* Serious injury: Refrigerant can cause frostbite and severe eye damage.
* System damage: Adding the wrong type or amount of refrigerant can severely damage your AC system.
* Environmental harm: Older refrigerants like R-12 are ozone-depleting and their release is illegal in many places.
Here's what you should do instead:
1. Find a qualified technician: Take your van to a qualified automotive air conditioning repair shop. They have the proper equipment and training to diagnose the problem and add the correct refrigerant (likely R-134a if it's been converted, or possibly still R-12 if it hasn't, though R-12 is increasingly difficult to find legally).
2. Diagnose the problem: Before adding refrigerant, a technician will need to diagnose the cause of the low refrigerant. A leak is the most common reason, and simply adding refrigerant without fixing a leak is a waste of money and harmful to the environment. They'll use leak detection equipment to find the source.
3. Proper charging: A technician will use specialized gauges to measure the system's pressure and temperature to determine the correct amount of refrigerant to add. They will also add the correct amount of oil, which is crucial for the compressor's operation.
Adding refrigerant is only a small part of the process. A proper diagnosis and repair are essential for a working AC system. Don't risk injury or damage by attempting this yourself.
