Automotive A/C Stop Leak

[Gary from Muleshoe]

Any of you guys ever use and had any success with A/C Stop Leak? I have a 98 Ford Ranger that seems to have a slow leak in the system. I don't want to spend and arm and a leg to fix it. I have heard that there is some stuff called Rad Angle that is good but I have no way of putting it in as it comes in a bottle. How about something that is under pressure that I could put in myself. Thanks for your advice on this.
 

[RickyB]

I got a can of A/C stop leak at Wally world and it worked great.
 

[Greg K]

I tried it in a 2004 Caravan with no sucess. My opinion is snake oil, but that was my opinion before I bought it.
 

[ss55]

I've had success with stop/leak refrigerant for small leaks. I recharged the A/C system on a 1996 Pontiac Bonneville at least 8 years ago and it's worked well since then.

After a GM dealership had replaced a bad compressor the A/C system leaked out over the following winter. They "fixed it" the following summer and it still leaked some. The following year I got a cheap $20 single gage recharging kit with one can of stop leak and UV dye at an auto parts store, (Interdynamics brand #RGM-2CS). I topped it off with regular refrigerant (R134a?). It's not the "proper" way to do it, but it still works fine and I haven't added any more refrigerant in eight years. I'm happy with that.
 

[Gambles]

My opinion is to use the stuff if you never want to ever work on the system again. If it works, great. If it doesn't work, you will be replacing about everything because of the stop-leak that is inside the system and there is really no good, easy way to ever get the stuff out again.
 

[JDseller]

If you put it in you had better hope it fixes it. Once the stuff is in the system there is no easy way to get it out. It will ruin a reclaimer or even a vacuum pump. I hooked up to a combine system last year that had it in it. It cost me $1200 bucks to get my AC reclaimer repaired. I now have filters in the system that are supposed to catch the stuff.

If I find the stuff in a AC system then I will only repair it by replacing the entire system. I have tried to flush it out with all kinds of solvents and have not found one that will work. They tell me that the stuff reacts with oxygen and that is how it works. If the system goes completely empty and gets oxygen in it it turns into s sticky glue like substance.

I would try to find the leak or just top it off with R-134 every now and then. R-134 is not that high priced.

My 1990 Dodge pickup has a small leak in it. I can't find it. It will hold charge for about 6-8 weeks. So I just add a little and keep driving.
 

[Dean]

I will not touch the stuff nor work on any system unless I am CERTAIN that it has not been used therein.

Dean
 

[Jake 2]

The real question is:

If it doesn't work....How do you get it out ?


Jake 2
 

[showcrop]

I used it on a tractor system and it seemed to do the trick. Next year it wasn't working right again and I took it to a shop. They ended up replacing the receiver-dryer which was plugged up. It cost a lot more than it would have to track down and repair the original leak.
 

[jackinok]

i tried it in my 99 chevy pu that had a very slow leak(had to put in about half a can beginning every summer).made the problem way worse.I "think" it stopped up the reciever/dryer. at least thats what it acts like.I kind of put it on the back burner since i drive that truck very little,but i still have the original problem and made it worse.
 

[glennster]

i dont use it at all. it can plug up an a/c recycling machine. to find a leak, stop buy any autoparts store and get a u/v leak detector kit. it will have a 4 ounce can of dye shots, a pair of yellow saftey glasses and a pen type u/v flashlight. charge the system and then add a 3 second dye shot to the system. run it for a few days, then use the u/v light and glasses to locate the leak. the dye will show the leak right away. the kit is about 30 dollars.
 

[Gary from Muleshoe]

Thanks guys I believe I will just trace our the leak next spring. In the mean time I am gonna unplug the compressor.
 

[wsmm]

I've heard bad things about A/C sealers per say. I did however try a product that was refrigerant, seal re conditioner and dye in my 2000 Jeep Cherokee at the beginning seems to be holding the charge and running cold. of this year. So far it has worked great, I'm not sure I would use a stop leak after reading the information and cautions on the can.
 

[Gary from Muleshoe]

What was the brand name of the product you used?