AC Sealant Advice

[shertex]

I have a hole in my evaporator. As a result, after a few months of charging up the AC (it's R134a), it will blow cool but not cold. I have no interest in replacing the evaporator, both due to the cost and the invasiveness of the repair. So, I was thinking about trying an AC sealant.

I found interesting info at

http://aircondition.com/knowledge_base/LeakSealers.html

Has anyone had any experience in doing this? Any preferred methods/brands? Anything to watch out for/downsides?

Thanks!

[TimFreeh]

If you decide to use one of these products please be aware that you will never be able to use A/C service gauges on the system or use a refrigerant recycler on your car in the future. Doing so will ruin the gauge set and the refrigerant recycling machine.

I'd NEVER consider using one of these products but if you do you have a responsibility to disclose the fact that you have done so to anybody that will ever buy your car or any shop that is thinking about performing A/C work on the car.

[400E]

I agree 100% with Tim!

I presume you're talking about your 300D. If so, you may want to look at this differently. You have an absolutely wonderful car (or at least was when it left the factory) -- a W124 with a diesel engine! I tried to buy one of these a few years back and it sold the first morning the ad was in the paper before I could get to it.

With < 200k miles on it, it's got tons of life in it, assuming the body's good and you've been diligent about oil changes and other maintenance. If you plan to keep this car, and I certainly would if I were you, bite the bullet and replace the evaporator.

There WILL be others would will just as strongly tell you to use CryoSeal or other product, but head what Tim says about future work on the system.

[Kestas]

There's only a very narrow range of situations where it would make sense to use a leak sealer and be effective. I wouldn't use ANY sealer in a/c systems for the reasons mentioned above. You run the risk of potentially introducing more expensive damage to where the entire system would need replacement... much more expensive than the original evaporator issue.

Looking at the big picture, your least expensive (and least risk) option is to replace the evaporator and go through the vacuum and recharge procedure.

It is as simple as this: You now have an evaporator that is no good. Once a sealant is added to the system THE WHOLE SYSTEM is no good and the only way it will ever be any good again is for EVERY SINGLE COMPONENT to be replaced.

I am a big proponent of free enterprise and for big government to stay out of my life. But I think if they outlawed such snake oil products I would be fine with it.

Many of the shops spend thousands and thousands on recovery/recycle equipment that can be DESTROYED if this junk makes it into their machines.

PLEASE don't use it. Replacing an evaporator on some models is indeed a big job, but it is not an impossible job. Get the manuals, take your time and you can do it. MANY people on this board have done so with success.

Good luck,