(Mythbusting), How Does A Car Thermostat Work? (& Is it Safe to Drive with? The European Union forced this changeover on January 1 of the previous year. He has been working as a mechanic for over 10 years, and the majority of them specialized in advanced diagnostics and troubleshooting. Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. A search for a refrigerant that is both friendly to the ozone layer and doesnt contribute to global warming was started. They exist under different names and brands, but their purpose is the same. Regards The first, the powder or grain type, is a sealant that contains tiny particles inside the compound. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of using an AC leak sealant, so you can ask yourself if it is worth it. 8 Best Oil Stop Leak Additives of 2022 - Review & Buyer's, Auto-Start/Stop: Is it bad for my Engine? This leads to oil degradation which causes excessive wear and eventually compressor failure. The cost of AC Stop Leak will vary depending on the size of the bottle and where you purchase it from. It tends to react with other gases in the atmosphere and break down within a couple of weeks, as compared to R-134a, which remains stable for over a decade. Additionally, this lubricant utilizes highly stable base oil technology that will resist thermal breakdown caused by the devastating impact of heat stress. These chemical-based seals seem to be safer than the first type because these seals do not really block the leak but form a tight layer over it to prevent the gas from escaping. By Andy Berlin, BG Product Technical Service Representative. The R-1234yf is much more reactive than R-134a. Three decades ago, R-12 was the industry standard. This change has everything to do with increasing concerns about the environmental impact of these refrigerants. For additional information, see the Global Shipping Program, r1234yf Refrigerant Honeywell, (2) 8 oz Can, Stop Leak For R1234YF, Gauge Tapers. The answer is yes, it will. All Rights Reserved. Do they work and can they save me some money? Does the R134a with sealant works and fix our leak ? Heres what you need to know about R-1234yf, Servicing automotive a/c systems: The difference between R-134a and R-1234yf. In my opinion, it is much better, and also probably cheaper in the long run, to repair a leak properly. Even if you may think so, AC leak sealers are not new on the market. Copyright 2022 Mechanic Base. This is why it seals small pinholes by reacting to the condensation caused by the temperature around the pinhole. You get a low-cost product that will fix your cars problems that would cost you several hundreds of dollars if you decided to have it checked and repaired by a mechanic. While R-1234yf could be the perfect replacement for R-134a, there is one major challenge with this new technology. Other Car & Truck Air Conditioning & Heating. Once this process starts, its nearly impossible to stop. Most people who havent used a leak sealant before will wonder if it really works because the advertising for these sealants implies that these things are magic and will immediately seal AC leaks and other types of leaks in your car. When you have an AC leak, not only will the AC refrigerant go out of the system water or condensation will also go in. Is it too good to be true, and could you do more harm than good by using these AC leak seals in your car? The future is now! If you visit a workshop and notice that a leak sealant is present in the AC system, the system must be flushed before. It will also often result in an expensive repair cost. You can often find AC Stop Leak at auto parts stores or online retailers. 3 months ago? What about AC leak sealers? Here are the two most common types of AC leak sealers. The problem with a highly reactive refrigerant is that it can also be aggressive toward the lubricants used in the HVAC system. There are actually two different types of AC leak sealers that you can use, and both of them have their own pros and cons. I refil de r134a freon gas on my 2006 Odysdey. R-1234yf will be the industry standard for the foreseeable future, so its time to stock up on BG Frigi-Quiet for R-1234yf. Chemical-based sealers consist of a thick liquid substance that reacts with temperature and water to form a sealant that looks like epoxy resin. R-1234yf solves both of those problems. You must understand that AC stops leak sealers react to water, and when it does that, it will become hard. The tiny particles sit together inside your refrigerant line. Repairing the AC system can be very costly. Magnus is the owner and main author of MechanicBase. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. BG Products, Inc. is dedicated to making vehicles last longer and perform better in the meantime. If you like to work on your car yourself and you know a little bit about cars, you must have come across leak sealants when buying accessories for your car. However, many OEMs had already begun making this change several years ago. In fact, these products have been widely used in the natural gas industry for many years. Andy has more than 20 years of experience as a chemist and laboratory analyst prior to joining the BG Products R&D team. This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available. It is often more of a temporary solution than a permanent one because of the high pressure within the AC system. by Andy BerlinBG Product Technical Service Representative. This can cause the efficiency to reduce by up to 10%. There are also particle-based sealants that work differently from chemical-based sealants. It will also reduce the efficiency of your AC by up to 10%. This particle-based sealant works by plugging the leak or cavity with its tiny particles and forming a fine sealant. Most AC stop leak sealers are advertised as permanent leak sealants. This raises the question of the credibility and authenticity of these AC leak seals. RELATED: How Much Does an AC Recharge Cost? It doesnt get any easier than that, and everyone likes it easy! They can disturb the flow and pressure of the AC system. For additional information, see the Global Shipping Program, This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. This can lead to decreased efficiency and potential AC system damage. It can clog important parts like the expansion valve, evaporator, or condenser. In addition, these types of AC leak seals are getting older and older, so you will probably find chemical-based AC leak sealants in most cases. This amount is subject to change