Handling of Refrigerant Lines and Fittings

A/C Refrigerant Line:

^ Ensure that all metal tubing lines are free of dents or kinks in order to prevent loss of system capacity due to line restriction.
^ Do not bend the flexible hose lines to a radius of less than four times the diameter of the hose.
^ Ensure that the flexible hose lines are not closer than 63.5 mm (2.5 in) to the exhaust manifold.
^ Inspect the flexible hose lines regularly for leaks or brittleness. Replace any deteriorated or leaking lines with new lines.
^ Discharge the refrigeration system of all R-134a before disconnecting any fitting in the system. Refer to Refrigerant Recovery and Recharging.
^ In order to prevent entry of moisture and dirt, perform the following procedure:
1. Open the line to the atmosphere
2. Immediately close the refrigerant line with a cap or tape
^ Tighten all of the tubing connections (1) to the specified torque for the fitting. Too little or too much torque may result in loose joints or deformed joint parts. Either condition may result in refrigerant leakage and an inoperative air conditioning system. Refer to Fastener Tightening Specifications.
^ Ensure that the following components are in perfect condition:
- O-rings (4)
- The seats
^ A burr or a piece of dirt may cause a refrigerant leak. Use mineral base 525 Viscosity refrigerant oil in order to lubricate the new O-rings (4). DO NOT use PAG oil.
^ DO NOT apply Polyalkylene Glycol (PAG) refrigerant oil to the fitting threads. Long term contact of PAG oil on threads may cause future disassembly difficulties. Use mineral base 525 Viscosity refrigerant oil in order to flush the threads.
^ DO NOT use PAG oil. Do not wipe the threads with a cloth.
^ PAG oil will damage painted surfaces.