07/14/2026
PSA: Every summer we have over 100 people come to us with A/C issues stating they "already tried the little can and it didn't work" or "I had a mobile mechanic try to fix it and he charged the system with a little can" Not only did they waste their hard earned money but it often causes additional problems and increased expenses to the repairs! It's common for the system to be overcharged, damaged fittings requiring line replacement, clogged orifices due to the sealer in the can, and other expensive issues. On top of that, many modern A/C machines test for contaminated refrigerant before evacuating the system and will not remove refrigerant that's contaminated with sealant because it can cause severe damage to the machine. Many shops will refuse to work on your vehicle if youve used those little cans.
No professional will ever use those cans! Ask yourself, if they did work, why would professional shops invest $8-12k in equipment to do the job instead of just buying the diy cans as needed? Quite often, automotive A/C issues are caused by something other than a low refrigerant charge, so adding more refrigerant just creates an additional problem for a shop to figure out which can result in more expensive testing and diagnosis fees. A/C systems are charged with a very specific amount of refrigerant and the only way to correctly charge a system is to entirely evacuate the system and recharge it with that very specific amount.
If you drive a hooptie that you never plan on maintaining, feel free to roll the dice. If you care about your vehicle and want long term results, please take it to a professional.
We sincerely hope this advice helps save some people money in the long run.
