I have a 1979 Cutlass with R4 Compressor in which the factory spec says to use 60 oz. of R-12 Freon.


I had a frozen AC pump and whole new system needed, but the mechanic only put in 38 oz of R-12 and says it is enough.

It does cool but sometimes the evaporator freezes over when it first is turned on.


Is it OK to run it like this?? any consquences of using it underfilled? Will pump wear out sooner, or??

Fred

 

Fred, I wouldn't run the system like that. Go back to the shop that charged it and complain. If the spec says 60oz and they only put in 38oz that is 22oz too few. The refrigerant suspends the oil in the AC system. If you are short on refrigerant it's like running your engine a quart low on oil all the time.

 

Thankfully the A6 has its own oil reservoir and is quite rugged, so this isn't as risky as newer compressors.

Agreed, undercharging a system is bad. They should have vacuumed and charged to spec.