How often do you re-gas your air conditioning?

[TW]Fox · 22 May 2012 at 20:11

How often do you re-gas your air conditioning?

Every few years, or 'if it aint broke, dont fix it'?

I've never regassed mine. I have an invoice from the previous owner who regassed it a year before I bought it when the car was 3 years old. Since then I've not done anything with it and it still seems to work fine, which makes me wonder why he did it.

What do you guys do? Should we regass the every X years as a matter of course or something?

pepsilol · 22 May 2012 at 20:13

If it works fine and cools like an E39 should, just don't touch it.

On the otherhand, ACs are supposed to be serviced yearly.

Relentless81 · 22 May 2012 at 20:14

Never had an air con regassed in my life and I've owned a fair few cars

[TW]Fox · 22 May 2012 at 20:14

pepsilol said:
If it works fine and cools like an E39 should, just don't touch it.

It was 23c outside today and the car was roasting when I got in. It took a minute or so for the air from the vent to be noticeably cold and then about 5 minutes before the car felt cool. After that, it was absolutely lovely for the rest of the journey.

pepsilol · 22 May 2012 at 20:15

If you keep ( like you should) the ac on 24/7 then there is zero need to be regassing.

Justintime · 22 May 2012 at 20:16

Relentless81 said:
Never had an air con regassed in my life and I've owned a fair few cars

Same here.

pepsilol said:
If you keep ( like you should) the ac on 24/7 then there is zero need to be regassing.

Have always ran it a few hours a week, ne'er an issue.

AshD93 · 22 May 2012 at 20:18

pepsilol said:
If you keep ( like you should) the ac on 24/7 then there is zero need to be regassing.

+1.

Though I disagree with 24/7. I use it once or week and it's been fine since the car has been owned.

pepsilol · 22 May 2012 at 20:19

Why would there ever be a need to turn the AC off though? Just keep the thing on!

RJC · 22 May 2012 at 20:20

You should never need to change the refrigerant, only if it's get contaminated.

SDK^ · 22 May 2012 at 20:22

What is the hit on fuel economy using A/C, any actual data?

Dandle · 22 May 2012 at 20:24

Mine was re-gassed under warranty at just under three years old. I will probably get it done again later this year or next. It still works ok but I think its lost a bit of its omph.

Tax Evader · 22 May 2012 at 20:24

Never re-gassed any of mine either (A/C always on, except for the odd turn it off open the windows and enjoy the fresh air moment!)

[TW]Fox · 22 May 2012 at 20:24

SDK^ said:
What is the hit on fuel economy using A/C, any actual data?

I have tried to measure it by doing a journey with it on, resetting the MPG recorder at a set point and seeing what it was 40 miles later and then doing the same a week later with AC on and the difference was about 0.5mpg which to be honest could easily have been wind speed or something as much as it could have been AC.

So basically no real difference.

[TW]Fox · 22 May 2012 at 20:25

pepsilol said:
Why would there ever be a need to turn the AC off though? Just keep the thing on!

If you have an E39 and think the aux pusher fan noise is not becoming of an executive saloon? That said my AC is never switched off

Rybo89 · 22 May 2012 at 20:26

Never turned it on in neither of my cars... Dunno even if it works in the VXR. If i want to be cool, ill put the windows down.

Conanius · 22 May 2012 at 20:26

Never regased in 9 years of owning cars with air con.

trancesphere · 22 May 2012 at 20:26

Used the AC for the first time in over a year today and it still freezes me.

4+ years old and never been re-gassed.

[TW]Fox · 22 May 2012 at 20:27

Rybo89 said:
If i want to be cool, ill put the windows down.

If you want to be cooler than the temperature outside you'll let the air outside in the car? Yea good idea

Princey · 22 May 2012 at 20:27

I'd imagine it'd be a larger hit on cars with less power. I don't notice any difference in power on my Monaro but I do on my Focus.

pepsilol · 22 May 2012 at 20:27

The pusher fan shouldn't be making that much of a noise that you can notice it..