until you make payment. Lets find out! Other areas where leakage can occur are the compressor, the lines running from the compressor to the condenser and at fittings and connections. These compounds have long been used to seal small leaks in gas pipelines to save time and money for manual repair. It will cause it to harden inside the AC system, and this can happen in places like the expansion valve or the condenser, which can cause the AC system to stop working altogether. As we told you before, the AC leak sealer is reacting to water so what happens when you pour the AC leak sealer into a system with water? This means that the majority of late-model vehicles coming into service shops will contain R-1234yf, instead of its predecessor, R-134a. Is AC Stop Leak Sealers bad for the AC system? This change in automotive refrigerant technology has been the talk of the industry for several years. This new lubricant is of extremely high quality and purity. Now, its time to act. Let's find out! If you have a newer car you care about, we do not recommend using an AC leak sealer. Most AC stop leak sealers work well to stop small pinhole leaks in the AC pipes, but we dont recommend using one. If they do not know about the leak, it can damage their AC machine, costing over 5k dollars. This makes it simple. BG Products introduced Universal Frigi-Quiet for R-1234yf, PN 702, for this very application. Lubricant impurities act like keys to a locked door; they allow oxidation reactions to take place which will begin to propagate the breakdown of the oil. Service shops can stock one product, PN 702, and use it for any vehicle, whether it uses R-134a or R-1234yf. This solved the problemor so we thought. (& How to Test it), Run Flat Tires: Pros, Cons (& How They Work), Car Won't Start But The Radio And Lights Work - Causes & Fix, 4 Symptoms of an Oil Pan Gasket Leak (& Replacement Cost), How to find a Vacuum Leak & How to Fix It (8 Easy Steps), What is an EVAP Leak? As of January 1, 2021, the United States Environmental Protection Agency mandated that all passenger cars and light-duty trucks coming off the assembly lines must utilize R-1234yf as their HVAC system refrigerant. This is an affiliate link, this means that at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission for qualifying purchases: Remember that even if it says that it does not clog the AC system, it still can happen, and you need to be prepared for that. An AC leak sealer is a product that works by reacting to the temperature when the refrigerant is flowing out from a pinhole in the AC pipe. The most common location for an AC leak is the condenser as it is mounted in an exposed area in front of the car. A small bottle can typically be found for around $20, while a large bottle can cost upwards of $40. The second type of AC leak sealers, containing a chemical compound, is now more common on the market. View cart for details. However, most stop leak sealers will last for at least a year before needing to be replaced, depending on the make and model of your car, the severity of the leak, and how often you use your AC. Universal Frigi-Quiet for R-1234yfs purity helps prevent oil degradation. They can repair minor AC leaks, like pinhole leaks. Jorge Pastor. Using this type of AC leak sealer, there is a big risk that they will clog your AC system, so we do not recommend them. Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyer's proximity to the item location, the shipping service selected, the seller's shipping history, and other factors. High-quality, industry-leading BG products are professional use only. He acts as a technical advisor, helping international and domestic Distributors and Sales Representatives understand BG product chemistry and applications. Something went wrong. Several years later, it was concluded that many man-made gases were contributing to global warming, and R-134a was one of those contributors. Exactly! The solution to this concern has been the development of an advanced technology lubricant that will resist this highly aggressive refrigerant. Certified Automotive Diagnostic Technician. This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. It is not proven that they can seal around O-rings and shaft seals, which are the most common leak places. It was found to cause a depletion of the ozone layer, so R-134a was adopted since it did not contribute to ozone depletion. If you still want to use an AC leak sealer in your car, the best AC leak sealer I would recommend is the Red Angel A/C leak sealer from Amazon. {"modules":["unloadOptimization","bandwidthDetection"],"unloadOptimization":{"browsers":{"Firefox":true,"Chrome":true}},"bandwidthDetection":{"url":"https://ir.ebaystatic.com/cr/v/c1/thirtysevens.jpg","maxViews":4,"imgSize":37,"expiry":300000,"timeout":250}}. Purity is the keyword here. Yes, AC stop leak sealers are bad for your AC system. It can save you a lot of money instead of replacing expensive parts in the coolant system. One potential problem is that the AC leak sealant can clog up your cars AC system. These chemical-based compounds can be supplied in a single bottle, as we have already discussed, or in two bottles, with the sealant and conditioner in separate containers. It is not proven that they can stop leaks around O-rings or shaft seals, which are much more common than pinhole leaks in AC systems. ), 6 Symptoms of an Exhaust Leak (& Repair Costs), Rear Main Seal Leak - Symptoms, Causes & Replacement Cost, BlueDevil Products Red Angel A/C Stop Leak, FCW System Failed in Honda Meaning, Causes & How to fix. The additional costs of this are at least $100 or even more. Their purpose is to seal the leak so that the refrigerant does not escape. On the positive side, this higher reactivity is why R-1234yf is so much more friendly to the environment. Also, remember that it can end up with more expensive repair costs if you use it, so I do definitely recommend repairing the leak properly instead. Contact your local BG Distributor to connect with a BG Representative today! You might be wondering if PN 702 will also work in older systems still using R-134a? If you reside in an EU member state besides UK, import VAT on this purchase is not recoverable. Today, we check that needs again to refill. There are a lot of different opinions when it comes to AC leak sealing. When reacting to the leak locations temperature, it will become a hard sealer instead of a liquid, and therefore it will stop the leak. This amount is subject to change until you make payment.