How to Add Freon to a Car?
2 Answers
The steps for adding Freon to a car are: 1. Before adding refrigerant, prepare the necessary tools and materials, including a car refrigerant recovery and charging machine and refrigerant; 2. Connect the hoses of the car refrigerant recovery and charging machine to the high and low-pressure pipes of the car's air conditioning system—red for the high-pressure pipe and blue for the low-pressure pipe; 3. After ensuring the hoses are correctly connected and the refrigerant recovery and charging machine has completed its self-check upon startup, proceed to evacuate the car's air conditioning system; 4. Only after the evacuation process is complete can you begin adding refrigerant. Set the charging capacity, time, and type on the refrigerant recovery and charging machine according to the maximum refrigerant capacity specified for the vehicle's air conditioning system. Once confirmed, the machine will automatically start adding the refrigerant.
When adding Freon, I prepare a set of refilling tools, including a manifold gauge and a refill hose. First, check the air conditioning system for leaks by applying soapy water to the joints and looking for bubbles. If there are no leaks, connect to the low-pressure port, usually the blue hose, and remember to turn off the engine. Then, use a vacuum pump to evacuate for about 15 minutes to ensure moisture and air are removed, otherwise, the cooling effect will be poor. Next, connect the refrigerant canister and add small amounts while monitoring the gauge pressure to keep it within the normal range—don’t exceed it. After adding, run the AC for a few minutes to check if cold air output is restored. I recommend beginners avoid doing this themselves and instead seek professional service to avoid damaging the compressor. The entire process takes about half an hour, and tools can be rented from auto parts stores at low cost but with high risk.
