended for R12 will usually leak (slowly) with 134A because the molecular structure of 134A is smaller. If you were to get replacement hoses made for any system - today - it would be the new style "barrier" AC hose that works with anything.
Most of the vehicles I convertered would last all summer, but then leak out most of the gas while going through a winter not being used - until I updated the rubber hoses. If you've got an older R12 systems that already leaked out, and you install 134A, it will leak out even faster - unless you find and fix the leaks.

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VADAVE

07-17-2006 04:31:27

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to Pooh Bear, 07-16-2006 19:44:09

Not sure but I don't think 134 destroys R-12 systems. I say that because I charged up my combine with 134 and it works fine. 134 isn't quite as efficient and the system runs a little bit warmer.
I also converted a 1988 Jeep to 134. Just pulled the cap off and let the gas escape quickly to pull the oil out. Then recharge with oil the 134 and the system works fine.
Yeah I know you're not supposed to just release the R-12.

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Joe(TX)

07-17-2006 05:38:48

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to VADAVE, 07-17-2006 04:31:27

If you let it escape into the air, you violated federal law. Not a good idea to admit to on a public site. Thats a good way to have the EPA visit you to see what else they can find.

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Gene Davis (Ga.)

07-16-2006 19:13:30

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to hillbillyOH, 07-16-2006 18:44:51

It is important that you know if your a/c is charged with R12, or R134. They are not mixiable. A 1990 GMC may have had R12 as a factory charge. If so you will have to upgrade it or pay black-market prices probably approaching $50.00 per pound for R12 refrigerant.

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hillbillyOH

07-17-2006 05:14:10

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to Gene Davis (Ga.), 07-16-2006 19:13:30

Is there any way to tell if my system has been switched over to 134? The whole unit was gone through some couple of years ago, and I would assume they made the changes at that time. But you never can tell with these local yokel mechanics...

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Joe(TX)

07-17-2006 05:35:21

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to hillbillyOH, 07-17-2006 05:14:10

If it was done properly, it would have differant fittings and a sticker installed for 134a.

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Davis In SC

07-16-2006 19:41:19

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to Gene Davis (Ga.), 07-16-2006 19:13:30

Someone told me that the Off-the-shelf cans to add to an R-12 system are really just Butane. Ruins the rest of Freon in the system, as well as being a fire hazard.

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JD9295

07-16-2006 19:01:09

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Re: AC recharging... at home? in reply to hillbillyOH, 07-16-2006 18:44:51

they are easy to use, not much danger. get one with a guage so you can watch your pressure, over charge is as bad as low

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