Freon Recharge

[500hpgtx]

Hey Guys!

Last year when I had a freon leak in our 1995 3.8L Transport, I was urged to repair it myself. I went to a local autozone, and purchased the freon sealer, air conditioner system oil, and freon.
Not only has it working this year, it works VERY well. When I refilled the freon, I used a product called Sub Zero. My Pontiac trans mechanic friend said that was the new synthetic type of freon. I had to use a number of cans to refill the system at the time, and I definitely used the pressure gauge that is dialed to the ambient temperature when I filled the system.
My point is that the air conditioning definitely was significantly colder. I would estimate about 25% colder. I do not recall ever having air conditioning in our van ever working that well. It is definitely worth the money during this extremely hot summer near Chicago....cheers

[Jrs3800]

Well Kev... In that case you have a good compressor...

I had mine freezing me out of my van 4 years ago... Even on a 97F Florida day it would be blazing cold in the Van... Sadly that compressor started getting tired, Happens... I have not gotten a good one since... My 95 Bonneville is going to get updated and the compressor I have on it is a Delphi for a 95 LeSabre... Was brand new and I had to notch my bracket for the pressure switch... Its been 5 years and its still cold as ice in my car, so that compressor will live on in my van... Nothing like a factory compressor and a properly charged system..

[rkvons]

If Freon and PAG oil leak out of the system and you only put Freon back in and seal it, it will get colder because it is more Freon and less oil. However, the life of the compressor will be shortened. I know this from experience.

[Jrs3800]

Thats true.... But was not the case with my set up... I had replaced the Evaporator, Condenser, Orifice Tube Filter and the Drier.. added Pag 150 to a total oil fill of 8oz with all new seal and O rings... Vacuum Pumped the system down and then charged to Factory specs using the manifold gauges and the tables for temp and humidity... Got it bone chilling cold... Last couple of compressors were remans and my biggest mistake...

The 95 Bonneville on the other hand got a new compressor, new drier and orifice tube filter... iirc I had to add 5 oz according to the service manual instructions... 5 years later its still as cold as ever and has not been charged...

I do agree with you on the loss of Pag oil, iirc the refrigerant he used either had 1 ounce or 2 ounces or refrigerant oil with the refrigerant...

A good compressor and properly charged system will make a big difference...

[Tech II]

Must be in the minority here....have NEVER seen sealer work....

[500hpgtx]

To clarify on the freon recharge: sealer, oil, subzero freon. Again, this is a new synthetic type of freon. THey advertise that your system will be colder. It
definitely is a lot colder than when it was even new.

Yeah, sealers never really worked for me either. God must have given me a break with expensive repairs for once. Just once..;-) cheers