What gas is in the aircon

[Craig8661]

Just wondering it's a late 1999 no stickers on it so asking here it's a t2 2.7tdi what gas does this aircon use and also is there any comman problems there is a little pressure in the system so may be just low on gas

 

[Sweety]

TBH i've no idea what the gas is but know it's deadly stuff:augie

 

[solarman216]

Just wondering it's a late 1999 no stickers on it so asking here it's a t2 2.7tdi what gas does this aircon use and also is there any comman problems there is a little pressure in the system so may be just low on gas

134a and if it has gone you have a leak, 800gms is the fill and about £20 but will probably only last a month or so, if that, now finding the leak? probably the ali pipes that run to the front rad (condenser) have gone where the clips are holding them, but could be expensive repair, Rick

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Just wondering it's a late 1999 no stickers on it so asking here it's a t2 2.7tdi what gas does this aircon use and also is there any comman problems there is a little pressure in the system so may be just low on gas

As Rick Says, 134a...

you can tell by looking at the valves.

When I got my 1999 one, the gas was low, took it round the corner and had it vacuumed down, and then re-filled, with an ultra violet dye inserted as well, to make it easier to see if and where there is a leak, 18months on and it is fine.

As I understand it, the 134a gas has a smaller molecule than the older and even more environmentally unfriendly R12, so, like Helium leaks out of a Balloon quicker than air, 134a, naturally leaks a lot quicker than R12, so you need to have it topped up every 2 to 4 years. Also the 134a gas, is less friendly to rubber O rings, but they did not know this when they first started, and now have special green O rings that should stand up to it better than the standard black ones.

 

[solarman216]

TBH i've no idea what the gas is but know it's deadly stuff:augie

deadly to who? or what? Rick

 

[AlexD333]

deadly to who? or what? Rick

I got told this at work a few days ago, very harmful i believe.you must have a special license to refill (as opposed to the apprentice doing it)

 

[solarman216]

it is only supposed to be harmful to the ozone layer, not to you and none of this has been proven to date, do not just take press as gospel, Rick

 

[AlexD333]

it is only supposed to be harmful to the ozone layer, not to you and none of this has been proven to date, do not just take press as gospel, Rick

Oh right didn't know that. Still I'd rather stay away from the stuff

 

[clivvy]

any liquid/gas (other than fresh water) that goes into a car is going to be harmful to a person, cause it is!

 

[firebobby]

any liquid/gas (other than fresh water) that goes into a car is going to be harmful to a person, cause it is!

Fall in a swimming pool when you can't swim, that can be harmful in fresh water

 

[rustic]

Halfords in the summer were doing a free air con pressure test, I thought we had a problem with a leak in the Picasso, but all was ok.
They might still be doing free tests:thumb2

They sell a kit to self pressure test, and a bottle of gas if required to top up.:thumb2
Price not too bad.

BUT this method does not remove any moisture in the system, or cure leaks, so depending on the problem, might me a waste of time and money.:augie

 

[solarman216]

It is like a lot of things in life, very quirky! for instance as a plumber I can come into your house and squirt half a kilo of this stuff into a muff on a pipe to freeze it (direct discharge to atmosphere) but as a refrigeration engineer I can be fined £2000 for doing the same thing :doh:doh, Rick

 

[clivvy]

It is like a lot of things in life, very quirky! for instance as a plumber I can come into your house and squirt half a kilo of this stuff into a muff on a pipe to freeze it (direct discharge to atmosphere) but as a refrigeration engineer I can be fined £2000 for doing the same thing :doh:doh, Rick

isn't that odd how that can be? seems the rules aren't very well thought out!

 

[Craig8661]

Thanks for the info quick fit are offering to regass for £30 don't kno if that includes evac of the system

 

[solarman216]

Thanks for the info quick fit are offering to regass for £30 don't kno if that includes evac of the system

Would not think that includes vac'ing down, as that is more time consuming, bearing in mind the gas is around £20 a kilo, Rick

 

[Sweety]

deadly to who? or what? Rick

We all got told this years ago when I working in the motor trade

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Would not think that includes vac'ing down, as that is more time consuming, bearing in mind the gas is around £20 a kilo, Rick

A couple of years ago, I broke my golden rule, never use Quick Fit, and was round there trying to get a rear exhaust section on the 240 replaced.

In the time we were waiting, they did 3 cars on the aircon machine, and all 3 died spectacularly...

The first, they could not get a seal on the valve connection, and the gas was spraying everywhere. The guy went in with working, but lazy aircon, and by the time they had finished, it had no gas left in it at all, and they said there was nothing they could do... Fair enough, they don't fix them..

The second they put on the machine, and after about 10 mins they said it was done, revered the car out of the bay, and smashed it into another customers car, ripping off the wing mirror, and denting them.

The third, they eventually got into the bay, after they had cleared up the glass from the other cars, put on the machine, and after about 10 mins, there was this huge bang, and yet more gas and fluid flying around. They told the customer it was the radiator, and said there was nothing they could do...

All this was just outside the door to the waiting room, so I hope the gas is not too dangerous, as we were all subjected to it twice.

When the finally got to looking at the 240, an hour and half later than the time they had asked us to take the car there, I was a bit nervous, and stood there watching them put it on the ramp. It then it turned out they had lied, and did not have the bits in stock, even though we had booked it in, the day before, for this specific task...

So my advice to you, is don't do QuickFit!!!:doh

 

[solarman216]

did they not have a weighing machine or some other device for measuring how much gas they were injecting, sounds like they did not, Rick

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

did they not have a weighing machine or some other device for measuring how much gas they were injecting, sounds like they did not, Rick

I have no idea Rick, it was being done by some sort of metal cabinet on wheels, so I would have thought it was some sort of automatic system. I would actually go more on lack of user training, and total disregard for customer property....

When the Halford place round the corner did mine, on a couple of cars now, they vacuum it down, and then hold it there for 30mins, before re-filling, to test for larger leaks. Overall, it takes about 45mins, hey also add the correct amount of lubricant, and as I said before an ultra violet die to help find leaks, should you get one. You generally get a better feeling that they know what they are doing.

 

[solarman216]

Yes vacing it down boils out any moisture in the system and if it holds for 30 mins then no big leaks, but does not show micro leaks that may lose pressure after say 3 months, and even the dye idea does not work on these, I have all the kit dye injector, gas sniffer (ultra sensitive) ultraviolet etc, had a commercial freezer a while ago would lose gas in around 2 months, could not find it, then the compressor failed, so purchased a complete compressor condenser set up and fitted, never leaked again can only assume the airflow from the fan stopped the sniffer detecting, but never saw any ultra violet evidence at all, on cars much more difficult, so many bits you have no access to, Rick