Where do i add refrigerant?

[Peg]

Got a 98 k1500 5.7l, I've read the manual but I cant find where to add refrigerant to the system. I'm guessing its on one of the ports on top the compressor? Also any special procedures i should be following when adding.

[ZF6LLY]

well if you need refrigerant you most definitely have a leak i would figure out where the leak is first using an UV light and yellow glasses (usually comes w. the light)
if you find no traces of dye I would charge with dye and recheck but you will most likely be leaking out the refrigerant you put in

AC repairs are kinda hard for a do it yourself'er you really need an AC machine to evacuate and recharge the system.... if the system if 100% leaked out and has air in it air contains moisture and the system needs to be held under vacuum to remove moisture because air and moisture will make the system not operate properly

as far as finding the fittings theres two a low side and high side... just follow the lines and you have to find them.... sometimes they put a fitting on the accumulator

[454cid]

well if you need refrigerant you most definitely have a leak.......

Not exactly. Automotive AC systems leak some refrigerant by the very nature of their construction, unlike a home, or commercial system.

[t_alan_d2000]

if you got a can from a parts store put it in the low side the adapter only fits on the low side and most of the time is blue oe black cap on it and has an L on it

[Chevy53]

Not exactly. Automotive AC systems leak some refrigerant by the very nature of their construction, unlike a home, or commercial system.

It's a sealed system how can it leak.... It's the same as a house unit...


-Ziggy-

[smaurno]

That sounds logical, but automotive AC systems do lose a small amount of refrigerant over time. If you go to a parts store with an employees who know their stuff, they should be able to show you where to add refrigerant.

[dave89iroc]

No, they don't, as said, if you need to add refrigerant, you have a leak

[Peg]

Since i bought the truck a year ago the a/c wasn't charged so i want to put a can in it to find the possible leaks. If it holds then that's a bonus

[SoSoFLY]

Goes in the low side, engine running, ac on max, can upside down, fill hose going down, it draws in the the compressor clutch is spinning. You can tell when its done when the can feels empty. Takes a cpl minutes to suck it all in. Use about 8oz to start. R134 from the parts store will have dye in it. You can see yhe dye with a blacklight as well.

[96Z71Siverado]

Not exactly. Automotive AC systems leak some refrigerant by the very nature of their construction, unlike a home, or commercial system.

Hmm , Ive been a ASE Certified Mechanic for 25 years.. 1st time I ever heard that one...And I also work closely with Climate engineers that would strongly disagree....
If it its less than full , you have a leak!..
Now if the system is full, you can still have performance issues , and a vast array of things could be causeing the system to not perform as it should..but a leak is a leak..it needs to be fixed...

[cancritter]

thought it might be one of them cans lve seen on tv lately...didnt think much of it as l can just see folks that shouldnt be messin with thier vehicles tryin to use that stuff causein all sorta issues...my knowlage of ac components is basic but l do know that some things are best left to those that know and have the proper tools ect to deal with it...ac is one of them things l have no problem goin to a mech to get it done properly first time

[454cid]

Hmm , Ive been a ASE Certified Mechanic for 25 years.. 1st time I ever heard that one...And I also work closely with Climate engineers that would strongly disagree....
If it its less than full , you have a leak!..
Now if the system is full, you can still have performance issues , and a vast array of things could be causeing the system to not perform as it should..but a leak is a leak..it needs to be fixed...

Automotive compressors have a seal with a rotating shaft running through the middle. That seal will leak to some degree even in good shape. On the other hand a residential or commercial compressor will have an internal electric motor, not a engine turning it, and won't have that seal. In other words, automotive AC systems leak by the very nature of their construction.

[dave89iroc]

Automotive compressors have a seal with a rotating shaft running through the middle. That seal will leak to some degree even in good shape. On the other hand a residential or commercial compressor will have an internal electric motor, not a engine turning it, and won't have that seal. In other words, automotive AC systems leak by the very nature of their construction.

All that means is that there is an additional potential leak point, but if your system is low, there is a leak

[Peg]

thought it might be one of them cans lve seen on tv lately...didnt think much of it as l can just see folks that shouldnt be messin with thier vehicles tryin to use that stuff causein all sorta issues...my knowlage of ac components is basic but l do know that some things are best left to those that know and have the proper tools ect to deal with it...ac is one of them things l have no problem goin to a mech to get it done properly first time

I'm just adding a can to see what happens and to try and find the leak myself, this isn't a magic can from a tv infomercial. The high and low side ports are right beside each other, i just needed to know what side is low.

[1997chevydriver]

I'm just adding a can to see what happens and to try and find the leak myself, this isn't a magic can from a tv infomercial. The high and low side ports are right beside each other, i just needed to know what side is low.

Drivers side cap (smaller of the 2

Sent from my SPH-M820-BST using Tapatalk 2

[masterhacker]

I agree that in cars/trucks refrigerant leaks out over time. Yes its a sealed system but its sealed with O-rings, And if air can leak out of a tire, im sure refrigerant can leak out of a O-ring.
about a week ago my buddy added like 1/2 a can to his durango, and asked if I wanted to throw the rest in mine, i said it will probably just leak out, so we tried it and its working amazingly since he did. Yes I probably should have leak checked it and evacuated the system, but What the hell its working, if it quits working Ill have a shop do it properly but I now know that it works. Worst case scenario your out $40 for the can, and you know you have a leak and can tell a shop that, or track down the leak. $40 is Probably cheaper than having a shop Tell you that there is a Leak. most refrigerant I've seen comes with stop leak in it anyways

Any ways...On mine it only fit on one fitting, So that was the one I used

[NHurless93]

If the system hasn't been charged for a while or it has been opened and exposed to air you will need to put a vacuum pump on the system before you recharge it to eliminate moisture and air from the system ensuring that you have nothing but pure refrigerant in the system

[LS1Silverado98]

Can anyone tell me how many pounds of 134A it takes to fill a completely empty system? I have a 90 Chevy 454 SS, and the sticker is missing that has that info. I replaced the compressor, dryer, and orfice tube. Also flushed the system. I've added oil, but I cant find the 134A amount that's recommended. (I guess it would have been R-10)

[96Z71Siverado]

I would say 2.0 lbs 32oz thats what mine is anyway (96 5.7L) you should be charging with engine on A/C on max and through the LOW side port (suction) side
Hold can upside down..
Would get the smallest can of the plain jane stuff, dont get anything that says leak stop, your wasting your money with that crap..

[96Z71Siverado]

Automotive compressors have a seal with a rotating shaft running through the middle. That seal will leak to some degree even in good shape. On the other hand a residential or commercial compressor will have an internal electric motor, not a engine turning it, and won't have that seal. In other words, automotive AC systems leak by the very nature of their construction.

I understand what you are saying..but the A/C compressors Seals are not "designed" to leak, there just not designed that way, they are designed to keep ALL the charge in the system , just like a rear main seal is designed to keep ALL the oil in the engine, once oil starts to leak past it...It has failed..(period) Some leak out quick, some might take a year to leak, but a leak , is a leak.. there not designed with an acceptable failure rate if you will...