First bit of sunshine for a while and typical the air con needs regassed. But checking the receipt from last time it was done it was only last year. I normally only need to do it every two years but my mechanic says its possible there is a leak somewhere in the system only very slight. But it must be getting worse now. Does anyone have any ideas the likely place for a leak and if there is a way to check this. I'm not too sure its a job for doing at home.

Normally a dye in the gas can can be traced with a cheap UV torch

He did run a dye through the system to check for leaks but said there was no trace of any that's why he said the leak can't be too bad. It might be the case now if I take it to him and its got worse he may find the leak. I just wondered if I could attempt a trace and fix at home but I'm concerned with the gas.

There may be no leak at all. The seals dry out and leak if the a/c hasn't been used for a while. Now the a/c has been recovered and refilled, the seals will have been coated with PAG oil and no longer leak.

The other possibility is that the leak is somewhere behind the TXV or from the evaporator where it can't easily be seen.

Right, just went out to have a quick look and I'm not too sure what that part is. It does look like one of the air con pipes go to it and its very oily around both top and bottom pipes. And what is a tvx!?

I've only needed to have mine topped up once when the car was about 6 years old. In my case the O-ring to the condenser was leaking.

Sorry txv.

I've only needed to have mine topped up once when the car was about 6 years old. In my case the O-ring to the condenser was leaking.

Yeah once a year is too often IMO. I had the car for over 4 years before it needed a regass. Then 2 years til the next one now just 12 months after that one.

 

Right, just went out to have a quick look and I'm not too sure what that part is. It does look like one of the air con pipes go to it and its very oily around both top and bottom pipes. And what is a tvx!?

That is the drier.

The thermal expansion valve (TXV) is at the back of the engine bay where the two a/c pipes pass through the firewall. The evaporator is in the heater box inside the cabin behind the dash.

Thanks for the advice. I checked right round the pipes and that part was the only place I could see an oily residue. I'll get a better look tomorrow. So a leak at the drier could be the problem?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B009Y3RIPY?pc_redir=1402137391&robot_redir=1

Just wondering if anyone has used this.