I broke my A/C

[HossDiesel]

well, my ac wasnt blowing enough for me so i put 4 cans of 134a in it and a can of oil and now it makes a really loud bang when i turn it on and the guy at the shop said there is to much stuff in there and it needs to be sucked out and i was wondering if there is a bleed off screw or somehting where i can jst drain the system and put all new in???

 

[SFord]

If you have too much oil you will probably need to remove the compressor and pour it out after the system has been evacuated. To evacuate, although its an EPA no no, just reattach your low side hose and crack the line nut to vent tha refrigerent. 134 is not as hard on the ozone as others but its still a no no to vent.

 

[mbrolin]

I strongly suggest that you bite the bullet and take it to a shop qualified to do A/C work. The proper charge is 2lbs of 134a plus a certain amount of oil. I do not have the book at home so I do not know what the oil capacity is. Your system is overcharged and over oiled. Id get it cleaned out before some real expensive damage is done ie:compressor seals,etc

 

[Mopar-muscle]

micheal is right , if you just spent the money to begin with you'd be done , isn't funny how we try to save a couple bucks and it costs us a few hundred in the long run ?

 

[MidwestMotorman]

second that...

Get the truck to a shop before the damage is worse. A good shop will suck it all out, see how much was actually in there, and put back what is needed. I have seen oil added to systems without causing harm, but you have too much 134. The compressor sits at the very bottom of the engine, and all that extra liquid is right there.

 

[Amianthus]

It's my understanding that 134a is only supposed to be sold to liscenced people (me being one of them). But I have been hearing tales of it being sold in the little cans at some stores. But that stuff aside, take it to a shop. There is more to cooling than just adding refrigerants. In fact, it may work worse. If you need any other info on refrigerants and how they work, let me know.

 

[Chace TX]

Here in Texas you can buy 134a at wallmart. Maybe they should regulate it a little more, huh?

 

[Amianthus]

Very important.

One thing you should know. R-134a when mixed with air and placed under high pressure has been known to become explosive.

I believe this is due to it's propane (?) component. We saw the video in class of the R-134 tests. Not good stuff. That's how R-134a came about. Too much propane (?) in the original stuff. Completely destroyed the S-10 it was in. Keep this in mind while you are working with the stuff.

 

[Archive]

I'll have to agree with way too much 134a in the system. Like stated above, find some one with a recovery system and remove the 134a, and reinstall the correct amount. As far as the oil goes, normally there is too much oil in the systems. If oil was added to a system that had oil in it already the system may have to be flushed to remove some of the oil. Also too much oil will not pass through the Expansion valve (or block), and cause a blockage of oil in the system or too much oil in the compressor will not compress.



I havn't heard about the propane in the R12 or 134. Some of the blends have a form of explosive chemical make up in them, like propane. Usually was happens with these blends is that they seperate, when some of them seperate the molicules are small enough to leak out of the pores in the AC hoses. Usually the remaining compound is explosive. This problem has not been as big in systems that were designed to run 134a, as they have barriar type hose, to retain the smaller molecules of the 134a. The older R12 hoses tended to very slowly leak the smaller molecules. (Propane is a great refigerant... just one down fall... BOOM!!!!)



Here in TX the purchase of 134a is over the counter with no license. R12 requires that you have a special license to purchase the product.

I hope this help. .

Bryan

 

[SFord]

R-134a or Tetrafluoroethane (CH2FCF3) does not contain propane. It is in the Ethane group of refrigerents. It is used along with a synthetic oil. Here in FL. it can be purchased over the counter without a license.

 

[Amianthus]

I just remember seeing that video in school with that S-10 and watching it detonate. Our instructor told us that it was due to (memory might be failing) to the explosive component of the R-134 they were testing (not the 134a that's available today). But who knows, my memory might just be that bad.

As far as R-134a goes, I was always of the opinion that it is an aziotrope (sp?) and not a blend. Therefore, it does not separate. But maybe I'm wrong. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know everything about A/C. I won't disagree that it does leak though. Poor engineering has allways been what I've blamed for leaky systems. But manufacturer's are getting better.

SFord, I typically use the POE type oil for R-134a for two reasons. One, cost (not primary reason). And the second is because that is what most manufacturer's are putting in these sytems. Synthetic is better, by far. And it mixes with anything, but cost comes into play.

It does worry me that the stuff can be purchased OTC though. But what can you do. What else do you guys think of this stuff?

 

[Doc Tinker]

Back in the days before R134a, you could buy R12 at just about any store that sold auto stuff. I was glad when they banned sales of the stuff, to the general public. My concern was the chance that a can could explode in your hands if it was hooked up incorrectly.



These guys are right about you having way too much freon in the system. I'm surprised that the system didn't just lock up, when you turned it on, and fry the belt.



Please be careful with this stuff and let a professional do the work.



Doc