Click for resolution optionsJust as osmosis will cause a commercial truck tire to lose an average of 2 pounds of pressure a month, it will have a similar effect on the refrigerant charge in your vehicle’s air conditioning system.
Refrigerant hoses are made of rubber, a permeable substance. Over time, R-134a will pass through minute openings in the rubber and the air conditioning system will lose its charge.
“The result is poor cooling performance and a lack of lubrication for the A/C compressor,” says Robert Gardiner, marketing manager at Red Dot Corp. Based in Seattle, Red Dot designs and manufactures heating and air-conditioning systems, components, and replacement parts for heavy trucks and other commercial vehicles.
This gradual loss of charge is why Red Dot emphasizes the use of high-quality refrigerant hoses and fittings. An example is the AeroQuip E-Z Clip system. It requires no power tools and quickly produces a durable, flexible hose and fitting.
Available in 50-foot lengths, E-Z Clip GH134 Multi-Refrigerant hose has a stainless steel outer braid with a nylon inner tube and is specifically designed to reduce refrigerant permeation in heavy-duty air-conditioning systems. E-Z Clip fittings are available in a variety of configurations.
“E-Z Clip is as easy to use as a pair of pliers,” says Gardiner. “It’s a great way to standardize hoses and hose assemblies across an entire fleet without a major investment in equipment or training.”
He adds that Red Dot packages the most common fittings in the E-Z Clip Starter Kit, which includes 50 feet of hose, hose-cutting and connection tools, and a carrying case. The kits are available through more than 175 Red Dot distributors in the United States and Canada.
“Typically, hoses and fittings are weak links in the air conditioning system, providing opportunities for refrigerant to escape,” Gardiner says. “The AeroQuip E-Z Clip system delivers a simple, secure, cost-effective connection that’s easy to make on any vehicle, anywhere.”