What Not to Buy in an Auto Parts Store.

The lead technician of Royalty Automotive from Georgia, Sherwood Cook Jr., urged drivers not to buy self-charging canisters to recharge air conditioners with refrigerant in auto parts stores. There are at least two reasons why this can cause serious long-term problems.

This was reported by Motor Biscuit.

The recharging device for an air conditioner is a pressurized canister that can be purchased at an auto parts store and connected to the vehicle's air conditioning system. It supposedly raises the refrigerant level to promote the delivery of cooler air.

Sherwood scoured the shelves of the auto parts store and found only one canister that did not contain stop leak. This is an additive designed to temporarily seal a leak.

It is believed that an air conditioning system with low refrigerant must have a leak. The only problem is that this can leave the customer satisfied for one summer, but then stop leak can seal up the entire system.

Moreover, stop leak can damage the equipment used by auto shops to work on customers' air conditioners. Such devices can cost $15,000 or more. Apparently, the driver does not have much desire to repair the auto shop's equipment as well.

For an air conditioner to function properly, a certain amount of refrigerant is required. Sherwood explains that to get the correct dose, he completely flushes the system and then fills it with the exact amount of gas.

'Refrigeration machines have scales. Therefore, mechanics know exactly how much fluid goes into the system. This is the only way to know that it is full,' emphasized the technician.

The most expensive canisters have a gauge that shows 'low', 'medium', and 'full' readings. But Sherwood notes that this is just a gauge. The outdoor air pressure can significantly skew its accuracy.

'Car owners can charge their air conditioners themselves, but they shouldn’t be surprised when it doesn’t work, as often happens. If a $50 charging canister were a reliable way to repair an air conditioning system, then why would a technician buy a calibrated machine for $15,000 to do the same job?' concluded Sherwood.

The lead technician of Royalty Automotive warns drivers against purchasing canisters for self-charging car air conditioners, as this can lead to serious problems with the air conditioning system. The risks of sealing the system and incorrect recharging can damage not only the vehicle but also the auto shop's equipment. Therefore, it is better to leave this process to professional auto maintenance technicians.