Regardless that automobiles ought to by no means lose freon in best situations, on common, automobiles lose between 3% and eight% of freon every year. In the event you suspect that the freon degree in your automobile is at a minimal, you’ve come to the suitable place. On this article, I’ll present you how one can examine your automotive’s freon degree and recharge it if wanted.
Since I like doing automotive care and automotive fixes on my own, I realized the right approach of checking freon ranges, and the perfect factor is that you simply received’t want lots of instruments to do it. In the event you’re a DIYer like me, you might have already got the tools to examine it.
Signs That The AC Refrigerant Degree Is Low
Earlier than we dive into the precise steps, I’ll briefly focus on some widespread signs of low freon ranges in your automobile.
AC is Blowing Heat Air
There’s nothing worse than your automotive blowing heat air whereas attempting to chill down the automobile throughout sunny days. It occurred to me on a street journey, however fortunately, I instantly discovered a automotive store that refilled the freon.
Heat air is the commonest symptom of low freon in your automobile, and that often implies that the freon degree is extraordinarily low since it will possibly’t blow the cool air in any respect.
Loud AC Compressor
AC compressors are inclined to get loud when there’s not sufficient freon. And not using a freon, the compressor has to work a lot more durable, and that’s why they turn into very loud, particularly while you’re simply turning on the AC.
AC compressors are extraordinarily costly to switch, and by driving with low freon ranges on a regular basis, you can break the compressor.
Ice Round The AC Compressor
When ice types across the AC compressor, that’s a giant signal of a low freon degree within the system. That occurs as a result of evaporator coils can’t take up sufficient warmth from the cabin air.
Typically, the ice received’t kind across the compressor if it’s not too scorching exterior, and also you didn’t decide the bottom settings in your AC. That’s why I all the time inform folks to not choose based mostly on one symptom solely.
Candy Odor In The Cabin
This doesn’t occur fairly often, however when you discover a candy odor within the cabin coming from the vents, it might be an indication of a freon leakage, particularly if the candy odor is mixed with heat air and loud noise from the AC compressor.
The Automotive Used To Blow A lot Colder Air
This can be subjective, however when you suppose that your automotive used to blow a lot cooler air, and now you don’t suppose it’s the identical, it might be an indication that there’s not sufficient freon within the system.
When this occurs, the compressor nonetheless has some freon, however quickly, all of the freon will leak, and the automotive will begin blowing heat air via the vents.
Kinds of Automotive Refrigerants
There are three predominant kinds of refrigerants utilized in automobiles. All of them have totally different names, so I didn’t need to confuse you right away. I name them freon on a regular basis on this article. Nonetheless, since there are variations in these refrigerants, I would like to clarify this to you earlier than we proceed with the article.
3 kinds of automotive refrigerants (freons):
R-12R-134aR-1234YF (HFO-1234YF)
R-12 has been prior to now, and since it was extraordinarily pollutant to the setting, round 1994, most automobile producers stopped utilizing it. Since there’s nearly zero likelihood that you’ve got the sort of refrigerant in your automobile, I received’t point out it anymore, however it’s good to learn about it.
R-134a is the commonest kind of automotive refrigerant. It has been utilized in all automobiles from 1994 as much as right now. Nonetheless, because the world turned much more acutely aware concerning the setting, they developed even safer automotive AC refrigerants (however dearer).
R-1234YF or HFO-1234YF is the latest kind of automotive AC refrigerant. It’s probably the most environmentally pleasant automotive AC refrigerant (Freon) many automotive producers use right now. Not all automobiles implement this gasoline because it’s fairly costly, however there’s an opportunity that it’s in your automobile if the automotive is from 2012 and past.
I needed to briefly present you these sorts since every kind of freon has totally different stress measurements.
How To Rapidly Test Freon Degree In The AC System
I used this methodology whereas driving a Peugeot 308, which all the time had air conditioner refrigerant leakage issues. Earlier than each common upkeep examine, I might examine the freon degree within the automobile, and if all the things had been positive, I might drive the automotive with out the worry of a sudden cooling system failure.
You don’t want lots of tools, only a manifold gauge set, security glasses, and a thermometer. I extremely advocate these Orion Motor Tech AC Gauges. And for the thermometer, you should use a easy dwelling thermometer that may learn as little as 30°F.
If you already know somebody who works as an air conditioner technician, you’ll be able to borrow the tools; all of them have skilled AC gauges. That approach, it can save you some cash. Now that you’ve got gathered the tools, let’s see the steps.
Step 1: Find the excessive facet and low facet stress in your automotive’s AC system
Open the hood and find the 2 AC strains within the engine bay. They need to be someplace close to the AC compressor. On most automobiles, it’s someplace on the left while you open the engine bay.
