Adding Freon
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Adding Freon
My friend has a '74 Corvette with 350sbc and A/C. Where and how do you add freon to the air conditioning system? Sorry for a dumb question. He said something about adding it through a hose or something?
Thanks,
Ethan
Thanks,
Ethan
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 1
From: grand prairie texas
My advice is unless your friend has a litle bit of backround in air conditioning he is best to leave it to the professionals. You first must determine what type of refrigerant is in the vehicle. If he still has the R12 it is hard to get. I get mine thru craigslist and I am also licensed to buy it. It must also be charged thru the low side fitting. You must also have gages and a device to puncture the can. If you would accidently charge the high side fitting the high presure could blow the can up in your face.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
If the both of you dont know WHERE and HOW to add the juice, at this point you need to take it somewhere. Not making fun here, but you need to know a bit more than that to even make a S.W.A.G. at how much to add, what could be going on in the system, etc. (SWAG= Scientific wild a$$ guess) 
Most shops charge ~$40 to inspect and report. well worth the money.
Most shops charge ~$40 to inspect and report. well worth the money.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Can you tell me where to add it at? Do I add it to the Shrader Valve or the lower pressure port? How do I add it to the Shrader Valve? I'm sorry that I don't know WHERE or HOW to do it. I'm young and have never done anything to an A/C.
Last edited by Ethan1; Jul 13, 2010 at 10:31 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Ethan,
You seem persistant in your quest to get a fast, easy answer to what is a complex system that can easily be done wrong and have severe consequences for both you and your car. A/C systems are not as simple as you imagine. Your answer is at this site: http://www.idqusa.com/ I suggest you use this to get a fundamental understanding of the system and work you way up by doing a lot of reading on sites that are specific to A/C systems.
You seem persistant in your quest to get a fast, easy answer to what is a complex system that can easily be done wrong and have severe consequences for both you and your car. A/C systems are not as simple as you imagine. Your answer is at this site: http://www.idqusa.com/ I suggest you use this to get a fundamental understanding of the system and work you way up by doing a lot of reading on sites that are specific to A/C systems.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Ethan,
You seem persistant in your quest to get a fast, easy answer to what is a complex system that can easily be done wrong and have severe consequences for both you and your car. A/C systems are not as simple as you imagine. Your answer is at this site: http://www.idqusa.com/ I suggest you use this to get a fundamental understanding of the system and work you way up by doing a lot of reading on sites that are specific to A/C systems.
You seem persistant in your quest to get a fast, easy answer to what is a complex system that can easily be done wrong and have severe consequences for both you and your car. A/C systems are not as simple as you imagine. Your answer is at this site: http://www.idqusa.com/ I suggest you use this to get a fundamental understanding of the system and work you way up by doing a lot of reading on sites that are specific to A/C systems.
Thanks for the help guys!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: Easton PA
hard to ''add'' freon when you dont know how much is in there from the start. odds are if you need to add freon there is a leak, usually exensive repair. proper way to diagnose this concern would be to use a acr 2000 a/c machine, at your local garage or similair tool, but noone usaully has one unless you work at a garage. there going to recover what is left in the a/c system if any. then inject 1 oz. of dye and add 1lb. of freon just so the system operates, then after a/c gets warm again (beacause freon leaked out) the guy is going to examine the a/c and see where the leak is, once fixed, a proper amount of freon per year car is added and system is operation.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,666
Likes: 1
From: Where it's always hot as Hell-South Louisiana.
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
If you EVER NEED TO ADD refrigerant, it is because the same amount leaked out of the system. A cars a/c system does NOT consume refrigerant like it uses oil or gas in the engine. The system is charged at the factory and will operate with ~10-15% of the charge lost, but after that, it goes ka-put. Its at this time the owner will notice its not cooling, and will simply want to "add" more, which is most often a quick fix until the leak allows that 10-15% to leak out again.
The moral of this report? If its low on refrigerant its probably low on its lube oil also, and needs a qualified repair person to diagnose, check for leaks & repair as necessary. Otherwise, you're throwing money at a quick fix which may /may not last more than a few days/weeks.
Re-pump it up enough times without adding oil and the compressor will lock up. THEN you got urself some REAL problems.
Just another word of advice :Take it to a real repair tech, its worth the $40 for a diagnose & report.
The moral of this report? If its low on refrigerant its probably low on its lube oil also, and needs a qualified repair person to diagnose, check for leaks & repair as necessary. Otherwise, you're throwing money at a quick fix which may /may not last more than a few days/weeks.
Re-pump it up enough times without adding oil and the compressor will lock up. THEN you got urself some REAL problems.
Just another word of advice :Take it to a real repair tech, its worth the $40 for a diagnose & report.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
If you EVER NEED TO ADD refrigerant, it is because the same amount leaked out of the system. A cars a/c system does NOT consume refrigerant like it uses oil or gas in the engine. The system is charged at the factory and will operate with ~10-15% of the charge lost, but after that, it goes ka-put. Its at this time the owner will notice its not cooling, and will simply want to "add" more, which is most often a quick fix until the leak allows that 10-15% to leak out again.
The moral of this report? If its low on refrigerant its probably low on its lube oil also, and needs a qualified repair person to diagnose, check for leaks & repair as necessary. Otherwise, you're throwing money at a quick fix which may /may not last more than a few days/weeks.
Re-pump it up enough times without adding oil and the compressor will lock up. THEN you got urself some REAL problems.
Just another word of advice :Take it to a real repair tech, its worth the $40 for a diagnose & report.
The moral of this report? If its low on refrigerant its probably low on its lube oil also, and needs a qualified repair person to diagnose, check for leaks & repair as necessary. Otherwise, you're throwing money at a quick fix which may /may not last more than a few days/weeks.
Re-pump it up enough times without adding oil and the compressor will lock up. THEN you got urself some REAL problems.
Just another word of advice :Take it to a real repair tech, its worth the $40 for a diagnose & report.
I'll let him know and $40 is cheap insurance if it actually is leaking. I hope not.
