What is Air Conditioner Refresh?

"Air conditioner refresh" has been featured more and more in magazines and blogs, and Ishikawa Engineering also recommends and implements it.

It does not just charge gas, but also removes impurities, checks for pressure leaks, and adds oil and additives. In addition, it also has a function to clean the inside of pipes and hoses, which is an additional task.

Let's take a closer look at the effects of the often-discussed "Air Conditioner Refresh."

Using a Snap-on PS134Pro, the job was completed in about 20 minutes!

First, let me briefly explain the work flow. To connect the car to the PS134PRO, all you need to do is connect the car's high-pressure and low-pressure pipes to the PS134PRO hoses. There are couplers of various shapes, but since you just need to combine compatible couplers as needed, it doesn't take much time.

Next, check the current operating status of the air conditioner. Check the pressure changes for both high and low pressure, and measure the temperature from the air outlet. Since air conditioners use the pressure difference between high and low pressure to create cool air, check that the pressure is changing appropriately according to the situation.

By the way, if there is no cold air coming out or if there are strange noises, you will need to carry out repairs first, but if the air conditioner is just not cooling well, you can restore its cooling capacity by refreshing the air conditioner.

Remove the gas and fill the specified amount accurately!

The engine is stopped and the gas is collected and cleaned. This is the same as the vacuuming that was done when replacing the entire gas. Here, the amount of gas collected is accurately measured.

For the Polo GTI, it is stated as 500g±15g. The PS134PRO is unique in that it can measure and fill the amount of gas with extreme precision. Ensuring the ideal amount of refrigerant is essential to maximize the performance of the air conditioner.

The actual measured value was 475g, which was 25g short of the specified range. By replenishing the shortfall, the effectiveness of the air conditioner will definitely improve. By the way, even if there is a certain degree of shortage, the compressor will make up for it, so it may be difficult to feel, but it may affect fuel efficiency, etc.

By filling the air conditioner with booster and the specified amount of gas...

This time, we also added an air conditioner reinforcement material, which is added to the hydraulic oil and helps improve the efficiency of the compressor.

There are two types of oil: "PAG" for regular cars and "POE" for hybrid cars, and they are used according to the model of the car. Oil is replenished according to the amount collected.

After installation, the temperature at the outlet dropped from 7 degrees to less than 5 degrees. The improved cooling efficiency has reduced the operating time of the compressor, and we can also expect improved fuel efficiency.

Is there not enough gas even in a Golf 7R that is just under a year old?

In the demo car, a Golf 7R, the amount of gas recovered was 425g compared to the prescribed amount of 500g, which was 75g short.

Cooling efficiency has improved, dropping temperatures from the 8 degree range to below 5 degrees.

It's a new Golf 7.5R...

Even in a brand new car, only 405g of gas was collected. After application, the temperature of the cold air dropped to 6.4 degrees, and after adding the strengthening agent, it dropped to 4.3 degrees.

Too much gas and your air conditioner isn't working?

On the other hand, in the case of the Golf 5 GTI, there was a case where the air conditioner stopped working due to overpressure because more gas than the specified amount was filled. It is clear that overfilling can also cause malfunctions.

Rather than "replenishing it because it's not working," it is important to first check the appropriate dosage.

Afterword...

During the interview, I had this done in my BMW, and I was surprised at how much cooler it became, even when I raised the temperature setting. The dehumidification performance also improved, and the windows became less likely to fog up. Fuel economy also improved from 7.8km/L to 8.1km/L.

Perhaps the reason I was able to feel the effects more was because I had neglected maintenance. I was reminded that regular inspections and proper maintenance of the amount of oil are directly linked to a comfortable car life.