Car TalkCar MaintenanceCar ACCar AC Stop Leak Good or Bad? Deciphering the Dilemma!

Car AC Stop Leak Good or Bad? Deciphering the Dilemma!

It’s the first real scorcher of the year. You crank up your car’s AC, brace for that icy blast, and get… a puff of lukewarm, disappointing air. Your heart sinks, thinking of a huge repair bill. But then you see it on the shelf: a simple can of Car AC Stop Leak promising a quick, cheap fix. Is it the solution you’re searching for?

Let’s break down the real story behind this tempting product.

Car AC Stop Leak Good Or Bad: How The Sealer Functions?

The AC stop leak works when injected into the system as a liquid. This liquid reaches the leaky area and becomes a coating there that works as a seal to prevent further leakage. Now, the sealer liquid turns into a layer only at the leak because the moisture is present there. When the sealer reacts with the moisture, it becomes a seal.

car air conditioner leak sealant
The AC stop leak works when injected into the system as a liquid (Photo: Errecom Shop)

Car AC Stop Leak Good Or Bad: What Is The Real Problem With The Sealer?

As we just discussed, the liquid acts with the moisture and becomes solid to form a seal. The liquid, however, does not know how to distinguish the water at the leak from water that is already in the system. It just becomes solid once it meets the moisture!

Now, as you can imagine, if this liquid solidifies at a spot where it should not be, it acts as an obstruction. This, as a result, obstructs the overall airflow of the Air Conditioner system and ruins the matter even more.

This is why people often ask, “car AC stop leak good or bad.” If things do not work well, the sealer can make you spend even more money than you would have while using an alternative in the first place.

A simple leak that might have been a $200 O-ring replacement can instantly become a $1,500+ job requiring a full system flush and replacement of multiple components. This is why many professional mechanics will refuse to work on a vehicle, because if they know it has a stop leak in it, it can ruin their expensive recovery machines.

So, What Is The Solution Eventually?

ac stop leak for cars
AC stop leak for cars (Photo: Jonny DIY/youtube)

Since the sealer may create bigger problems for the AC system, it does not mean you should stop using it. If applied properly, the sealer can actually make the leak stop without damaging any component. Whether it is about the throw-out bearing problem or a bad fuel pump relay, visit maintenance tips and solve your car’s issues.

Start by evacuating the system and replacing the accumulator. Get a vacuum and suck any remaining moisture there. Once you are done with these two things, you should be good to go with the sealer. An emptied system does not contain any water or moisture in between, and hence the liquid solidifies at the right spot.

Conclusion

If you do not proceed with the evacuation process before applying the sealer, you may face certain circumstances. If this is the case, the further recovery of the machine can be really expensive, and sometimes, the professionals even deny performing the recovery.

It is advised that one should not go without confirming that there is no moisture left. If you are not sure about using the sealer, it is okay to use alternatives or take the car to the professionals before you go down the drain. We hope we have cleared your doubt about “car AC stop leak good or bad.”

Tsukasa Azuma
Tsukasa Azuma
Tsukasa Azuma is the resident car expert at Car From Japan. He owns a car repair shop in downtown Osaka, and his years of hands-on experience shine through in his informative blog posts. Tsukasa provides top-notch car maintenance tips and keeps readers up-to-date on the latest trends in the auto industry, offering a unique and insightful perspective on everything car-related. His blog has become a go-to resource for anyone wanting to keep their car in top shape.
RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular