Where to Add Refrigerant to Car Air Conditioning?
3 Answers
Refrigerant is added to the car air conditioning system in the refrigerant storage tank. The steps for adding refrigerant to car air conditioning are: 1. Evacuate the system, close the manual valves on the pressure gauge and the high and low pressure manual valves; 2. Connect one end of the hose to the injection valve fitting of the refrigerant tank; 3. Open the refrigerant tank, loosen the nut on the pressure gauge hose to let some gas escape, then close it; 4. Open the high-pressure side manual valve and invert the tank; 5. Inject the specified amount of liquid refrigerant, then close the refrigerant injection valve and the high-pressure manual valve. Car air conditioning is used to adjust and control the temperature, humidity, air cleanliness, and air flow inside the car compartment to an optimal state, providing a comfortable riding environment for passengers and reducing travel fatigue.
Last time I had my car's refrigerant recharged, it was done by a repair shop technician. They first checked the entire AC system for any leaks before proceeding with the recharge. The refrigerant filling port is actually located in the engine bay - there's an aluminum pipe marked 'L' which is the low-pressure service port. The technician connects a specialized gauge hose to the refrigerant canister, and the car needs to be running with AC at maximum fan speed while slowly adding the refrigerant with the canister inverted. Honestly though, DIY operation is quite risky - improper pressure control can cause frostbite, and you'd need vacuum pump equipment. The complete set of tools would cost more than the service fee. AC lines require extremely high sealing standards, and improper handling might actually make leaks worse. I recommend going to a professional shop - it's more convenient and safer.
As someone who has worked in a repair shop, the refrigerant charging port is usually located at the low-pressure service port of the A/C lines in the engine bay, typically covered by a blue or black plastic cap. But the key point isn't just the location—the critical step is performing a system diagnosis before charging! Poor A/C cooling could be caused by condenser blockage, compressor failure, or leaks. Blindly adding refrigerant won't solve the root issue. We often use fluorescent leak detectors to locate leaks, and only after confirming the system's integrity do we evacuate it for at least 15 minutes. Finally, we precisely measure the refrigerant (R134a) using an electronic scale—overcharging can cause high-pressure line icing, while undercharging leads to poor cooling performance. Nowadays, refrigerants must also be properly recovered and handled—DIY operations are neither eco-friendly nor compliant.
