DIY Help w Recharge purged a/c system

[jomarche]

98 2wd LS front n rear a/c

Need some confirmation help if possible. I have looked all over here to no avail. I replaced the a/c compressor (new) & evapertaor (new). 3 rd time in this van for the compressor. System is purged and evacuated with vacum.

1. Anyway specs say 11 oz of PAG 150 ? How do I introduce the PAG 150 via pressurized freon cans, or pour it into something, how? compressor has 1.5 oz of PAG from factory.

2. AND 3lbs of freon, ? Do I count the weight of the PAG freon if I use PAG freon?

3. ? In using the 12oz freon cans is that 12oz liquid or weight?

4. ?How many 12oz cans equals 3lbs?

Usually I just put 4 cans and am good to go...but 3 compressor in 4 years i want to be a bit more precise.

Thanks appreciate it.

[remark123]

16oz in a pound...

[jomarche]

liquid or dry????

[GaryZ]

I have been DIY auto air conditioning for a number of years now. I have replaced the compressor/condenser/in-line filter a few times. The first time I had the parts dealer load the oil in the new compressor (for a fee). The last time I simply poured the oil into the compressor myself. And I mean pour it in the compressor before sealing the system and evacuating. I usually put enough freon in to get cold air. This is normally three cans on the Astro. Recently I bought a cute low-side adapter with a pressure gauge and now I put enough freon in to get cold air and hit within the pressure range. I hope this helps . . .

[LEVE]

Harbor Freight has the gauges and a pump that can let you DIY.

Using the Manifold Set

[jomarche]

I have everything. I want info.....in 2 hours I will be done whether I have info or not.....Thanks anyway....

[remark123]

36 ounces is 3 lbs. that means that 3 cans of 12 ounces equals =36 ounces! The liquid is the weight in ounces of the can's content.

[rev_les]

3 12oz cans is36 oz,or 2.25 Lbs. 3 Lbs would be 48oz......... 4 cans. The refrigerant is measured in weight, not fluid ounces.

[jomarche]

Ok cool, thanks guys....

Any ideas on the PAG 150 which it calls for 11oz.......is that added into the 3lbs weight.....when the PAG is ia freon can?????

[Astroplane]

3 rd time in this van for the compressor.

What is the history of your van/ A/C system? Have you replaced 2 compressors after the factory compressor failed? Have the failures been catastrophic (plugging the orifice tube), clutch failure, or just leaks from the compressor?

1. Anyway specs say 11 oz of PAG 150 ? How do I introduce the PAG 150 via pressurized freon cans, or pour it into something, how? compressor has 1.5 oz of PAG from factory.

Did you replace the accumulator? Did you drain the old accumulator and measure the oil amount? We need a starting point to determine the oil charge. There is oil throughout the system that needs to be accounted for.

2. AND 3lbs of freon, ? Do I count the weight of the PAG freon if I use PAG freon?

If the system spec is 11 ounces of PAG oil and 48 ounces of R134a, that is what the system requires. It is recommended to measure drained oil amounts from removed components and adjust the replacement oil charge accordingly.

3. ? In using the 12oz freon cans is that 12oz liquid or weight?

Weight.

but 3 compressor in 4 years i want to be a bit more precise.

Over the years, cans have received a bad name. According to the gurus, it is impossible to charge a system spec of 48 ounces with 4 12 ounce cans. I agree with their assessment, but in my experience, the final result is close enough. More important, have you installed a screen in the suction port of the manifold hose set? The manifold hose set has 'mufflers' on both hoses that will trap debris from a failed compressor. Have you ever replaced the condenser?

Any ideas on the PAG 150 which it calls for 11oz.......is that added into the 3lbs weight.....when the PAG is ia freon can?????

No. What is the net weight according to the labeling? 12 ounces refrigerant with 3 ounces of oil?

[jomarche]

3 rd time in this van for the compressor.

What is the history of your van/ A/C system? Have you replaced 2 compressors after the factory compressor failed? Have the failures been catastrophic (plugging the orifice tube), clutch failure, or just leaks from the compressor?

A.... 2 after the factory , thought they were clutch (smoke an all),BUT this time found so much metal frag in orifice screen that i could not get it out.

1. Anyway specs say 11 oz of PAG 150 ? How do I introduce the PAG 150 via pressurized freon cans, or pour it into something, how? compressor has 1.5 oz of PAG from factory.

Did you replace the accumulator? Did you drain the old accumulator and measure the oil amount? We need a starting point to determine the oil charge. There is oil throughout the system that needs to be accounted for.

A.......replace accumulator, NO oil in it.

2. AND 3lbs of freon, ? Do I count the weight of the PAG freon if I use PAG freon?

If the system spec is 11 ounces of PAG oil and 48 ounces of R134a, that is what the system requires. It is recommended to measure drained oil amounts from removed components and adjust the replacement oil charge accordingly.

a......NO measurement and blow 5-6 oz out i would guess.....

3. ? In using the 12oz freon cans is that 12oz liquid or weight?

Weight.

but 3 compressor in 4 years i want to be a bit more precise.

Over the years, cans have received a bad name. According to the gurus, it is impossible to charge a system spec of 48 ounces with 4 12 ounce cans. I agree with their assessment, but in my experience, the final result is close enough. More important, have you installed a screen in the suction port of the manifold hose set? The manifold hose set has 'mufflers' on both hoses that will trap debris from a failed compressor. Have you ever replaced the condenser?

Any ideas on the PAG 150 which it calls for 11oz.......is that added into the 3lbs weight.....when the PAG is ia freon can?????

No. What is the net weight according to the labeling? 12 ounces refrigerant with 3 ounces of oil?

A....there is 1oz oil in a 3 oz can...


As close to ball park figures as possible is all I can ask.......Thanksss

[Astroplane]

First and most critical, are you sure the compressor tag said 1.5 ounces? Could it be 7.5 ounces? I have a made in china compressor that was just dropped off for tomorrows' repair on a Buick. The tag says 7.5 ounces of oil. It also states to add more oil if the vehicle has rear A/C.
If it is 1.5 ounces, assuming the rest of the system is dry due to an ongoing leak or after a complete flush, we would need to add 9.5 ounces of oil to achieve your spec of 11 ounces. Hopefully, this will not sound like a Total cereal commercial. You would need 9 cans of oil charge to equal the oil charge and that would introduce 18 ounces of refrigerant into the system. 48 minus 18 equals 30 ounces of refrigerant needed to reach spec. 2 and 1/2 12 ounce 'refrigerant only' cans would satisfy this.

[Matrixx]

Hi jomarche

1998 Astro/Safari Refrigerant Specifications:

-2lbs. (us) R-134a refrigerant front A/C only.
-3lbs. (us) R-134a refrigerant front and rear A/C.

Refrigerant Oil Type Required:
-Polyalkylene Glycol (PAG) Synthetic Refrigerant Lubricant

Refrigerant Oil Capacity:
-8oz (us) Front A/C only.
-11oz (us) Front and Rear A/C.

Hope this helps.

[jomarche]

Held vacum all night, charging it now.....Thanks

[jomarche]

DONE

[94 Van Guy]

Well done Joe, this time of the year you need air.

Keith

[Astroplane]

DONE

Not much of a follow-up. Can you tell us what you did? The results of your experience can help others.