How often should i need to regas the Aircon?
Discussion
With the weekends sunshine I felt the need to use the cars luxurious air conditioning and cooling system. Only problem was that it refused to comply with demand and only blew warm air (warmer than what was coming in normally without aircon ON).
I got home, checked the compressor pipes and surrounding area and drew a blank as far as leaks were concerned. Does it just need a regas? How often should the 5'er need a regas? Ive not had it done since i bought the car in Oct 2010 so maybe im due one. With these modern cars do we still need to religiously use the aircon at regular intervals to keep it working? ie once a week for half and hour like the old systems. Given i usually only drive the car at weekends and normally with the windows open the aircon rarely gets used, is this a problem?
(And yes the air distribution is set to 'blue bars' and not red ones.)
Eddie
I got home, checked the compressor pipes and surrounding area and drew a blank as far as leaks were concerned. Does it just need a regas? How often should the 5'er need a regas? Ive not had it done since i bought the car in Oct 2010 so maybe im due one. With these modern cars do we still need to religiously use the aircon at regular intervals to keep it working? ie once a week for half and hour like the old systems. Given i usually only drive the car at weekends and normally with the windows open the aircon rarely gets used, is this a problem?
(And yes the air distribution is set to 'blue bars' and not red ones.)
Eddie
ecain63 said:
With the weekends sunshine I felt the need to use the cars luxurious air conditioning and cooling system. Only problem was that it refused to comply with demand and only blew warm air (warmer than what was coming in normally without aircon ON).
I got home, checked the compressor pipes and surrounding area and drew a blank as far as leaks were concerned. Does it just need a regas? How often should the 5'er need a regas? Ive not had it done since i bought the car in Oct 2010 so maybe im due one. With these modern cars do we still need to religiously use the aircon at regular intervals to keep it working? ie once a week for half and hour like the old systems. Given i usually only drive the car at weekends and normally with the windows open the aircon rarely gets used, is this a problem?
(And yes the air distribution is set to 'blue bars' and not red ones.)
Eddie
I got told my A/C is due and i'd be £80 lighter for the experience!I got home, checked the compressor pipes and surrounding area and drew a blank as far as leaks were concerned. Does it just need a regas? How often should the 5'er need a regas? Ive not had it done since i bought the car in Oct 2010 so maybe im due one. With these modern cars do we still need to religiously use the aircon at regular intervals to keep it working? ie once a week for half and hour like the old systems. Given i usually only drive the car at weekends and normally with the windows open the aircon rarely gets used, is this a problem?
(And yes the air distribution is set to 'blue bars' and not red ones.)
Eddie
CooperS said:
ecain63 said:
With the weekends sunshine I felt the need to use the cars luxurious air conditioning and cooling system. Only problem was that it refused to comply with demand and only blew warm air (warmer than what was coming in normally without aircon ON).
I got home, checked the compressor pipes and surrounding area and drew a blank as far as leaks were concerned. Does it just need a regas? How often should the 5'er need a regas? Ive not had it done since i bought the car in Oct 2010 so maybe im due one. With these modern cars do we still need to religiously use the aircon at regular intervals to keep it working? ie once a week for half and hour like the old systems. Given i usually only drive the car at weekends and normally with the windows open the aircon rarely gets used, is this a problem?
(And yes the air distribution is set to 'blue bars' and not red ones.)
Eddie
I got told my A/C is due and i'd be £80 lighter for the experience!I got home, checked the compressor pipes and surrounding area and drew a blank as far as leaks were concerned. Does it just need a regas? How often should the 5'er need a regas? Ive not had it done since i bought the car in Oct 2010 so maybe im due one. With these modern cars do we still need to religiously use the aircon at regular intervals to keep it working? ie once a week for half and hour like the old systems. Given i usually only drive the car at weekends and normally with the windows open the aircon rarely gets used, is this a problem?
(And yes the air distribution is set to 'blue bars' and not red ones.)
Eddie
I leave the air on on at all time - it helps cut humidity in winter and to maintain the correct temperature regardless of the ambient temperature. I was made to understand that seals could dry out if the air con was not used regularly but on the other hand I think a modern car should not need regassing every two years.
When you do go to regas it they will use an U/V visible trace to search for leaks. A condenser may be leaking, as it is exposed to debris.
When you do go to regas it they will use an U/V visible trace to search for leaks. A condenser may be leaking, as it is exposed to debris.
rassi said:
I leave the air on on at all time - it helps cut humidity in winter and to maintain the correct temperature regardless of the ambient temperature. I was made to understand that seals could dry out if the air con was not used regularly but on the other hand I think a modern car should not need regassing every two years.
When you do go to regas it they will use an U/V visible trace to search for leaks. A condenser may be leaking, as it is exposed to debris.
I think thats the route im going to go down next, ie leave it on all the time. It has no effect on mpg or power in these cars (not belt driven) so i really have no excuse. Its just the whole 'open windows' thing. I love the exhaust note so leave them open 90% of the time hence no need for aircon.When you do go to regas it they will use an U/V visible trace to search for leaks. A condenser may be leaking, as it is exposed to debris.
ecain63 said:
I think thats the route im going to go down next, ie leave it on all the time. It has no effect on mpg or power in these cars (not belt driven) so i really have no excuse. Its just the whole 'open windows' thing. I love the exhaust note so leave them open 90% of the time hence no need for aircon.
