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R-12 Charging, or point and laugh at the stupid questions.

Narcoleptic on Sun June 01, 2008 6:28 PM User is offline

Year: 1991
Make: Mazda
Model: MPV
Engine Size: 3.0L V-6
Refrigerant Type: R-12
Country of Origin: United States

I was trying to charge my MPV via a charging hose but failed and wasted a $35 can of R-12. I'm thinking it was the design of the can tap and hose, although it could be just me. I wasn't very good at charging R-134a at first but that stuff is only $6 a can. I could make mistakes and learn from them. R-12 is a little too expensive to do that.

I can't find it on the manufacturer's website, but this is the type that clamps onto the rim of the can and then a piercing valve screws down into the can. Not only did the valve leak, but the connector for the low side leaked when screwed onto the charging port.

It dawned on me I have a side-mount can tap. Unfortunately the only hose I have is the one that came with the top-style tap. From what I can put together, the best way to use a side tap is with a gauge set. Is that correct? Yes, this is an idiotic question, but I have searched and can't find any primers on using a side-mount tap. To me it looks like one needs a gauge set and controlling the fill rate is done via the low-side wheel on the set, correct?

I guess this is my reminder that I should do it the right way with a gauge set rather than via the sight glass. At least this lesson was cheaper than ruining a hose or compressor.


Chick on Mon June 02, 2008 6:44 AM User is offlineView users profile

It is ALWAYS best to use a gage set. But you can charge with the sight glass, you just won't know if there is a problem like a restriction. Here are quality manifold sets that you can check out. A side tap is better than those top taps. You can just buy the hose and fill it that way, be sure to bleed some refrgerant out to get any air out of the hose, as you don't want air in the system..Hope this helps..

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Chick
Email: Chick

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