Air-con refill from straight from a can?

RomfordNavy

Has anyone tried refilling their air-con from one of those top-up cans?

I am a bit conceerned about whether it could overcharge the system and cause the compressor to fail. When using these top-up cans how does it decide when the system is full?

AdrianC

It doesn't.

fred990

I've used the ez-chill pistol/cannister for years. Follow the instructions and use the gauge depending on the ambient temperature, never had any problems. It's okay for a top up but never quite comes close (ice cold wise) to a full empty-fill cycle that garages do for £45.
Dunno why because its still R134a apparently.

motorguy

fred990 wrote: »

I've used the ez-chill pistol/cannister for years. Follow the instructions and use the gauge depending on the ambient temperature, never had any problems. It's okay for a top up but never quite comes close (ice cold wise) to a full empty-fill cycle that garages do for £45.
Dunno why because its still R134a apparently.

Surely that suggests a leak?

EdGasketTheSecond

You can't overfill from the cans, there isn't enough in them for that. I gave up on EZ chill as it is just too expensive now but there are cheaper options like:
https://www.thompsonsltd.co.uk/motoring-aircon-air-con-kits/aircontopupx3-car-aircon-air-con-air-conditioning-top-up-recharge-refill-regas-can-x-3-diy-gas-pack.html

AdrianC

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

You can't overfill from the cans, there isn't enough in them for that.

Which begs the question of whether they're big enough to be of use.

fred990

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

You can't overfill from the cans, there isn't enough in them for that. I gave up on EZ chill as it is just too expensive now but there are cheaper options like:
https://www.thompsonsltd.co.uk/motoring-aircon-air-con-kits/aircontopupx3-car-aircon-air-con-air-conditioning-top-up-recharge-refill-regas-can-x-3-diy-gas-pack.html

Cool!!
Looks like a good way to avoid the faded Halfrauds receipt for the ez-chill cannister scam/con.
Like it, thanks........

EdGasketTheSecond

AdrianC wrote: »

Which begs the question of whether they're big enough to be of use.

I've only ever used cans; saved a fortune over the years. They will certainly return a 'barely cool' system to an 'ice-cool' one but probably won't be enough to refill a totally empty system. With those cans I linked above, you just dump the entire can in; there is no possibility to reseal the can once its punctured.

nickcc

I bought the auto freeze refill plus the gauge a couple of years ago, this cost app £40 but now has gone up to £85. I had completely drained the system as I changed the condenser thanks to someone backing in to me. There was sufficient gas in the large refill to fully charge the system with a little left over, car was a Toyota RAV 4.

mobileron

Look on groupon £39 for a proper test and refill.

Arklight

Used EZ chill a few times. Started after going to Halfords for their, completely useless, aircon recharge. A lady came out with her own can of EZ chill and looked at my car engine in complete bemusement. She went and got another lady who told her how to fit it to the port and to use "the bare minimum so it doesn't blow up."

It didn't blow up, but she didn't put anything like enough in so I ended up buying a can and doing it myself.

In my experience the wotnots come with pressure gauges and things on them, but they may as well give completely random readings, so you just have to play it by ear. You'll be able to tell pretty quickly if it's helping or doing nothing anyway.

Just don't dump a whole £40 can in a car with with a hole in the compressor like I did with the old Almera. Most disappointing.