Transferring/Draining Air conditioning system coolant

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Right,

I have three cars, no money and I need to swap the air con radiators between two of them:

• Audi A4, Air conditioning system intact, gassed and working
• Volvo S40, Air conditioning system intact, recently nitrogen tested and re-gassed after replacing radiator, never used
• Volvo S40, (damaged, to be repaired with parts from the above S40), air conditioning system pressurized but radiator damaged

I don't want to have to pay for another re-gas but need to swap the radiators over between the volvo's, is there a way to drain the systems or store it in a spare system while I swap the radiators.

For example could I drain the fluid from the two volvo's, swap the radiators, refill the fluid at atmospheric pressure then re-pressurise using the audi system, or even with a bog standard compressor?

fittings can be made/obtained, legal issues with letting CFC's etc into the atmosphere don't apply as I will be doing the work on the moon so lets brush past those minor issues!

[Toffer]

You asked for it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otCpCn0l4Wo

[Marf]

I don't think this is possible no.

To re-gas an AC system you have to bring the vacuum in the system down then use that vacuum to help suck in the new gas.

Can you not find somewhere local to do it? Just paid £35 to have mine regassed.

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Marf said:

I don't think this is possible no.

To re-gas an AC system you have to bring the vacuum in the system down then use that vacuum to help suck in the new gas.

Can you not find somewhere local to do it? Just paid £35 to have mine regassed.

Yeah, just want to save the £35 when I already have 3 fully charged systems and only need one to be charged!!!

[Mr2Mike]

Without a compressor of some description it simply isn't possible to transfer all the gas in one pressurised system to another. If you connect them together they will both end up at the same pressure, each about half full of gas. If you then release the gas in one system, replace the radiator and connect it up the the half filled "storage system" you will end up with both about 1/4 full.

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Mr2Mike said:

Without a compressor of some description it simply isn't possible to transfer all the gas in one pressurised system to another. If you connect them together they will both end up at the same pressure, each about half full of gas. If you then release the gas in one system, replace the radiator and connect it up the the half filled "storage system" you will end up with both about 1/4 full.

but can I use a standard air compressor to push the gas from one system to the other??

[thinfourth2]

Good news

It is perfectly possible to do this DIY

Bad news

You need about a grands worth of kit to do it



Seriously the liquid is actually a gas at room temperature unless it is compressed. Also it is illegal to dump the gas out of a fully charged system.

[fridgedoctor]

This is possible, but you require a refrigerant reclaim unit, gauges, oxygen free nitrogen, vacuum pump, car A/c adaptors and technical knowledge (it is easy though)
Tbh no one in the trade would be likely to be keen, not much money in it.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Don't forget the system has oil in it as well.
No oily - no worky (for very long).

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Got the Pro's to do it in the end, Thanks anyway!