Pressure check to find leak

[dolorm]

I hit an obstacle on the front of my car and it hit a condenser line and the condenser. I have some leak detector spray and thought since it lost all the R134, I could add some pressure from my compressor and and spray on the parts to find which parts I need to order.

Can I use my small oiless air compressor for this?
If yes, what PSI?

I will have access to a nitrogen tank by the time the parts come in which I will use to help flush the system before pulling vacuum and charging.

Thank you.

-Mike

 

[yeldogt]

I would not put anything into the system -- can't you see where the oil is? .. showing leak.

Any hard lines to the condenser -- you need to replace the whole thing. New R/D

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Never use compressed air or oxygen to leak check HVAC. Use dehydrated Nitrogen (with a trace of refrigerant if you intend to use an electronic leak detector).

Tonmy

 

[Bretny]

Just put some 134a in it and start spraying soapy water every where.

I had a 9 month old condensor have 8 pin holes in it, i never hit anything. I found it with soapy water. Never buying TYC replacement parts again.

 

[TarheelMechanic]

I see a lot of Youtube hacks (some who should know better) that show leak testing using shop air pumped into the AC system. This is not a good practice due to the heavily moisture laden air from the air tank.

At our shop, if we are doing any pressure/leak testing on an AC system, we use our bottle of Nitrogen along with an inert gas regulator set up. Nitrogen is clean and dry and does not cause the problems that shop air does.

 

[justinjoyal]

Just put some 134a in it and start spraying soapy water every where.

I had a 9 month old condensor have 8 pin holes in it, i never hit anything. I found it with soapy water. Never buying TYC replacement parts again.

Nitrogen.

Why waste refrigerant and polute the atmosphere ?

 

[walta]

Nitrogen is the best option CO2 is acceptable with a regulator.

Be sure to keep the pressure under 350 PSI.

Never try oxygen the oil in the system could burn and the system explode.


Walta

 

[malibu101]

I don't service A/C systems often and I don't have nitrogen.
The couple of times I've needed to pressurize an A/C system I used argon since I have it for aluminum welding.

Right or wrong I don't know but it has worked for me with no problems.

Moisture laden compressed air should never be used is my thought on the topic.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I use dye and refrigerant. We never had nitrogen in a shop owners don’t care to spend more money.

I’ve used air off a dryer before if the leak is that big that it won’t take refrigerant. Most people could hear a leak that big but I can’t

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Just put some 134a in it and start spraying soapy water every where.

That is intentional venting.

Tommy

 

[Brand X]

I don't service A/C systems often and I don't have nitrogen.
The couple of times I've needed to pressurize an A/C system I used argon since I have it for aluminum welding.

Right or wrong I don't know but it has worked for me with no problems.

Moisture laden compressed air should never be used is my thought on the topic.

It's inert gas, and works great.. I do use a modified Nitrogen Regulator that reads in PSI just to know exact PSI I am using. Same setup i use for Plasma making.and same reason on knowing the PSI instead of a fixed PSI flow meter..

 

[bonneyman]

Just put some 134a in it and start spraying soapy water every where.

I had a 9 month old condensor have 8 pin holes in it, i never hit anything. I found it with soapy water. Never buying TYC replacement parts again.

They make a pre-made product for that and it works great - even on really small leaks:

https://www.refrigtech.com/big-blu/

 

[Bretny]

That is intentional venting.

Tommy

Since hes asking this question im sure hes not EPA certified so isnt bound by the same rules as someone who is.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Since hes asking this question im sure hes not EPA certified so isnt bound by the same rules as someone who is.

Even if he's not certified, intentional venting is still a violation of the EPA rules and he can be fined.

Tommy

 

[Bretny]

He wouldnt be intening to vent...hes intending to charge the system.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

He wouldnt be intening to vent...hes intending to charge the system.

After diagnosing a known loss of charge issue? That wouldn't fly very well as an explanation...

Tommy

 

[johnnyradiant]

After diagnosing a known loss of charge issue? That wouldn't fly very well as an explanation...

Tommy

The explanation might not fly very well but this is one of those cases where getting policed and explaining isn't the issue. It's knowing right from wrong and giving enough of a damn to not to do wrong.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

The explanation might not fly very well but this is one of those cases where getting policed and explaining isn't the issue. It's knowing right from wrong and giving enough of a damn to not to do wrong.

Yes. And by knowing right from wrong, doing what he's doing is what makes it intentional venting. Forget about policing, getting caught or lack of regulatory knowledge. It makes no sense for him to do that anyway. It's cheaper to load the system with nitrogen to use soap bubbles. You only need to add refrigerant if you intend to use an electronic leak detector.

Tommy

 

[Milton Shaw]

Vapor charge the system with 134a. That will pressure the system and not use much to have to recover. A vapor charge will use less than 1/2 ounce and will give enough pressure to test for leaks in the whole system. Not running of course.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Will your comprehensive insurance cover the damage? Or is it considered collision?