A/C Service Station, Using: Notes
- If it is suspected that chemicals (leak stop additives) were added to the refrigerant circuit to seal leaks, do not connect the A/C service station and do not extract the refrigerant.
- Chemicals that seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit (leak stop additives) form deposits that affect the function of the A/C system and lead to malfunctions in the A/C system and the A/C service station.
- Inform the customer that there are substances in the A/C system that are not approved by Audi and for this reason the A/C system cannot be discharged or serviced.
The chemical materials (stop leak additive) for sealing leaks in the refrigerant circuit offered on the market are not approved by Audi AG. There are no permanent-, validity or material compatibility tests. Therefore damage or malfunctions in the A/C system or the A/C service station cannot be excluded.
The stop leak additives offered on the open market have different physical and chemical properties, which can impair the function of the A/C system and the A/C service station and can even shut down the system completely.
Audi does not approve the use of chemicals (stop leak additives) to seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit.
Chemical materials (leak stop additives) to seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit react with air or the moisture in the surrounding air and form deposits in the refrigerant circuit (and in the A/C service station) that lead to malfunctions in the valves and other components that come into contact with such chemicals. These deposits cannot be removed completely from the components (also not through cleaning/flushing with refrigerant R134a).
It is not possible to recognize chemical substances to seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit (leak stop additives) from the outside and the labels that are supposed to come with them are usually not there. Therefore be careful when working with a vehicle if its service history is unknown.
The accessories market offers containers used to separate out these chemicals (leak stop additives for sealing leaks in the refrigerant circuit). Since Audi does not know composition and the physical and chemical properties of these materials, it is not possible to make a statement about their effectiveness and the deposition rate of these filters.
The Filter for Sealants :VAS 6592 offers a certain protection for the A/C service station. This filter is incorporated between the A/C service station and the service connection on the low pressure side of the refrigerant circuit in a vehicle (the A/C service station may not be connected to the service connection on the high pressure side of the refrigerant circuit for discharging, evacuating and measuring). This filter separate certain materials that were added to seal leaks in the refrigerant circuit. It prevents these materials from getting into the refrigerant and refrigerant oil in the A/C service station unchecked and causing damage there. For the protection to work, it is necessary that the installed filter be changed in regular intervals and exactly according to the manufacturer specifications (described in the instructions provided). Since Audi does not approve of using chemical materials (stop leak additives) for sealing leaks in the refrigerant circuit and since there are many different compositions of these chemicals (stop leak additives) that are offered as "sealant for refrigerant circuits", it is not possible to make a statement about the effectiveness and efficiency of the Filter for Sealants :VAS 6592 .
If the refrigerant circuit on a vehicle was filled with a chemical (stop leak additives) to seal any leaks (or if there is suspected) and repairs to the A/C system refrigerant circuit are necessary, inform the customer of the following:
- It is not possible to extract the refrigerant from the A/C system due to the stop leak additive that has been added to the system because it will damage the A/C service station. For example, an outside company must be hired to extract the contaminated refrigerant with a suitable device and then dispose of it (for example, a local waste management company that specializes in disposing of refrigerant).
- It will be necessary to replace any refrigerant circuit components that have come in contact with the stop leak additive in order to repair the A/C system properly. Certain refrigerant circuit components may already be damaged by the stop leak additive (for example, the A/C Compressor Regulator Valve -N280-) or will get damaged if they are used over again and will fail after a short amount of time. In addition to this, if there is any stop leak additive deposits still on the refrigerant circuit components, they could come loose at a later point and cause the A/C system to fail again (currently it is not possible to clean these components with any workshop tools).
Working on the A/C system refrigerant circuit