The Importance of High-Pressure Seals
The vast majority of slow refrigerant leaks in a car's AC system occur at connection points where a hose meets a component, or where two metal pipes connect. At these points, small rubber O-rings, seals, or gaskets are responsible for holding the system's high operating pressure.
Over time, these rubber components degrade, harden, shrink, or crack due to constant temperature changes and exposure to oil and pressure. Even the smallest flaw in a seal can lead to a slow but steady loss of gas, compromising your cooling efficiency and potentially causing major damage to your compressor if the oil level drops too low.
Our Pretoria technicians specialise in diagnosing these small leaks and using the correct tools and seals to ensure a perfect, durable fit.
Our Precision Replacement Service
Finding a leak in a seal requires patience and precision. We meticulously inspect all common failure points during our diagnostics, including:
- Pipe and Hose Connections: Checking the O-rings at the condenser, compressor, and evaporator connection points.
- Compressor Seals: Inspecting the main shaft seal and body gaskets on the compressor unit itself.
- Service Ports: Replacing the Schrader valves and seals in the high and low-pressure service ports, which are common but often overlooked leak sources.
- Gasket Surfaces: Ensuring components like the accumulator/drier have fresh, correctly torqued gaskets.
Whenever we replace an O-ring or seal, we use components specifically designed for the high pressures and temperatures of R134a and R1234yf systems. This small, cost-effective repair is often the key to resolving chronic refrigerant loss and getting your car AC running reliably in Pretoria.