A/C Recharge for R12

[Nicholas R]

You should really spend an hour or so watching A/C recharging videos on youtube. You need to understand what you're looking at, and the differences when the engine is running vs. not running, the compressor cycling vs. not cycling, etc., as well as what you should expect from the gauges. There's nothing overly specific to the DeLorean that say you can only get your information from this forum. It's good to ask specifics here, but overall AC theory (which you need to learn) is consistent across all cars.

The concern you see expressed in this thread is that you will damage something, or worse, hurt yourself. It's not personal. There are extreme pressures at play here. Simply attaching a can of refrigerant to the wrong side of the compressor could cause it to explode in your hand. On a car converted to R134 this is much less of a concern because a low pressure side charging hose wont fit on a high pressure side fitting. However, being that your car is still R12 with the same fittings on both the high and low sides, this is a very real possibility if you don't know what you're doing.

Similarly, overcharging the system can damage the compressor due to pressure extremes. Charging too fast can damage the compressor, as the liquid can enter the cylinders instead of a gas, and the liquid can also wash out the compressor lubricant. Not having enough lubricant in the system can damage the compressor.

There are times when you can jump into a car project with no knowledge and learn as you go. This may be one of those cases, but only provided that you understand the risks associated and have done your homework. In the end, no one on this forum is going to take responsibility if you hurt yourself or the car. Only you can be responsible for yours and the car's well being.