Ever recharged your car's AC?

[Drago]

The air con in my fiat van IS the windows

The aircon in my Smart is the one thing that doesn't work. Instead, I just put the roof down.

 

[Mr Celine]

Not for me! My car reports around 2mpg better with the aircon off and using windows for ventilation!

Safer too. Aircon dries my eyes out and has caused a contact lens to fall out.

 

[screenman]

The aircon on my car demists the screen nicely, I do not leave it on all the time.

 

[Tanis8472]

If its loosing gas its got a leak. It also means you will be getting moisture into the system. AC systems hate moisture internally.
Its illegal whether you are a professional or diy'er to vent that gas to atmosphere.

I find it alarming that folk think its ok to do that.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

My Octavia is over 8 years old, & I've had it since it was 6 months old
I've never had the A/C checked, or re-gassed
Then again, I only use it in winter, to demist the windows
(SWMBO used to use it all the time, I open windows)

Should I have it re-gassed, after so long??

The aircon on my car demists the screen nicely, I do not leave it on all the time.

We used to have a ('57' plate) Ford C-Max (aka; godawful box of junk...… that's being very polite about it!!)
That needed A/C all the time, as it constantly misted up
No leaks, never a smell of dampness

 

[fossyant]

Turn off the aircon and open the windows instead maybe?

Peasant !!

 

[fossyant]

My Octavia is over 8 years old, & I've had it since it was 6 months old
I've never had the A/C checked, or re-gassed
Then again, I only use it in winter, to demist the windows
(SWMBO used to use it all the time, I open windows)

Should I have it re-gassed, after so long??



We used to have a ('57' plate) Ford C-Max (aka; godawful box of junk...… that's being very polite about it!!)
That needed A/C all the time, as it constantly misted up
No leaks, never a smell of dampness

If your a/c pipes get cold (the ones in the engine) and the air coming out is cold, then it's fine. You should, however, always have the a/c compressor on, to ensure the system stays lubricated. In the 17 years I've had mine, only re-gassed with leaks (holed condenser radiator and a cracked pipe).

No smells. I had a company vectra that always stunk, and it was new.

 

[fossyant]

Our local garage replaces the gas with more environmentally friendly stuff now - well, according to the blurb, it has to be by law.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

If your a/c pipes get cold (the ones in the engine) and the air coming out is cold, then it's fine. You should, however, always have the a/c compressor on, to ensure the system stays lubricated. In the 17 years I've had mine, only re-gassed with leaks (holed condenser radiator and a cracked pipe).

No smells. I had a company vectra that always stunk, and it was new.

Thanks, will check
Seemed to take a long time to demist last winter though

 

[screenman]

Our local garage replaces the gas with more environmentally friendly stuff now - well, according to the blurb, it has to be by law.

I was waiting to see if anybody posted that correct information.

 

[screenman]

If your a/c pipes get cold (the ones in the engine) and the air coming out is cold, then it's fine. You should, however, always have the a/c compressor on, to ensure the system stays lubricated. In the 17 years I've had mine, only re-gassed with leaks (holed condenser radiator and a cracked pipe).

No smells. I had a company vectra that always stunk, and it was new.

I do not leave mine on all the time, it is only used when needed, no smells. I know the smell you mean though as getting rid of it used to be part of my business, certainly not using it at all and you may have a problem, but intermittently is fine.

 

[fossyant]

I do not leave mine on all the time, it is only used when needed, no smells. I know the smell you mean though as getting rid of it used to be part of my business, certainly not using it at all and you may have a problem, but intermittently is fine.

Always worth a quick blast of detol anti bac spray occasionally where the air recirc entry is (usually passenger foot well) - pulls antibac into the system.

Regular or permanent use is best. I've gone permanent probably since the vectra's was just a/c, but switching it off steamed up the car (and smelt bad) The next two were 'climate' - i.e. set temp digitally and leave the system to do the vents etc.

 

[screenman]

The anti-bac is part of some manufacturers service schedule, Mazda I think is one.

 

[fossyant]

The aircon in my Smart is the one thing that doesn't work. Instead, I just put the roof down.

Another Peasant. Sometimes, outside is too hot !

 

[Levo-Lon]

R12 refrigeration gas was nasty stuff, i believe most new appliances use a safer environmental gas now.