This is what the guy who owned the E39 M5 I had previously did... Landed me with a £1200 bill to renew various bits as seals and pipes had dried out and subsequently let moisture into the system which rotted some stuff.Definitely use it at least occasionally.
ecain63 said:
I think thats the route im going to go down next, ie leave it on all the time. It has no effect on mpg or power in these cars (not belt driven) so i really have no excuse. Its just the whole 'open windows' thing. I love the exhaust note so leave them open 90% of the time hence no need for aircon.
How's it driven then?ecain63 said:
Just checked my service docs and it looks like the Aircon filters were changed less than 1500 miles ago (January this year) when it went in for an oil service. Should they have checked the aircon was working as part of this work?
Not necessarily, non a/c'd air passes through the same filters, and in January you probably has the climate control set to a hotter temp anyway.Yeah, I leave all my cars in 'Auto' for climate. Thats what the button is for....Think it is belt driven but will make bugger all difference to economy or power on a car like this.
Surprised you need a regas though, especially if you dont use it much....wonder if there is a leak?
I know this may seem like a swear word but a certain tyre fitting place with Kwik in their name do aircon regasses for £45. Obviously wait with the car whilst the work is done to stop them joy riding up the road, but at that price its worth the aggro.
Surprised you need a regas though, especially if you dont use it much....wonder if there is a leak?
I know this may seem like a swear word but a certain tyre fitting place with Kwik in their name do aircon regasses for £45. Obviously wait with the car whilst the work is done to stop them joy riding up the road, but at that price its worth the aggro.
Ideally aircon needs to be on a weekly basis ideally (not always achieveable in our climate, see below): the refriderant contains lubricationg oil which keeps the whole system functioning correctly. If it's not used, chances are the gas has leaked & so the pressure is too low for the compressor to run, even if selected on. If that's the case, a leak test & regas should do it, there's at least three garages in Ringwood who can do that for you. If the leak test shows a major leak, though, you may be looking at a new condensor etc; that's when the price goes up...
If they did the work in January, it was probably too cold for the aircon to kick in: if the temperature's into single figures celsius, the aircon inhibits to prevent internal damage. Hence I have it on all the time, so, if we get a cold snap, it'll have run enough beforehand to compensate.
If they did the work in January, it was probably too cold for the aircon to kick in: if the temperature's into single figures celsius, the aircon inhibits to prevent internal damage. Hence I have it on all the time, so, if we get a cold snap, it'll have run enough beforehand to compensate.
E30M3SE said:
ecain63 said:
I think thats the route im going to go down next, ie leave it on all the time. It has no effect on mpg or power in these cars (not belt driven) so i really have no excuse. Its just the whole 'open windows' thing. I love the exhaust note so leave them open 90% of the time hence no need for aircon.
How's it driven then?ecain63 said:
Just checked my service docs and it looks like the Aircon filters were changed less than 1500 miles ago (January this year) when it went in for an oil service. Should they have checked the aircon was working as part of this work?
Not necessarily, non a/c'd air passes through the same filters, and in January you probably has the climate control set to a hotter temp anyway.The car is booked in for a pressure test on Saturday so hopefully that'll show it to be ok and only in need of a regas. If not, I've got warranty (unless the condenser has damage from road rash).
ecain63 said:
(And yes the air distribution is set to 'blue bars' and not red ones.)
Eddie
Well, you learn something every day.Eddie
I was getting a bit fed up of warm air coming out of my air vents even when I had the temp set to minimum. Saw this post, checked my settings, changed the red bars to blue ones, and hey presto, cold air :-)
And yes, I leave my A/C on full auto all year round. In Winter the dehumidify is very useful. In my Alfa the compressor switches off when the ambient is below 4C, not sure what it does in the M5. If you're worried out the extra fuel usage or BHP loss from the A/C then you've got serious issues :-)
omniflow said:
ecain63 said:
(And yes the air distribution is set to 'blue bars' and not red ones.)
Eddie
Well, you learn something every day.Eddie
I was getting a bit fed up of warm air coming out of my air vents even when I had the temp set to minimum. Saw this post, checked my settings, changed the red bars to blue ones, and hey presto, cold air :-)
And yes, I leave my A/C on full auto all year round. In Winter the dehumidify is very useful. In my Alfa the compressor switches off when the ambient is below 4C, not sure what it does in the M5. If you're worried out the extra fuel usage or BHP loss from the A/C then you've got serious issues :-)
I live in the tropics and I've gassed the aircon on my cars once in the last 12 years (4 cars with aircon) you should never need to gas it if its not leaking, but they all leak a bit in reality but there is no standard time, of subject but your are being ripped off in the Uk on regassing, I can get it done at almost any service station for 5 pound.
The cheap and cheerful way to re-gas is to hook up a set of AC gauges and add gas until the pressures match the car manufacturer's recommended pressures and then job done. Is that what you mean for a fiver?
Typical UK method uses an automated machine that adds the correct weight of gas and oil into the system after it's been evacuated and leak tested. A printout at the end reveals how much gas and oil was removed, how long and at what level a vacuum was applied and how much gas and oil was added back in.
Typical UK method uses an automated machine that adds the correct weight of gas and oil into the system after it's been evacuated and leak tested. A printout at the end reveals how much gas and oil was removed, how long and at what level a vacuum was applied and how much gas and oil was added back in.
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