Warm the canister in a bowl of hot water to get more out of it if you are feeling lucky, your eyebrows will grow back eventually!!!

Pressure will be the same on bolth low and high side, the high side only increases when its pumping with sufficient refrigerant.

 

Do it with the engine running and keep an eye on the guages, the high side pressure (relative to ambient temperature) will tell you when you have filled it sufficiently, without vacuuming down and special weighing equipment its the only way you have to know whether the charge is sufficient.

 

Youtube is your friend.

16 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I would like to know what this non R134a non ozone depleting snake oil gas is especially as they claim a full charge can be done with one 168 gramme canister. I do hope its not Butane gas R600.

 

Please let us know how you get on

They say 168g is equivalent of 453g of gas. I'm hoping they are a reputable company. I did notice that I didn't get a confirmation email when I ordered but that might be a small thing. I just want cold air.

 

My car recommended 525 +- 25 grams so 500g minimum, i know that 50g short. It's all very unprofessional.

 

I measured the pressure today and as expected the dials on the gauge didn't budge.

20 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Warm the canister in a bowl of hot water to get more out of it if you are feeling lucky, your eyebrows will grow back eventually!!!

 

This eyebrows mention has got me worried , what am I in danger of?

The UV torches are very cheap. Just looked on Amazon, and currently there are some at <£3.50.  It may be the case that this will work even without dye in the system, if there's something in the PAG oil that fluoresces. I might test that theory today, as I have a small pot of oil.  Edit: tested just now and that's a negative.

 

If the system has near zero pressure it's the perfect time to fix any leaks that might be found this way. 

A 168g container that magically turns into 453g of gas sounds fraudulently dodgy.

Edited 20 March, 20215 yr by Wino

It sounds like butane gas hence the eyebrows reference.

 

Seriously be very wary of filling your vehicle with this unknown allegedly R134a compatible yet not a greenhouse gas, the only one I can find which could fit the bill, would be cheap enough for them to sell, that has a lower molecular weight (although I dont believe the 168g = 453g) would be R600A butane gas, purer than Camping Gaz but every bit as inflammable.

 

There is a reason why they are not saying what it is.

7 hours ago, Wino said:

A 168g container that magically turns into 453g of gas sounds fraudulently dodgy.

 

The weight given in the VAG spec is the weight of R134a needed to allow the pump to perform to its specified rating, when i am topping up I have no way of knowing what weight remains in the system so I rely on the guages, I continue filling until the high side reaches where it should be (AC set to min temp with fans on high) according to the ambient temperature, its very hit or miss.

 

A refrigerant gas with a lower molecular weight could possibly get the system up to full pressure and operating to specification with a charge of only 168g but that does sound just like butane gas.

 

Also they dont mention that you will never discharge the full contents of a can into a system and the higher the system pressure gets the more partially filled cans you have to throw away creating your own personal hole in the ozone layer while doing so as they are the pierce to open type just like Camping Gaz.

 

And if you are filling a system that is not under vacuum not only will you get even less of the can contents in (the OP will probably need 3 cans) but will be mixing the probable butane gas with air to make a lovely explosive mixture.

 

I also question whether "compatible with R134a" actually means it can be mixe with R134a safely or otherwise.

 

To the OP, take a selfie of your eyebrows before you start so you will have an image to reproduce with a marker pen afterwards

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

 

The weight given in the VAG spec is the weight of R134a needed to allow the pump to perform to its specified rating, when i am topping up I have no way of knowing what weight remains in the system so I rely on the guages, I continue filling until the high side reaches where it should be (AC set to min temp with fans on high) according to the ambient temperature, its very hit or miss.

 

A refrigerant gas with a lower molecular weight could possibly get the system up to full pressure and operating to specification with a charge of only 168g but that does sound just like butane gas.

 

Also they dont mention that you will never discharge the full contents of a can into a system and the higher the system pressure gets the more partially filled cans you have to throw away creating your own personal hole in the ozone layer while doing so as they are the pierce to open type just like Camping Gaz.

 

And if you are filling a system that is not under vacuum not only will you get even less of the can contents in (the OP will probably need 3 cans) but will be mixing the probable butane gas with air to make a lovely explosive mixture.

 

I also question whether "compatible with R134a" actually means it can be mixe with R134a safely or otherwise.

 

To the OP, take a selfie of your eyebrows before you start so you will have an image to reproduce with a marker pen afterwards

Thankfully you posted that, so it's actually isobutane which is flammable.

 

I'm going to ditch this idea and just put the car into the garage. I didn't spend much on the whole thing.

 

Where would take the gas to be disposed of?

I hope that you find the right garage, they are all wrong uns around here I found to my cost with the O ring leak, its cost me a lot to become equipped but it has been worth it.

 

Flammable is one thing, explosive is much worse, someone will take the can off your hands, maybe even the garage to give to someone who refuses their services.

New cars now use the R1234yf gas which is flammable (and expensive). Halfords sell it as a diy recharge container but it is marked Extremely flammable gas. There are other hazards too. Google it.

8 hours ago, Aj77 said:

Where would take the gas to be disposed of?

Keep it in case you need to do an emergency cash machine withdrawal but have forgotten your card