[98_Jim]

I've got a 3 year leak in my AC system. It cools good for two years, then gets weak on the third.

I've got a mechanic buddy with access to a professional recovery/charging station. He removed all of the existing R134a (which was .65 Lbs) and then put a 29.5 inch vacuum on the system for about 1/2 hr. It held the vacuum for the whole time.

Anyway... He wasn't sure how much refrigerant the system was supposed to take. (If there is supposed to be a sticker with this info under the hood, mine has fallen off).

He estimated and put in 1.75 lbs. With an ambient air temp of 75 degrees we got 295 PSI on the high side and 55 PSI on the low side. We never measured the register temperature, but the AC is cooling nice and frosty now.

I'm just wondering how much R134a the system is actually supposed to hold?

 

[celery952]

thats high pressures for that temp low side should hover 40-45 for the best cooling


28 ounces sounds right? lemme go look under the hood

 

[98_Jim]

Thanks for the quick reply... I should have mentioned that I looked all over the net for the proper charge quantity and couldn't find it... I did find out that the low side pressure was a little high. That got me thinking that the system was overfilled a bit...

If it is slightly overfilled, then I guess it should sort itself out eventually because the system does have a very slow leak which should result in lower pressures over time. The system does cool very well now. It was 83 and sunny yesterday and the AC had no problem keeping things comfortable.

I suppose when it needs charging again, I'll get it fixed properly.... I couldn't resist taking a shortcut this time because all it cost me was a case of beer plus the price of the R134a

 

[FordMan59]

I looked in my Ford factory manual and can't even find the capacity in it. When I get a little more time I'll do some more looking and if I find it I'll let you know. The low pressure side should run about 45 psi and the high side shouldn't exceed 300 psi. I just recharged the system in my '88 GL the other day and it takes 41 oz, but I don't think the systems are near that big on newer systems.

 

[cklaubur]

According to the sticker on my '97, the maximum charge is 1 lb, 12 oz.

Casey

 

[98_Jim]

According to the sticker on my '97, the maximum charge is 1 lb, 12 oz.

Great.... I guess the '98 should be the same... That works out to 28 oz or 1.75 Lbs.. Looks like I wasn't overfilled.

Thanks all who replied..