On 13/12/2018 at 14:53, facet edge said:

Also, if you turn the conditioning off you run the risk of the seals drying out which will cause leaks.

The new formula fluid that the EU has forced everyone to use leaks a lot easier than the old stuff.

the EU has forced? No its part of being more enviromentally friendly - it is a good move

 

16 hours ago, goath said:

the EU has forced? No its part of being more enviromentally friendly - it is a good move

 

Forced, yes. The new gas is a lot more expensive, prone to leaking and flammable. When it burns it produces a nasty acid. Daimler-Benz were very reluctant to use it and have introduced an argon system in case of fire. They are also are investigating a CO2 system which they think will be safer.

The 'forcing' was to remove F-gases including HFCs, all very environmentally damaging. They DID not require the use of any one particular replacement, that was up to the air conditioning manufacturers

On 13/12/2018 at 14:53, facet edge said:

Also, if you turn the conditioning off you run the risk of the seals drying out which will cause leaks.

 

This tended to plague older A/C systems, those where the compressor would click on and off as required.

 

Today's A/C systems run their compressors continuously which means even with the system turned off the seals won't dry out.