AC Leak Sealer
 

I have a very small AC leak, that I can't locate. I lose about 12 Oz. over 12 months. I know that I should really fix it properly, but so far numerous attempt, and methods to find the source of the leak have failed. Neither UV die, nor a sniffer proved to be of any benefit.

So in the interim, I purchased a 14 Oz. can of R134, which also contains an AC leak sealer, as well as the appropriate ratio of oil. The sealer is claimed to seal most small AC leaks, except those around the AC compressor shaft.

Does anyone have any first hand experience toping their AC. system with this stuff?

Phil

I have never used any kind of sealer in a car. I can understand your frustration, but it is likely it could be your evap if you can't find the leak with dye and etc.. That is the part that is inside the dash. It is your choice, keep chasing the leak, find it and fix it right, or put a band aid on it. It might work, but then again it may not or even cause further problems. Just keep in mind that it is a temporary fix, and the less you use the beter. Good luck!
Brian

I STRONGLY and HIGHLY recommend that you DO NOT use this junk.

Often times these sealers cause more problems than they cure. Additionally if it is present, very few if any auto a/c shops will work on your a/c under any circumstances. This is because this junk will destroy their multi thousand dollar recovery machine and it is ILLEGAL for them to get remaining refrigerant out of the system any other way. They now have to keep a sealant detector instrument and check systems before recovery to protect their recovery machine investment.

It is not totally uncommon for a sealant to ruin the entire a/c system necessitating the replacement of ALL a/c components.

As far as I'm concerned, this is not the kind of thing that should be made illegal because everyone should take responsibility for their own actions, but the people who make and sell this stuff are no different IMHO than the old time snake oil and tonic salesman.

My $0.02,

Not too many years ago, one pound per year was considered an acceptable leak rate.

Never put any sealer into your A/C system; as stated above. It will definately ruin your system and result in you having to spend thousands of dollars to replace components that were contaminated and ruined by sealer.

I wouldn't put a sealer....I would put in a dye..... if you can't see the dye.... then it's probably the evaporator....

...I would live with it if it is the evaporator...

I don't think 1 pound a year is anythign to get excited over.... spend 10 bucks a year putting in a new can.

I agree with Lee. No sealer (nasty stuff) and if you can't find where the dye is coming out it's evaporator time.
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83 300SD
3 Fords

Ok, Ok, Ok, got the message. AC Leak Sealer = Bad Idea.

Thanks to all that replied.

Phil

Not to beat it to death, but I'd like to explain HOW sealer is bad for an a/c system. As I understand it, the sealer is designed to harden when exposed to air. If any air is present in the system, this sealer will gum up all the internal components of the a/c system.

One can only imagine what happens when the average person, who has a 'dead' system with no charge and probably some air leaked in it, adds refrigerant with stop leak without first evacuating the system. It's like throwing a grenade to the system! Sadly, the system probably could have been repaired properly, but now it's a total loss.

A lot of the automotive sections where I shop sell refrigerant, but it's hard to find the type with no stop leak. It takes a real effort to find the kind I need.

My A/C got a big leak - a full charge lasts about 30 days. And I can't seem to find any laeking spot with the UV dye neither.

About this "if you can't see the dye.... then it's probably the evaporator...." I always thought that you will see the water drain area with UV dye if it is the evaporator.

If you have dye in the system, operate the car for a good while with the a/c on. When you stop, have a container ready to catch the water draining from the evaporator. Pour it into a clear glass container so that it's easier to see.

If there's no dye in the glass, your evaporator is not the problem. There are all sorts of place where the system can leak, making it hard to see without special lighting equipment.

My 2 cents.

Thanks, Mike. As always, more questions. BTW, I have a blacklight to see the UV dye.

I had UV dye put in last charge, do I need to put more dye in again? Would I be able to see the expansion valve w/o taking any thing apart?

Another source of slow undetectable leaks is the filler Schreader valve. If yours is plastic, replace with a metal cap with a gasket or o-ring inside.

For leaks that cannot be found with UV dye, there are several additional steps. The first is to remove the nut on the front of the compressor and take off the clutch plate. You then shine your UV lamp to see if the shaft seal is leaking. It is not an uncommon leak and will often not show up with dye otherwise.

If that doesn't work, the next step is to find a shop that will recover the refrigerant, add 2 oz. of R22 then pressurize with nitrogen. They then use an electronic leak detector. R22 is MUCH more detectable by an electronic leak detector and this method will find any leak.

Good luck,