how much refrigerant R 134a is required to be filled in the car a/c system ?

Question

how do u know how much is in the system already and how much more is required for proper cooling ?

Answer 1

It depends on the car. Most cars will take about 2 pounds of refrigerant (or about 2-3 12oz cans). Check your shop manual for proper system capacities. The important thing is to not put too much in the system or to "top it off." Topping it off and having too little refrigerant in the system will make the system not work properly. Look into getting a low-side hose and gauge set or a manifold gauge set. Then you can measure how much psi's are in the system. Here is a link to a helpful chart that shows you what the pressure readings should be at different temperatures...

http://www.efproducts.com/faqs.php?faq_id=53&category_id=12

Also, when everything is working properly your a/c system should be blowing out air that is around 38-45 degrees (assuming that you have the controls set at max cool). The temperature of the air coming out will fluctuate due to the fact that compressors are designed to cycle on and off. When it is on, the air will be a little cooler than when it is off. In most vehicles, the compressors run for about 15-20 seconds and then cycle off, and then on again. And if you are parked or stopped in traffic, the compressors will run for about 45 seconds to 1 minute.

Like others have said, I would recommend you take your vehicle to a licensed a/c repair shop. They know what they are doing, and can recharge your system (assuming that everything is working and there are no leaks) in a few minutes. Should only cost you $20-60 to get recharged. The refrigerant is pretty cheap (about $20), but the labor (anywhere from $20-40) costs the most!

You can find good gauges and refrigerant on ebay. Check out auctions that have Quest, Interdynamics, or EF Products for sale.

My favorite kind of refrigerant is Johnsen's R-134a...its the only stuff I use.

If your system has a leak, and if it is a small leak, look into purchasing a product called Super Seal. This works great and seals up small leaks. (A small leak is classified as one that will hold your a/c charge for about 1-2 weeks.) Check out this link for Super Seal. This is the cheapest you can get it. And I have done business with this person before...highly recommended, item was exactly as described, and he has the cheapest price out there. Just make sure you buy the one for R-134a not R-12.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/R134-R-134a-Stop-Leak-Patches-METAL-Freon-Compressor_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ46094QQihZ011QQitemZ320134693488QQrdZ1

Answer 2

Special recovery machine that removes weighs the r-134 and removes the system oil too. Both oil and R-134 must be put back in the system. Most the time there is a little green or pink sticker under the hood that gives the amount of R-134 but the correct oil some times is not on the sticker. That amount is what came out during the recovery or more depending on the service manual. Then after the fill High and low side pressures tell the technician how the system is functioning and measurement of humidity outside and inside center vent temp. Very technical but here in Texas A/C working properly really makes a difference.

Answer 3

you need a set of pressure gages for it when you do this ,you may have more freon than you have pressure,and that will cause an in-balance in the system,and not allow it to cool real good,that's why air conditioning work should be left people who do this all the time,it should hold about the same amount of freon ,but without the gage on it,you may not get it to cool right,there has to be so much pressure on the high side of it,and so much on the low side,if not it wont ever cool right,if you get too much in it,it could lock the compressor up on it also,good luck with it.

Answer 4

You must have gauges to know for sure but if it still gets pretty cool but not cold then (1) 16 ounce can should do it. If it doesn't cool at all then it prob ally doesn't have any coolant in it and needs to have a vacuum pulled on the system first and then will need roughly (3) cans.

Answer 5

Check your owner's manual.

If it needs new/more refrigerant, take it into a *Licensed* garage and have THEM do it.

The A/C system is one of the few parts of a car that should NOT be worked on by someone who does not do it professionally.

PLEASE NOTE: In many places, *touching* ANY refrigeration system (AC or no) without the correct licenses is a painfully messy legal morass.

Answer 6

134a Refrigerant Price

Answer 7

It depends on the type of car. Crib sheets are available which give the amount for a particular make and model. My Plymouth Voyager requires about three pounds.

Answer 8

you hook up a guage to the low port and it will tell you what the pressure is. mine was dry and i went to auto zone and got the kit, you get 2 big cans and a guage, the cans has the oil and sealer in them. i put the 2 big cans in and then 1 small can, now mine is full.

Answer 9

Depends Most hold less then 2 lbs

Answer 10

you can not tell how much is in it unless you have a gauge,go to autozone or another parts place they have a simple to use gauge made for R134a tells you in simple terms, red is overcharged yellow is caution and in the green area it is ok.then you can tell if it is low or overcharged.