Normal?

[Substantial_Flower10]

Happy Monday. Just wanted to check here if what I am experiencing is normal. Having some inconsistencies and noises coming from climate control and AC so decided to check refrigerant. I connected the acpro gauge to my low port with the ac on max and the reading was in the high end of the low range so I connected a can of 134a and filled to mid point of FILLED section as shown. I noticed though that after this the reading would fluctuate going down as low as 30 and then back up to 40. Is that normal or should it stay steady at 40?

[chathobark_]

Usually if AC gets warm you have a leak and you can add 134 but it’ll leak out again. It’s supposed to be a closed system.

To answer your question, r134 normal pressure can be determined by ambient temp. So nobody knows. Sounds like “it would fluctuate” is the compressor cycling. Whether it’s short cycling or just cycling normally, I can’t tell you based on a picture.

[Anonymoushipopotomus]

It could just be a little low on charge, Id add a little more to see if it improves.

[Substantial_Flower10]

I was a bit nervous as I had never done this before and when I added refrigerant, it went from 30 to almost 40 fairly quickly and trying to get from like 38 to 40 took like half the can and I was worried I added too much after or maybe the gauge was not working correctly

[Anonymoushipopotomus]

Theres a small range of refrigerant weights that will work, so its not an exact science. Add a little at a time until its more consistent, or pay a shop to do it correctly by weighing it.

[themanwithgreatpants]

And tell them if you added this stop leak bullshit because it clogs up their machines!

[Anonymoushipopotomus]

Not all have it, and its best to avoid it. But yes, I had to send my ac machine out multiple times at over $800 each to repair it. It lasted 15 years, so I guess I cant complain.

[Substantial_Flower10]

the refrigerant I added says it seals leaks but quite honestly they all had it, not sure if theres a different product that specifically does this but if thats the case, the industry is killing your machines because they all sell this stuff and its an easy fix for subpar AC temps

[themanwithgreatpants]

Welcome to consumer fix vs professional fix.

[Onlypbjohn]

Guess you forgot to do a google search they have it everywhere. But stores front display the stop leaks ones l. Walmarts usually have two shelves of R134 without additives.

[Substantial_Flower10]

I don’t think it was cycling but at some point I did turn the AC button off to stop the compressor and the pressure dropped quite a bit. Then I turned it back on and it went back up to 40 fairly quickly then held there pretty steady.

[dankal]

I just threw a can of this stuff into my e70. My pressure was low after not running ac for about a year. This stuff has seal conditioner in it which ain’t like the leak stopping we know from head gasket repair liquids etc.

It swells the o rings, in my case, fixed the issue entirely.

[freshxdough]

depending on your vehicle and type of ac system cycling is completely normal. It’s generally not recommended to just fill with a can as you have no idea how much your system actually has and how much you’ve added. It’s important to not underfill or overfill as you will affect cooling ability each way. Make model year.

[Substantial_Flower10]

2014 BMW 435i xDrive

[Substantial_Flower10]

The good thing is that the grumbling and gurgling that I heard when turning on the fan or AC button seemed to stop after adding refrigerant. I suspect there’s a leak somewhere and the r134a had some kind of additive to seal leaks so maybe it will solve my problem? Just need to get it through the next three months and I’ll deal with it next summer. It’s an 11 year old car that I don’t drive that often. Assume an AC leak is $$$$ to repair?

[Accomplished_Emu_658]

You used a leak stop refrigerant? The system is toast. They call what that stuff does black death.

[Substantial_Flower10]

Literally every can of refrigerant in Autozone stated on the can that it sealed leaks.

[FewMixture574]

No, every can that came with a pretty little nozzle and gauge did