The heat and humidity of summer is laying heavy in Northern Virginia. To combat it, many drivers are relying on their air conditioning.
If your car’s a/c system isn’t keeping up with the high temperatures, a bad part or leak could be at fault.
A/c leak causes
Air conditioning leaks can occur throughout the a/c system. Anything that holds refrigerant is subject to leaking.
Sometimes, leaks are easier to spot. Other times, however, they can be hidden.
Possible leak sources include:
- Rubber gaskets
- Air conditioning condenser
- Evaporator core
- Accumulator
- Fittings
- Rubber lines
- A/c compressor
- Expansion valves
- Air conditioning hoses
Rubber gaskets: Gaskets eventually become fragile from daily use and are more susceptible to leaking.
A/c condenser: Depending on the type of metal the condenser is made out of, corrosion could cause them to fail. Pinhole leaks may form from the outside or inside. Outside sources, such as weather and salt, can lead to corrosion. Problems might also stem from the type of freon and the reaction to the metal on the inside. Because the metal is much thinner, a leaking condenser can also be the result of impacts.
Evaporator core: We worked on a Mitsubishi Outlander where ultraviolet dye was seen coming out of the evaporator drain tube. This indicated that the evaporator core was leaking.
Rubber lines and fittings: Leaks are possible on the fittings and rubber lines, which experience drastic changes in temperature.
Air conditioning hoses: An a/c leak may develop on the hose that connects the condenser and compressor. The seals connected to the condenser can go bad.
Leak indicators
Drivers may be clued in that their vehicle has an a/c leak if the air conditioning system isn’t working correctly. Low freon is one of several common causes behind a/c problems.
If an air conditioning system has been serviced correctly and tracer oil (or ultraviolet dye) was added, it will glow green. Drivers may see the dye if a leak is bad enough. For smaller leaks, special glasses or a blacklight are needed.
Smoke may be seen if the leak is fast enough. When refrigerant leaves the system, it turns into a gas because it goes from super high pressure to very low pressure.
The engine bay serves as a container. So, if it fills up with smoke, drivers may see it being released from underneath the hood. The smoke could be coming from the condenser, evaporator core, or another source. You just don’t know where until the smoke settles.
How we find air conditioning leaks
Do you or your auto repair shop think your car has an air conditioning leak? The process of finding the leak can involve several steps.
If an air conditioning leak is suspected, our technicians look over the vehicle for any visible problems.
They use an a/c machine and ultraviolet dye if no leaks are found. We add dye and oil, and then perform a recharge.
The vehicle is returned to the customer, who drives it for a while and returns it to our shop to see if the dye appears.
On cars that take R-1234yf, nitrogen and a sniffer are utilized.
HomeTowne Auto Repair & Tire is an authorized Michelin and BFGoodrich tire dealer located near Dale City, Virginia. Automotive repair services are performed on all makes and models, including oil changes, brakes, alignments, inspections, and computer engine diagnostics.