a/c advice requested

Did you ask him where this magic condensation comes from? Is it "leaking" in from relatively low atmospheric pressure into a high pressure A/C system? The laws of physics say no. When an A/C system is serviced, just before being re-charged with refrigerant, they pull a vacuum on it to evacuate the moisture from the system. If you had moisture in the system, that's what the drier is for.

He's trying to rip you off, plain and simple. I wouldn't let the son-of-a-bitch touch my car ever again. And I'd probably report this type of activity to the local press. They love going after rip-off people like this, especially in this economy.

Thanks Tim-- That's just about what I thought =97 an attempted rip-off. At this time of year they probably tell their service techs to try it on every customer, and I'll bet they get at least half of them.

Btw, it was a "VALVOLINE Instant Oil Change" that tried to scam me (not a "Penzoil", as I first said).

I'm looking at the computer-print-out receipt right now. It's got the store#, the invoice#, the date and time, the manager's name, the service tech's name, and the "recommend service A/C" box is checked.

It gets even better: There's a section at the bottom which says: "CALL 1-877-208-1171 AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR VISIT". It's connected with a "CHANCE TO WIN $500 IN GAS MONEY SWEEPSTAKES" (in order to get customers to call, I suppose). I believe I will. It'll be interesting to see how the main company handles it.

Jeff

If it works great, the only maintenance you need to do is check the belt that runs the compressor and take a garden hose and clean the condenser that's in front of the radiator. Other than that, never go to that place again. The service manager is trying to rip you off and he's also pressuring all of his employees to rip you off also. Go to You Tube and see some of the rip-offs that Jiffy Lube has done. I would consider this shop no better.

I have wondered about this. If they remove the water vapor from the system before the charge - why do they need the filter/dryer? My guess is that there is a way for moisture to get into the system.

He wants to do a wallet flush. Find an honest mechanic.

Jeff

No, sometimes they don't evacuate the system completely for long enough, which can leave a very small amount of moisture in the system. When I used to do commercial refrigeration calls with my father-in-law, on some of the big R-502 systems, we used to pull vacuums for 24-36 hours. R-12/R-134a systems aren't quite as picky.

The only thing one might want to do at five years is add a bit of oil, unless there is a leak.

I would take the vehicle to a dealership or an AC shop, for ANY service, however.

If your AC quits working, it will be because either the refirgerant ran away from home.... or something in the system broke...

Refrigerant doesn't wear out.... and your oil change guy has tried putting his hand in your pocket. Calling him a "Service Manager" is a lot like calling a burger flipper a "Chef".

Depending on the system, you will find a receiver/drier or a suction accumulator - either one of these will contain a dessicant. In this life, it is rare to find those things that are 100%. And this is why the dessicant is there.... to absorb any moisture that may have escaped the deep vacuum process.

The moisture... The reason we are concerned about it... in a properly functioning system, there will be plenty of the correct lubricant circulating with the refrigerant (we don't use mineral oil any more because it wont carry with R-134a).... the reason we are concerned about moisture is because of the "event horizon". An AC system has either an orofice tube or an expansion valve... it is here where the refrigerant undergoes the change in pressure that results in cooling. If moisture makes it to this point, it will freeze and block off the system....

Your Penzoil store sounds more like a pick-pocket.