AC System Charge And

Discharge
Evacuation

• Remove air and moisture from inside the

recovery tank by attaching a vacuum pump to
its blue-colored valve.
• Then, turn on the vacuum pump while
simultaneously opening the blue-colored
valve. Leave the vacuum pump on for
approximately an hour to remove all air and
moisture from the recovery tank.
When to Evacuate
the AC System
• After changing your AC compressor
• Before replacing the refrigerant
• After repairing or replacing any component of your
AC system
• Air vents are blowing warm/hot air
• After discovering and fixing an AC/refrigerant leak
• When the AC system consumes too much power
(car battery drains faster than normal when AC is
on) or becomes contaminated
• Noticeable icing at low-temperature points
• When any of the AC components are exposed to
air (especially for extended periods)
Evacuation
• Get the proper equipment
• Prepare the recovery tank
• Hook up the vacuum pump
• Empty the recovery tank
• Bring out the manifold gauges
• Connect the hoses to the recovery
unit
• Rid the AC system of air and
moisture
• Disconnect the manifold gauge
connectors
• Close all other open valves
 • When recharging or putting fresh refrigerant into your AC system,

Recharging you’ll need the same set of tools used for evacuating or purging it.
The yellow hose/connector from the manifold gauge connects to a
new refrigerant keg instead of the recovery tank.
Refrigerant sizes
Recharging

1. Open the Refrigerant Valve

Once the fittings to and from the refrigerant container are
airtight, carefully open the refrigerant valve (with the manifold
gauge valves still closed). The manifold gauges should display
equal readouts – a result of static pressure based on ambient
temperature – on both high and low-pressure sides once you do
this.
2. Check OEM-Recommended Amount
The specific amount of refrigerant your vehicle’s AC system
needs to operate correctly depends on its make and model.
Check your owner’s manual or the system sticker label for the
OEM-recommended amount.
Suppose the refrigerant is contained in a keg. If so, use a digital
bathroom scale to measure how much has already been put in
the AC system. Refrigerants in cans wouldn’t require weighing
anymore since that information is already on the can itself – you
just have to add.
Recharging

3. Let the Refrigerant In

When charging your AC system, start the engine and
turn the AC to its highest coldness and fan speed
settings. Once done, partially open the blue, low-
pressure side to let the refrigerant in. Never open
the high-pressure side, as it’s only meant for
monitoring. The compressor should turn on once
the refrigerant enters the AC system. Readings on
the low-pressure side of the manifold gauge would
also simultaneously rise and fall.
Conversely, you may notice the high-pressure gauge
reading steadily rising. When this happens, have a
buddy slightly raise the engine idle slightly and use a
garden hose to spray water over the condenser to
cool it down (if needed).
Recharging

Let the refrigerant flow into the system and keep

doing this until you’ve achieved the
recommended amount of refrigerant for your
car’s system.
You will know your car’s AC system is fully
charged when your manifold gauge readings look
a certain way (refer to owner’s manual for
specifics) and the AC compressor stops its on-
and-off cycle. Otherwise, the system may be
overcharged, there’s a blockage in the expansion
valve, or you have a busted cooling fan.
Recharging Process
Recharging
Process
 • An AC flush is a service or preventative maintenance
that can be performed on automotive cooling systems
Flushing to clean sludge and sediment from the hoses and
drains and all parts of the air conditioning unit while
checking for leaks.