As Mark Bristow, Technical Director at ISN Garage Assist, noted, it is during the periods where motorists use A/C less that the opportunities start to present themselves: “During the winter, few drivers consider having their A/C serviced, but it’s always worth offering to check the A/C when a vehicle is in for a service. He continued: “Over time, refrigerant can seep out of the seals and moisture can build up inside the system. Running the system when it is short on refrigerant doesn’t just mean you won’t reach the required temperature. More importantly, having the A/C pump constantly running will then put extra strain on the components leading to a potential failure. It could also cause higher fuel consumption. Moisture build up inside the air con system, corroding the internals, degrading the performance and leading to failures; an A/C system needs maintaining just like any other part of a vehicle. “It’s always worth checking the drive belt for the A/C pump, just in case it needs replacing. Also, looking after your refrigerant is key to cost control. When you fill the equipment with new refrigerant, make sure you note how much has gone in, and when and ensure the virgin gas is returned to a secure area.” He added: “AC/ refrigerant is expensive, so remember to watch the amount of refrigerant being used to highlight any issues with working practices that may be costing you refrigerant. Lastly, don’t attempt to fill a system that has a leak, not only is it illegal to knowingly release refrigerant into the atmosphere, it’s also expensive. If you see the 48 AFTERMARKET MAY 2023 AIR CONDITIONING www.aftermarketonline.net refrigerant leaking out, you will have lost a lot before you are able to recover what’s left in the system.” For more information, Visit: https://bit.ly/40oqw9a A/C system servicing As David Kaiser, Head of R&D and Application Technology at LIQUI MOLY observed, the air conditioning system needs to be serviced like any other part of the car: “The air conditioning system should be disinfected at least once a year, preferably in Spring before the season in which the air conditioning is used most frequently begins. Ideally it should be cleaned every six months, i.e. in Spring and Autumn.” Looking at DIY options for drivers, David said: “The AirConditioning Cleaner for cars is a disinfection spray with a long probe that is sprayed directly onto the evaporator. This type of cleaning can be carried out by car owners themselves. However, the outcome is vastly different compared with what professionals can achieve in a garage. They are more thorough because they clean the evaporator.” David continued: “Direct access to the evaporator and being able to clean it is crucial for an effective air conditioning service. Any cleaning methods that do not require direct access to the evaporator are not thorough enough. Condensation creates a pleasant environment for bacteria and mold, which multiply here and are then catapulted into the passenger compartment by the blowers. This not only creates an unpleasant odor, but can also trigger allergies. Having the air conditioning professionally Above: megacool 320 Aircon Recharge Unit from Hofmann Megaplan TAKING ON THE SYSTEM With systems changing as cars evolve, there is a lot to think about around air conditioning
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