V 70 A/C

Discussion in 'Volvo V70' started by Andy Mann, May 15, 2005.

  1. Andy Mann

    Andy Mann Guest

    This is the first car I have owned with A/C.
    Do I need to add any fluids A/C
     
    Andy Mann, May 15, 2005
    #1
  2. Andy Mann

    Rob Guenther Guest

    Nope... A/Cs are suppose to be the most sealed for life system in your
    car... The gases inside them are pretty nasty for the environment too... so
    you don't want them to get out (even the newer stuff that's not too bad for
    the environment isn't the best for it either, according to the HVAC guys
    i've talked to).

    That being said the gases do eventually leak out - give it 10-12 years and
    it probably wont work anymore... sometimes less, sometimes more. At this
    point you will have to add more refrigerant, and probably replace
    pipes/fittings maybe even the compressor or evaporator.

    Enjoy the A/C, you'll wonder how you did without on those hot summers days.
    Remember to run it all year round so the seals get exercised - you can blend
    the A/C with the heater in most cars... A/C's seem to last longer if you use
    them consistently - at least once a week I've heard.
     
    Rob Guenther, May 15, 2005
    #2
  3. Andy Mann

    James Sweet Guest

    The sealed part of the A/C is maintenance free, it's very high pressure so
    be careful with the hoses and fittings, don't mess with it unless it stops
    working. The only thing requring regular maintenance is the belt that drives
    it. Also it's possible to get mold growing on the evaporator which requires
    disinfecting but there's ways to prevent this,
     
    James Sweet, May 15, 2005
    #3
  4. The old rule about running the A/C at least once a week in the winter -
    usually in the form of running the defroster - still applies. The idea is to
    keep the O-rings oiled.

    The A/C guys' info is out of date. NASA and NOAA teamed up for a mission in
    1997 to determine the exact cause of seasonal ozone depletion. The mission
    was called POLARIS, for Photochemistry of Ozone Loss in Arctic Regions In
    Summer. (When we hear about Antarctic ozone loss in winter, it refers to
    northern hemisphere winter - Antarctic summer.) U2 flights in the affected
    region carried an instrumentation package aloft to avoid the contamination
    problems that led to the scare in the first place. Their conclusions,
    summarized in the end-of-mission statement
    (http://cloud1.arc.nasa.gov/polaris/polaris.ems.html) identify extended
    hours of sunlight as the primary cause of the depletion that caused the
    uproar. Too late for R12, though, the manufacture of which was banned under
    the Montreal Protocol ten years earlier.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, May 15, 2005
    #4
  5. Andy Mann

    Tim.. Guest

    Mostly all A/c-ed cars will need a topup of gas after abotu 3-4 years due to
    natural loss on a system in good order.

    The most important thing to remember is to exercise the a/c once a week all
    year around for 10mins or so to keep the seals moist via the lube oil
    circulating. This can be abit tricky in the winter as it is disabled below
    around 4 deg C, but you can get it to run if you heat the cabin with the
    heater first, then switch to recirc and let the heater suck in warm air.


    Tim..
     
    Tim.., May 15, 2005
    #5
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