The low-pressure line is thicker however has a smaller valve. The high-pressure line is thinner however has a bigger valve. On most automobiles, the caps on service ports may have an “L” for low-pressure and “H” for a high-pressure service port.
Once you find these, you’ll be able to take away the caps. Simply be certain that to place them someplace protected so that you don’t lose them.
Step 2: Join the manifold (HVAC) gauges to service port valves
Now it is best to take your manifold gauges and join them to service port valves on the AC system. Join the blue hose to the blue facet of the gauge and the pink hose to the pink facet of the gauge. Ensure the valves on the gauge are closed (and don’t open them throughout the entire course of).
Join the opposite finish of the blue hose to the low-pressure (low facet) service port. You’ll hear a pop when it matches correctly. Attempt to wiggle it a little bit bit simply to examine if all the things’s tight. When it’s tight, now you can open the valve linked to the service port by turning it to the left.
Now let’s join the second (pink) hose, which ought to be linked to the high-pressure (excessive facet) service port on the automotive’s AC system. Once more, be certain that all the things matches correctly and that it’s tight, after which you’ll be able to open the valve linked to that service port.
Step 3: Begin the automobile and switch the AC on to the bottom attainable temperature setting
To make the readings as exact as attainable, the automotive and the AC ought to be turned on. Additionally, the bottom temperature settings on the AC should be chosen. The followers can keep on low velocity, though I all the time preserve them someplace within the center.
Now you must also mount the thermometer to the vents in order that it will possibly measure the temperature of the air from the AC.
What I additionally love to do is to open the home windows, in order that the AC by no means cools the automotive utterly. That approach, the compressor received’t cease working in the course of the examine.
Let the automotive run like that for 3-5 minutes, after which we will proceed to step 4.
Step 4: Test the readings on the gauge
Now it’s time to examine the readings on each blue (low-pressure) and pink (high-pressure) gauges. Because the readings rely on the skin temperature, I made fast charts it is best to comply with for correct readings.
I made separate charts for R-134a and R-1234YF freons, so you’ll be able to simply comply with them. By the way in which, when you nonetheless don’t know what kind of freon you might have in your automotive, each automobile ought to have a sticker someplace across the engine exhibiting the freon kind – so be certain that to test it out.
R-134a Temperature Strain Chart
Exterior TemperatureLow-Strain GaugeHigh-Strain Gauge65°F18°C25-35 psi135-155 psi70°F21°C35-40 psi145-160 psi75°F24°C35-45 psi150-170 psi80°F27°C40-50 psi175-210 psi85°F29°C45-55 psi225-250 psi90°F32°C45-55 psi250-270 psi95°F35°C50-55 psi275-300 psi100°F38°C50-55 psi315-325 psi105°F41°C50-55 psi330-335 psi110°F43°C50-55 psi340-345 psi
R-1234YF Temperature Strain Chart
Exterior TemperatureLow-Strain GaugeHigh-Strain Gauge65°F18°C22-32 psi128-142 psi70°F21°C27-38 psi140-155 psi75°F24°C33-43 psi148-166 psi80°F27°C40-45 psi175-210 psi85°F29°C46-56 psi227-253 psi90°F32°C46-56 psi255-275 psi95°F35°C53-57 psi280-310 psi100°F38°C53-57 psi325-310 psi105°F41°C53-57 psi350-360 psi110°F43°C53-57 psi350-360 psi
Once you learn each gauges, if the PSI on each of them is within the vary as proven within the desk, the freon degree in your automotive might be positive.
If each gauges present decrease values, you’ll in all probability should recharge the refrigerant within the AC system.
Nonetheless, suppose you learn any of the next. In that case, I extremely advise you to go to knowledgeable mechanic:
Low-side stress and high-side stress gauge present comparable readingsThe low-side stress gauge is low, however the high-side stress gauge is highThe low-side stress gauge is excessive, and the high-side stress gauge is lowBoth gauges present greater readings than regular (in all probability a refrigerant overload)
Lastly, don’t neglect to examine the thermometer contained in the automobile that you simply mounted on the vents. If the AC is working appropriately, the cool air popping out of the vents ought to be round 40°F-45°F. If it’s greater, that’s one other signal that it is best to recharge the freon.
Once you’re completed with all the things, don’t neglect to shut the valves on the hoses, unplug them, screw the caps again to the excessive and low facet stress service ports, and retailer the tools, so you might have all the things prepared for the subsequent time.
How To Recharge Freon At House
In the event you adopted all the rules above and from the gauge readings, you can suspect that there’s an absence of freon in your automotive’s AC system. Right here’s a easy DIY information to recharge automotive refrigerant at dwelling with primary tools solely.
