How Do My Car's Air Conditioning and Heating Systems Work?
We appreciate being able to stay warm in our cars during Bradenton, FL winters and cool during Palmetto, FL summers, but our vehicles' air conditioning and heating systems are quite complex. To heat up your car, hot engine coolant is circulated through a small radiator, commonly known as a heater core. A fan in front of the heater core blows cool outside air over the fins. As this air travels through the heater core, it warms up and is then blown out of your heater vents.
Your vehicle's air conditioning system includes the condenser, compressor, expansion valve, and evaporator. Refrigerant or coolant is compressed in the compressor and turns into a hot gas. This hot gas is cooled into a liquid state in the condenser, then travels to the expansion valve. In the expansion valve, the refrigerant turns back into a gas and rapidly cools in the evaporator. A fan blows over the evaporator and cools the air that blows out of your vents. If any parts of your vehicle's heating or air conditioning systems are damaged, it can affect the entire system. If you sense a problem, feel free to bring your car or truck to Suncoast Auto Repair Inc in Manatee County today.
The Problem with R12
For refrigerant to work effectively, it needs to have a low boiling point and be in a gaseous state at room temperature, while being easily pressurized as a liquid. In the early 1930s, a refrigerant called chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) was developed and named R12 or Freon. Although R12 met all the requirements for a refrigerant, it was found to significantly reduce the Earth's ozone layer. Starting in 1987, the use of R12 began to be phased out and was completely discontinued by 1994.
Welcoming R134a
Automotive manufacturers began using tetrafluoromethane, or R134a (also known as Freon), a refrigerant that does not have the ozone-destroying properties of R12. However, this transition introduced a lubricant issue. Air conditioning compressors require oil because they are continuously moving. This oil must dissolve into the refrigerant and be compatible with it. As a result, R134a manufacturers started selling Polyalkylene Glycol, or PAG Oil. Today, R134a is used in many vehicles' air conditioning systems, including those from Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.
Your Quality Shop for R134a Freon AC Repair
At Suncoast Auto Repair Inc in Bradenton, FL, 34203, we are experts in all things auto repair and can efficiently and cost-effectively repair your R134a Freon AC. Reasons You Should Do Business With Us:
- Transparency
- Honesty
- Integrity
- We are Experts
- Years of Experience
We have been fixing cars since 2003 and prioritize top-quality customer service above all else. Our mission is to exceed your expectations by earning your trust and providing the most reliable, honest, and courteous service available. We have a review score of 100 based on feedback from 102 satisfied customers. If you are in Bradenton, Palmetto, FL, Sarasota, FL, Lakewood Ranch, Ellenton, FL, or surrounding areas, feel free to call us at 941-727-5506 or go online to schedule an appointment! Suncoast Auto Repair Inc - Finally, an honest Mechanic.