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Guaranteed you have a leak, and that is why the system is discharged. Most likely it is an Oring or compressor seal. It could also be a hose. It would be best to find the leak before proceeding. Pulling a vacuum will NOT help in any way to find a leak. Pressurizing with nitrogen is the best way. Spray a mixture of soap and water on all the fittings and hoses. The problem with the R4 is that it has no oil sump. When the refrigerant leaks out, the oil goes with it. If you find a leak and then fix it, you won't know how much, or if any oil is still in the system. Guessing at how much oil is remaining is just that- a guess. Too little oil, and the compressor will eat itself up. Too much oil, and the cooling efficiency will suffer. The BEST thing to do is flush the entire system except the compressor, and start over. While flushing, if you see anything that looks like metal, or the oil is black or dirty, the compressor should be replaced. Once everything is back together (the drier is the last component connected), check for leaks again.
Of course I would suggest going with a Sanden retrofit. You will be money ahead in the long run. Even if your R4 has life left in it, my bet is that it is not a lot of life. A short lived R4 is a common theme in these cars........Rich
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