Page 1 of 1

Using Shop Air To Leak Test?

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 4:53 pm
by seagiant
Hi,
I see guys on U-Tube, using shop air and a soap bottle to find leaks in Auto AC Units.

Thoughts?

Re: Using Shop Air To Leak Test?

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 6:21 pm
by Tim
Nitrogen is a better gas for leak testing. Shop air unless used with a paint regulator will induce moisture to the system.

Re: Using Shop Air To Leak Test?

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 7:00 pm
by seagiant
Hi,
Thanks, but won't the pump down get rid of air anyway?

That seems to be the thinking on it, but I do understand Nitrogen is a better mouse trap!

Re: Using Shop Air To Leak Test?

Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2020 7:45 pm
by Tim
Air yes, moisture depends!!

Re: Using Shop Air To Leak Test?

Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2020 11:42 am
by seagiant
Hi,
Thanks!

Re: Using Shop Air To Leak Test?

Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:24 pm
by swampy 6x6
HHi

Shop air contains alot ,,a huge amount of moisture. Shop air condensate trap is only very basic a moisture trap such as used for spray painting worth 100-1000 dollars traps moisture. Besides moisture will be trapped in refrigeration system easily as a result just donot introduce potential problems to begin with .

Always taught only use nitrogen . Besides nitrogen can go 200psi which is where u want to test . Shopair will only go 90psi

Re: Using Shop Air To Leak Test?

Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 5:10 am
by chrstopher007
seagiant wrote: Sun Nov 15, 2020 4:53 pm Hi,
I see guys on U-Tube, using shop air and a soap bottle to find leaks in Auto AC Units.

Thoughts?
Shop air unless used with a paint regulator will induce moisture to the system.

Re: Using Shop Air To Leak Test?

Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 5:41 am
by Cusser
Desiccant won't give up its trapped moisture to vacuum during evacuation.

Use nitrogen or a can of R134a for leak detection by bubbles, electronic sniffer, or UV dye.

seagiant wrote: Sun Nov 15, 2020 4:53 pm Hi, I see guys on U-Tube, using shop air and a soap bottle to find leaks in Auto AC Units.
Yeah, and I see guys on YouTube riding bicycles off building roofs, etc. And a guy using lacquer thinner to clean out a catalytic converter; my brother-in-law saw that and set his car on fire. Which set the garage on fire. Which set the house on fire. Total loss.