What you’ll want:
Automotive AC refrigerant recharge kitSafety glassesSafety gloves
Earlier than ordering elements on-line, be certain that to seek out the sticker with AC data. It’s positioned someplace within the engine bay. Over there, it is best to discover data on what kind of refrigerant your automotive has and the way a lot of it ought to be within the system. You may all the time examine the automotive’s guide when you don’t see the sticker. You may order the suitable freon kind while you discover the data.
For R-134a, I like to recommend you purchase this AC Refrigerant Recharge Equipment on Amazon. It’s an amazing all-in-one package wherein you get the gasoline, the hose, and the gauge to measure the stress within the system.
For R-1234yf kinds of refrigerant, I counsel you purchase this ZeroR® Permafrost Refrigerant Recharge Equipment. They give you a can of R-1234yf gasoline, a hose, and a gauge to measure the low facet stress of the AC system.
Since these two merchandise have barely totally different steps to fill the AC system with freon, I’ll clarify every individually. Really, the steps are the identical, however the merchandise are a bit totally different.
Earlier than doing any of the steps beneath, put on security gear. Possibilities of one thing unhealthy occurring are minimal, however it’s higher to make sure your security.
Recharging R-134a Freon With Recharge Equipment
Listed here are the short steps it is best to take:
Discover a low-pressure service port within the engine bay and take away the protection cap.Activate the automobile and get the AC going (followers to excessive, AC to most cool, and activate the recirculation choice)Connect the hose to the low-side stress service port and examine the readings. If the gauge goes to the pink space, I counsel you go to a mechanic. If it reveals inexperienced, your freon degree is ok. If the readings present that you simply’re low on freon, disconnect the hose from the service port and proceed with step 4.Shake the can nicely, join it to the gauge, and reconnect the opposite facet of the hose to the low-side stress valve.Slowly shake the can up and down and left and proper, and pull the set off (preserve it pulled) for round 10-15 seconds. After that, launch the set off, and examine the stress readings.Repeat step 5 till the stress readings present that the freon is crammed (the gauge ought to keep in the course of the inexperienced zone). When the gauge is within the inexperienced zone, proceed to step 7.Disconnect the quick-connect coupler from the low facet port, and screw again the unique cap.The AC system ought to now be utterly recharged with freon, and it ought to begin blowing chilly air from the vents.
Recharging R-1234yf Freon With Recharge Equipment
Fast steps it is best to take:
Flip your automobile on, set the AC to max cooling, fan velocity to max, and activate the recirculation.Connect the hose with a valve finish to the can and the opposite finish to the low-side service port in your automotive. Be sure that the valve on the can is closed.Test the readings on the gauge first. If the gauge is within the inexperienced zone, you’re low on freon. If the gauge is within the blue zone, the freon degree in your automotive is ok. And if the gauge is within the yellow or pink zone, there’s an excessive amount of freon within the AC system.If the readings present that the automotive is low on freon, now you can flip the can the wrong way up and open the valve to launch the refrigerant into the AC system.After 10-15 seconds, shut the valve and examine the readings once more.Repeat step 5 till the stress gauge reveals the AC system is filled with freon. Ensure to not overfill the system.Once you’re completed, disconnect the hose from the low-end service port and screw again the unique cap. Moreover, disconnect the hose from the gasoline can as nicely and retailer it correctly.Now that all the things’s completed, your automotive ought to have an excellent quantity of freon within the AC system, and the cooling ought to be like new once more.
Remaining Test With a Thermometer
After you might have efficiently recharged the gasoline within the AC system of your automobile, I like to recommend you do a ultimate examine through the use of a thermometer. Any thermometer with a probe ought to be positive.
Simply mount the thermometer on the air vents in your automobile, flip the AC on (max fan, max cooling), and wait a couple of minutes to learn the outcomes.
The best temperature the AC ought to blow ought to be within the 35-45°F vary.
If the temperature is greater than 50°F there are three attainable causes:
You didn’t fill the freon enoughThe exterior (environment) temperature is extraordinarily scorching (+110°F), and it’s very humidThere’s another downside together with your AC system
In the event you suspect some extra issues together with your AC system, I extremely advise you to go to a mechanic.
Final Phrases
As you’ll be able to see, checking the freon degree in your automotive’s AC system and recharging it isn’t rocket science. In the event you’re a DIYer, I’m positive you’ll be capable of do all of the steps appropriately. By self-recharging the freon, it can save you some huge cash.
On common, recharging freon within the retailers might value you anyplace between $150 and $300. And when you do it your self, you’ll be able to recharge the freon for $50-$80.
I hope that you simply’ll discover this information on checking freon ranges and recharging it helpful. In the event you’re not utterly positive that you simply understood all the things, I additionally counsel you examine the video by ChrisFix, the place he explains the steps to recharge the R-134a in his BMW. That approach, you’ll get a fair higher image of what it is best to do.
