A car’s AC system should be able to keep the vehicle cool even on hot summer days if it is working properly.
Even the slightest decrease in the car’s AC cooling capability can be an indication of low freon levels, and it is advisable to address this issue as soon as you detect it.
Fortunately, finding the cause of the low freon level in a car’s AC system isn’t difficult, and in most cases, you won’t even need a mechanic’s assistance to resolve this problem.
You are at the right place if you are wondering how to tell if freon is low in a car’s AC because in this article we are going to take you through some of the most common causes of low freon levels and show you how to fix this issue.
All cooling systems, including those installed on cars, are using refrigerants to regulate the temperature in the vehicle’s cabin.
Freon is, in fact, a brand whose products were used in car’s AC systems that became synonymous with refrigerants. It is comprised of a mixture of chlorine, fluorine, carbon-hydrogen, and bromine.
In most cases, Freon is in a gaseous state at room temperature, and it doesn’t have a particular color or smell. This refrigerant only turns into a liquid state after it is compressed or cooled by a car’s AC system.
It is worth noting that freon is highly toxic if it comes into contact with the skin or the eyes, which is the reason why you should avoid getting in touch with it at all costs.
Freon evaporates after it is added to a car’s AC system, and it turns into a fluid as soon as temperatures begin to rise which enables it to cycle through the AC system.
Freon evaporates after it is added to a car’s AC system which keeps the car cool, and it turns into a fluid as soon as temperatures begin to rise which enables it to cycle through the AC system.
The car’s AC system won’t be able to maintain temperatures as low as it normally would if the levels of freon are low.
There are a number of indicators that the freon levels are lower than they should be, and if you detect any of them it is a sign that you need to add freon to the AC’s system. Let’s take a look at some of the most common signs of low freon levels.
Ice accumulation on the AC’s compressor can indicate that the system doesn’t have enough freon. As the freon levels drop, moisture in the AC system starts to occupy its place and begins to freeze, which reduces the system’s capacity to cool the car’s cabin.
The AC system’s reduced cooling capability is probably one of the symptoms of low freon levels that are the easiest to notice.
Your car’s AC system should blow cool air and not room temperature air when you set it to blow cool air. This indicates that the system either ran out of freon entirely or that freon levels are very low.
After you turn on the car’s AC system, the sound of the clutch engaging should indicate the AC system is working. However, if you don’t hear this sound that means that the clutch didn’t engage, which further suggests a low freon level.
The clutch pressurizes freon, but it is not going to work properly if the freon levels are below normal.
Freon usually leaks when it is the liquid state, which is the reason why areas around the compressor can become greasy if freon is leaking from your car’s AC system. Furthermore, freon leaks can also be spotted below the car or inside the cabin.
You should clean up the leak when you first detect it, and if the greasy liquid appears again at the same spot, it is a sure sign of freon leakage.
AC systems control temperatures through the changes in the pressure. Once you turn on the AC, the compressor is going to compress freon in the system, which will increase the refrigerant’s temperature.
Freon will start losing heat after it reaches the condenser, while the moisture and contaminants are going to be removed once the refrigerant starts flowing through the dryer. The cooling agent is then further slowed down in the expansion valve where it loses temperature and pressure.
The evaporator provides additional cooling of the freon and reduces the level of moisture in the air, while the ventilation system’s blower motor pushes air over the evaporator and into the car’s cabin.
Any increase or decrease of freon in the car’s AC system may cause it to malfunction, and you must perform regular maintenance checks in order to make sure that it is functioning properly.
AC systems on vehicles produced before 1994, used freon or R-12 that was composed out of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). However, the Montreal Protocol banned the use of CFC in auto and all other industries, because it was damaging the Earth’s ozone layer.
Since then, car AC systems use only R-134a freon that doesn’t contain CFC and is found to be environmentally friendly. The US-based car manufacturers switched from R-134a to HFO-1234yf in 2013 because it has no impact on the environment.
Products like A/C Pro ACP-100 or Arctic Freeze are based on the R-134a formula, while products based on the HFO-1234yf are also commercially available. However, none of the refrigerants you can find on the market are based on the R-12 formula.
It is advisable to consult with your mechanic if you are not sure which refrigerant you should add to your vehicle’s AC system. What’s more, you should keep in mind that adding too much freon to the AC system can cause significant damage to it.
Even though recharging a car’s AC system isn’t an overly complicated process, you will still need the right equipment for the job. Besides the refrigerant with the gauge, you are also going to need a thermometer and a pair of protective glasses.
The first thing you will have to do is test the pressure. You can do this by locating the low side pressure service port that is commonly located on the passenger side of the engine bay.
Proceed to attach the recharge hose to it, avoid pulling the refrigerant’s trigger, because you might end up releasing freon into the atmosphere.
You should turn on your vehicle at this point, set the AC settings to the maximum and monitor the gauge. If the reading is below 40psi that means that the AC system needs to be recharged. Attach the refrigerant can to the hose and pull the trigger.
Hold the trigger for approximately ten seconds, and check the gauge once you release it in order to make sure that you are not overcharging the system. All readings above 40psi indicate that that the car’s AC system is overcharged.
You should contact your mechanic if the gauge readings show values that exceed 40psi, but if this is not the case you should simply check the temperature inside your vehicle. If the AC system is working properly, the temperature near the ventilator should be around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Click here if you would like to find more tips for inexperienced drivers.
Refrigerant leakage usually indicates structural damage to one or more parts of the AC system. You shouldn’t attempt to fix this issue on your own, because the technician must check the pressure in the entire AC system.
In case the readings are just a bit below the normal, the mechanic can start searching for the leak immediately, but if the system is completely empty, the refrigerant must be added to the system in order to detect the leak.
The AC system must be evacuated after the source of the leak is detected so that it can be repaired. Afterward, the technician must fill the AC system with refrigerant once again.
Moreover, if any parts of the AC system have to be replaced or the system has been opened during the diagnostics process, all moisture and air have to be vacuumed out of the AC system before it can be charged again.
Even though there is no definitive answer to this question, most mechanics recommend recharging the freon in your car’s AC system every two to three years.
Recharging a car’s AC system can cost anywhere between $200 and $300 depending on the model of the car. Keep in mind that the cost may be higher if any of the parts of the AC system have to be replaced.
You should look at your car’s manual or under the hood to find the maximum amount of freon your car’s AC system can take.
Freon is a nonflammable substance, but it is very toxic. You should wear protective gloves and eyewear while adding more freon to your car’s AC system.
Adding a can or two of refrigerant to your car AC system before the summer season begins may not be enough to restore the system back to normal. Moreover, adding more refrigerant to the AC system than suggested by the car manufacturer can cause more damage.
Freon leakage often means that the AC system has suffered structural damage and that one or more of its parts have to be replaced.
Attempting to stop the freon leakage on your own, can ruin your car’s AC system completely, and you should contact your mechanic as soon as you notice that freon is leaking from the AC system.
Hopefully, the information we shared with you in this article is going to help you detect and resolve all low freon issues you may encounter. Follow this link if you would like to find more car maintenance tips that are going to make your car last longer or click here to find out how to maintain a car’s engine.
