How to Add Refrigerant to a Car?
2 Answers
To add refrigerant to a car, follow these steps: 1. 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. 3. Perform a vacuum process on the car's air conditioning system. 4. Set the charging capacity, time, and type on the refrigerant recovery and charging machine. 5. The refrigerant recovery and charging machine will automatically start adding refrigerant. To determine if the car needs refrigerant oil, use these methods: 1. Turn on the air conditioning for a while. If it quickly reaches the set temperature, it's normal; otherwise, refrigerant oil is needed. 2. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature difference between the air intake and outlet of the indoor unit. If the difference is below about 8 degrees Celsius, refrigerant oil is required.
Last time I refilled the car's refrigerant myself, it was really hassle-free and cost-effective. First, you need to check if the system has any leaks—I sprayed soapy water on the connections to look for bubbles. Gather your tools: get a manifold gauge set, a decent one around 100 yuan will do, don’t cheap out as poor quality can lead to misreading pressure. Use R134a refrigerant cans, which most modern cars support. Start the engine, turn the AC to MAX cold with the fan at full blast to get the system running. Under the hood, locate the blue low-pressure port, connect the gauge, and vacuum for 10-15 minutes to remove moisture and air—this step is crucial, or the refrigerant won’t work efficiently. Then slowly refill, keeping the pressure gauge between 30-45 psi. Never add too fast or overfill, or you’ll blow the compressor. Once done, the AC should be icy again—I recommend checking annually to avoid frequent refills. The whole process takes about 30 minutes; just remember to wear gloves and goggles for safety.
