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Topic: Slow leak in A/C (Read 1339 times) previous topic - next topic

Slow leak in A/C

The A/C has been converted to 134 but has a leak, I was told the A/C was fine up till I bought the car but does not blow cold right now, the local parts store suggested the "old system with stop leak" for systems with over 100k, the parts people said it might not fix the leak permantly but would not harm the system, I have never used or known someone who used this, I don't have money to spare in this economy, my job is way off and I probably will not keep the car forever...what do you think?

Slow leak in A/C

Reply #1 –
I have used A/C stop leak with no ill effects. The stuff requires air to function, so it won't harden inside the lines.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis

Slow leak in A/C

Reply #2 –
Quote from: ProTouring442;296175
I have used A/C stop leak with no ill effects. The stuff requires air to function, so it won't harden inside the lines.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill


Cool...but what do you mean by "air to function so it wont harden in the lines"?

Slow leak in A/C

Reply #3 –
Quote from: cyber-junkie;296200
Cool...but what do you mean by "air to function so it wont harden in the lines"?


The stop leak works but stopping up the holes where the refrigerant leaks out. As the stop leak emerges through those tiny holes, it meets with air and hardens. I am sure there is a bit more science to it, but in a nutshell that's how it works. Thus, there is no worry of it stopping up the orifice as there is no air in the a/c lines.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis

Slow leak in A/C

Reply #4 –
Thanks for the input!

Slow leak in A/C

Reply #5 –
Quote from: ProTouring442;296205
Thus, there is no worry of it stopping up the orifice as there is no air in the a/c lines.

This isn't exactly correct - there is always some excess air in the lines (there is no "perfect" vacuum). Also, what in the air does it interact with exactly? Peoples' systems have a lot of moisture and such in the accumulator/filter and the stuff "may" cause problems in such areas. To what extent, I don't know, but there WILL be at least small amounts of activation from within the a/c lines.

That said, I don't think the orifice is a worrisome area unless it is shot to begin with.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

Slow leak in A/C

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Seek;296235
This isn't exactly correct - there is always some excess air in the lines (there is no "perfect" vacuum). Also, what in the air does it interact with exactly? Peoples' systems have a lot of moisture and such in the accumulator/filter and the stuff "may" cause problems in such areas. To what extent, I don't know, but there WILL be at least small amounts of activation from within the a/c lines.

That said, I don't think the orifice is a worrisome area unless it is shot to begin with.


True.... but there is also air in outer space. I wouldn't try breathing out there however. :D:D

Yes, there will be some oxygen or nitrogen molecules hanging out in the system, but they are of such a small quantity that they will make no difference.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis
 

Slow leak in A/C

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Seek;296235
Also, what in the air does it interact with exactly?

It reacts to the moisture in the air, not the nitrogen or oxygen. If you later open the system up to atmosphere, the stop leak can harden in the lines.

An old but good article about stop leak http://www.autoacforum.com/macs/sealer.pdf