A/C Condenser leak on my 2002 E320 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

toddlaroche · #1 07-03-2012, 11:03 PM

Today my A/C condenser sprang a leak and the A/C system lost it's charge.... blowing hot air. I found oil on the radiator grill after the leak happened. Assuming I can find the leak and repair it, or replace the condenser as needed, what is the process for recharging the system? Is there a separate application of freon and oil required, or do most a/c coolants include the oil component? Does anyone know the proper pressure the system should hold once it's recharged properly?

Gilly · #2 07-04-2012, 07:16 AM

The oil is added seperately. Given that you are replacing the condenser, and if you are smart you will replace the filter/drier assembly, you will want to add at least a few ounces of oil, and this is special oil for AC systems, not like Penzoil or something.
The system will have to be drawn down into vacuum before adding the R134, so unless you have an AC evacuation machine laying around, it will need to go to a shop. I'd suggest, if you want to do some of the work, to replace the condenser and the filter-drier yourself, being sure to replace the orings, then take to a shop for evacuation and recharging. They will add R134 by quantity initially (it is listed on the AC label under the hood), then they will look at the pressures.
The evacuation/recharging station will add the oil to the R134.
I would not use any of these "hot shot" cans to get freon in, the system is now opened and there is humidity, etc in the system that has to be evacuated before recharging, the system has to be in a vacuum to add R134.
Gilly

toddlaroche · #3 07-05-2012, 05:19 PM

Thanks you, Gilly, for the explanation. I appreciate your help very much. It's guys like you that we need more of in this world. Now I get what I'm dealing with before I go to the shop.

Gilly · #4 07-05-2012, 06:39 PM

Right, it'll be really important to get the system evacuated and leak check (vacuum check usually is a pretty fair test), before charging the system, but you could save a bit of labor in replacing the condenser. It might be wise to have them replace the filter drier immediately before starting evacuation, so the drier "junk" (dessicant?) doesn't absorb a bunch of humidity before the system is charged.