How come my fridge freeze doesn't need to be regassed but my car AC does?

Phoenix211 said:
Would you say needing a re gas after 9 years sounds about right? Ye olde Qashqai has absolutly no cold air now and a nice hiss when you turn aircon on!
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It's often not a re-gas, but some other component of the system.
For example, my car manual states that the aircon dryer unit should be replaced every 2 years.

Semple said:
I think new cars run AC regardless of whether the AC button is pressed or not.
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Mine won't actually run the A/C if the outside temperature is below 5ºC.
 
Yeah as you say, it is mostly down to economics. Replacing a fridge is a lot cheaper than having it regassed (in terms of cost of ownership), usually once it starts leaking gas, there is probably another fault. Refrigerant can get pretty expensive and it's usually not worth doing on a standard domestic fridge. Replacing your car every time the A/C dies would be a "f-you money" mindset :D
 
My 1995 Toyota Celica hasn't been recharged since 2008. I have owned it since 2012 and know it got gassed when it came to the UK in 08. Toyota's are renowned for having great AC in this time period so obviously they can be made to last. This is with R134.

Our Suzuki normally lasts 2 years before needing doing and my Saab is in the shop now for a new compressor (170k miles, 19 years old).
 
It's my opinion that the AC system should never need regassing. Only car I've ever needed regassing was when I crashed it and burst the condenser. I don't buy into this theory that not running the system dries it out and makes it leak.
My old Z32 now owned by a friend has spent the huge majority of the last 22 years sat parked and the AC works perfect still.
Same deal with my S15, has spent years sat idle and AC works perfect.

If it needs regassing then it has a leak that needs addressing.
 
Went on holiday last week and found the AC not working properly which was annoying. Looking at changing the car anyway so it will depend on lead time, don't really fancy going the whole summer without AC but equally don't want to pay for a regas if we are just getting rid anyway.
 
Best thing is a hydrogen fill and sniffer prior to regas- it will find the leak when pressurised like the system unlike a crappy vaccuum purge. The guy I used refuses to simply refill a system as its 99% going to leak out again anyway.
In my case our 9year MINI had a corroded condenser that i had replaced - hence pressure test and regas.
 
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Scania said:
2006 191K mile Volvo V70, air con working fine just as it should.

2018 Scania R450, 512,000KM (318K miles) again working as it should.

I'm not convinced that either age nor mileage is the deciding factor here....
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Agreed, I tend to keep cars for a long time, and both my previous, current and Mrs car now 10+ years old and ac works fine.
 
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