Go5.3tt06

iTrader: (1)

Ok I just finished install custom made ac hone line long due of t6 turbo. Of course no ac freon, Do I need to have ac machine to recharge or ok to buy auto zone that is ready to recharge myself?

RB04Av

You can do it. "Rent" a vacuum pump; pull it down to 29" or more of vacuum. See if it holds below 29" for a half-hour. If it doesn't, find the leeeeeek(s), try again. Lather rinse repeat. Once it holds, fill er up.

FFDP

iTrader: (2)

Yup, have to remove all the air first. Then oil and R134a can be added back in.

ZO6Ted

500 microns or 29.98+ vacuum is preferred. No way to measure that really without a high dollar set of gauges or vac gauge but you get the idea. Moisture and air is the enemy.

firebladeJJ

iTrader: (1)

I used the harbor frieght vacuum pump and gages on mine (60 bucks total) a few years ago when I swapped the engine, worked like a charm....let the pump run for an hour to vacuum all the moisture out of the system.

smokeshow

iTrader: (16)

Harbor freight indeed.

wretched73

iTrader: (1)

I had a shop, maybe STS or something like that, refill my AC system after I replaced the compressor. It was maybe $200-$300? I can't remember but its an option

RB04Av

The thing about trying to get low vacuum is, the oil for R-134A, has vapor pressure right about 29" of vacuum. Meaning, if there is ANY TRACE of that oil in there, the vac will NEVER go below that (at least not sustainably), unless you're willing to wait long enough for it ALL to boil off. You might be able to get it lower, but after a few minutes, once a few molecules of the oil evaporate, you'll be back at about 29".

Meanwhile, if there's any water in it, or any leaks, the vac will RAPIDLY rise above 29". In the one circumstance, you're good to go; in the other, you have work to do. Which in the end, is really all that this is about: am I ready to charge it up, or not. It's binary (yes/no), not linear. Not, am I 50% ready, 90%, 99%, 99.999% ready, ... at a certain point, enough is enough.

"Measure with micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with axe"... the axiom about figuring out how "perfect" "perfect" REALLY IS (or needs to be), and avoiding chasing your tail over the unattainable, unmeasurable, and immaterial.

The barometric pressure at my house was 29.92 the other day. Which even in a HARD DEEP SPACE VACUUM wouldn't meet 29.98 with a vac pump; even if I went back to the Pleaides and brought back a sample of home with me, it wouldn't qualify. Does that mean I couldn't charge my AC that day? The main thing is, to keep the main thing the main thing.

00pooterSS

iTrader: (40)

Go to autozone and rent a vacuum pump and a gauge set.

Hook vacuum pump to gauges, hook gauges to car, turn on vacuum. Go have sammich. Come back and put freon in it.

Take pump and gauges back to autozone and get all your money back.

This is what I do when I service ac systems in the drive way.

B52Bombardier1

Just please, whatever you do, don't add refrigerant with sealant in the can. The professional A/C repair shops (if you eventually must visit one) won't touch your vehicle with sealant because it contaminates their recovery machine.

Rick