A/C maintanence?

[abimanyu]

Can anybody outline the proper a/c maintanence? How often to check the refrigerants?How often to reoil the compressor? When to take down the dash and clean the evaporators?

My trusted a/c repair specialist told me that I should get the evaporator checked and cleaned at least once a year to prevent leaks and to prevent dust, dirt and grime build up so that the unit could work more effectively.

I used to live in Vegas where the summers get very hot and as long as I lived in the U.S and owned 5 cars over the span of 9 years, I've never hear my dealer telling me to get my evaporators cleaned and my whole a/c checked and cleened. Did I miss anything why living in the U.S?

I now live in Jakarta, Indonesia, where the air is so polluted, hot and very high humidity(95%). I am a bit wary of taking off my dash because I''m pretty sure he will break something or some clips and the dash won't go back in as good as it was before.

[ShawnM]

Sounds like a scam to me. The A/C is a closed system, theres really nothing to do unless it isnt working right. The only thing you have to worry about is the cabin filter if the air is dirty in your area (if your car even has one).

[abimanyu]

Thanks for the reply but as a postscript, I did go to his shop and looked at some cars that he's repairing, one of them had the dash removed revealing, lo and behold, grimy, slimy, evaporator.

[ShawnM]

For an evaporator to get grimy and slimy it has to be leaking. When you have a leak in the AC system some of the oil leaks out with the freon. The oil is what traps the dirt and dust and makes it look grimy. But that would be replacing a leaking part, not routine AC maintenance.

[abimanyu]

Ok thanks, but how about re oiling your denso compressor, it says on the compressor to use ND Oil. How often should I reoil the compressor? It's really hot and humid 100% of the time here in Jakarta, Indonesia. So it is really hard on the a/c system? Pollution? Lead and impure diesel are mixed with low grade kerosene are extensively used by public buses and public transport with shot engines and leaky gaskets. I mean literally, if you are behind a bus,it resembles a thick fog(not even a cloud) of black fumes!!!!!!Sometimes you can't even see 2 meters behind a bus at night time.

So is this bad for the a/c?

[cashcrazy]

You shouldnt have to reoil unless all the refridgerant leaks out. Where I live it is Very hot and humid also. I never take mine to the A/C shop unless it is not blowing cold air. That has happened once and that was due to a bad compressor. And this is just a thought, but if the pollution is bad enough to cause harm to your A/C system wouldnt that mess with your health also??

[tashirosgt]

Is it true that one should run the A/C in winter occasionally to circulate the oil in the refrigerant through the A/C system?

It seems to me that the A/C pulley is turning whenever the engine is on, but the A/C clutch is not engaged till the A/C itself is turned on. Does any oil from the refrigerant lubricate the pulley?

[foodaa]

Yeah, you should run the A/C atleast once a month so the oil will circulate.
A/C oil doesnt lubricate the pulley.

[abimanyu]

The pollution is sooo bad in Jakarta, Indonesia, I mean most of the general population inhales these fumes daily while riding their motorbikes, there are about 1 plus million bikes on the road. A lot of young children unknowingly develps leukimia, brochitis, astma, and chronic coughs.