Regular aircon recharge?

Not true IMO. Personally as long as it works. I leave it alone. If it packs up or the efficency reduces to an unacceptable level. I'll get it sorted. Untill then I'll just carry on using it.

If it's comfortably cool on a hot day. What more do you need. :-) Seriously I think there are specific checks with temperature guages.

Circulates the oil which helps prevent the compressor seals drying out.

Any aircon Co should be able to do the job, but maybe not do it properly. Might be better to use a car aircon specialist. Mike.

It doesn't cool as well as it should. ;-)

The seals dry out if it's not used, and the oil which is suspended in the refrigerant needs circulating.

Many main agents farm out the work anyway.

As AC systems age, they hold their charge for shorter and shorter periods until eventually at perhaps about 5-10 years old they need a complete overhaul - expensive.

someone looks familiar, or are you using someone else account? anyway, the ac system needs to be run for a short while every once in a while (like a few minutes a week or something) to keep the seals in the system lubricated, otherwise they dry out and you spend lots of money trying to get them found and sorted

a top up may be more expensive than you think because you have to get it gassed as well as oil and the old stuff removed as well as dye injected into it in case there is a leak later on much easier (but maybe not cheaper) to do it all in one hit

anyone can do it, but pick someone who is fixed rather than someone who's mobile because at least the fixed place will get the car sorted rather than you looking out the window thinking "is that them now?" all day long

Bluh! Although the air-con system will now be in tip-top condition, the same can't be said of the engine after that treatment.

My owners' manual (Ford Mondeo) says the A/C should be used for 30 minutes a month. No trouble in the Summer months. However, in the Winter months is it sufficient just to have the A/C light illuminated? - the compressor isn't necessarily doing much if the air isn't being cooled, and that adds up to all Winter long.

Emlyn Jones

emlyn.j ( snipped-for-privacy@ntlworld.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

If the light's on, the compressor's running, and the air is being cooled.

If it's then being heated again, that's another kettle of fish.

Aircon in the UK is at its most useful in winter, anyway - there is no quicker way of clearing misted windows.

In news:Cemxc.248$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe2-gui.server.ntli.net, emlyn.j decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows

Because the compressor will be working the same was as usual due to the fact that once the AC clutch has engaged drive it's pumping the same no matter what, the aircon system will filter and dry the air in the car no matter if it's on hot or cold. Very useful, no steamy windows, no residual damp off feet in footwells, and the A/C system seals etc will be getting lubrication from the R134 in the system.

Price up a compressor, drier and all the other bits of an AC system and you'll appreciate why it's false economy not to use it, besides, on the motorway for example a modern AC system will use less fuel than having the windows / sunroof etc open. Nicer environment to drive in as well.

It's one of my pet hates when I hear people going on about "Aircon uses loads of petrol", bollocks it does. Maybe 0.5 mpg in town. I've experimented with the fuel computers on cars I've owned with AC, set the cruise control to ,for example, 60 mph and watched the fuel read out for a mile or two (34.0), then switched the ac off. and done the same (33.8). that was in a Carlton 3.0 24v GSi Auto. Turning the AC off and opening the windows and roof resulted in a 0.6 mpg increase in consumption. (33.4). The 540i BMW stayed exactly the same AC on or off, as do the limousines.