Air Con re gas

[ronk]

Our two year old 335 went into the dealer today and it was suggested that the Air Con system should be re gassed "because the gas wears out" !

[Ducklakeview]

It doesn't wear out, it leaks out past the rotating compressor shaft and it's seal..

Mike

[ronk]

I just think that a whole lot of people will believe stupid and untrue statements like that - oh and they wanted £70 for the privilege !

My aircon is used 100 % in the 335 and 100% of the time the lid is on the E89 - I've done this on previous cars and not had a problem. I would say if it starts to blow less cold I will have it re gassed.

[Mr Tidy]

They want to regas a 2 year old car? Some sort of wallet raping going on there surely!

I had to have my E46 regassed last May, but it was 14 years old! But it was still blowing cold last week, so hopefully it's good for a while yet.

[jamie_z4]

They want to regas a 2 year old car? Some sort of wallet raping going on there surely!

I had to have my E46 regassed last May, but it was 14 years old! But it was still blowing cold last week, so hopefully it's good for a while yet.

+1 ! Mike sorted my 12 year old e46 no problem - it needed a bit of encouragement like

2 year old though? No chance!

[Ducklakeview]

My Autokool machine actually weighs the old refrigerant as it pulls it out of the system. I've seen cars with as little as 50g of refrigerant still blowing cold air when stationary. The problem is once moving, when the system has to work against the warm air being pushed into the cabin, it cannot cope due to the lack of refrigerant. E85's "should" contain 740g of R134a if my memory serves me correctly. The refrigerant is also hygroscopic, and therefore absorbs moisture into the system, again through the same seal on the compressor, if left in there it reduces the system's efficiency, as liquid cannot be compressed, but can also cause internal corrosion. That's why a "proper" aircon recharge includes a vacuum cycle, it's not just to test for leaks, it does the more important job of boiling off the water in the system. Yes, I did say boiling, as under 29.74" of vacuum, water boils at zero degrees... The vacuum in the system then actually helps pull in the lubricating oil and the refrigerant when charging.

This is why I never recommend the "top up" cans that Halfords and the like sell. No vacuum test, no idea of the weight of refrigerant in the system, and no lubricating oil for the compressor!

And before any says, "so why doesn't my fridge at home need topping up?" the answer is, that on a fridge, the motor and compressor are hermetically sealed in a case, therefore there is nowhere for the refrigerant to escape to!

Mike

[un1eash]

I had air con problems with my GT86, they switched to the R1234Y gas for a couple years which I'd never heard off.

Regas cost in the region of £200.

[Ducklakeview]

R1234Y is the replacement for R134a.

Mike

[Highlander]

I thought R12 was obsolete/illegal for "top up" now.....which would mean an evacuation,vac and refill.......is R134 the replacement still for R12 Mike?

[un1eash]

R1234yf is meant to replace R134a, toyota started using it then stopped following Mercedes lead.

[Ducklakeview]

I thought R12 was obsolete/illegal for "top up" now.....which would mean an evacuation,vac and refill.......is R134 the replacement still for R12 Mike?

Sorry, I meant R134a..

Mike

[hopz121]

2 years is crazy

I would say 4-5 years if you are really keen on keeping it ice cold

[shawna]

Most common gas is R134a.

Now some manufacturers are using R1234ya which is more flammable but greener, however to re gas its very expensive.

There was some talk of having something different in the system but i know people who re gas an R1234ya with R134a wit adapters used on the machine as the fittings are not the same.

Its really daylight robbery and done to make more money and sell newer machines by the industry.