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The right amount, the right cooling: too little refrigerant reduces cooling power, too much strains the compressor. Find the manufacturer's reference value for the vehicle, learn how to do a rough check with the gauges, and how much refrigerant the system loses per year.
Vehicle data table
Select a make or type a model name. Values are manufacturer reference amounts in grams; the vehicle database in ELCİ service stations brings up the same values automatically during charging.
| Brand | Model | Model year | Charge amount |
|---|
For the exact value, refer to the manufacturer's label in the engine bay; the same model may have different amounts depending on engine, condenser and rear A/C options. Charging must be done to the gram by the unit's scale; never charge by estimate.
In the European Union, all vehicles type-approved from 2011 and all new vehicles sold from 2017 use the low global warming potential refrigerant R1234yf. The charge amounts of these vehicles are usually lower than their R134a predecessors, and the two refrigerants must never be mixed.
Servicing R1234yf vehicles requires a unit configured for this refrigerant. For workshops with a mix of both refrigerants, the EKM MAX 3 Hybrid Multi and ECO 3S Multi models are used, and the ELC‑ID refrigerant identifier is used to be sure which refrigerant is in the system.
| Audi A3 (8V, 2013 →) | 500–550 g |
|---|---|
| Audi A4 (B9, 2016 →) | 500–600 g |
| Citroën C4 III (2021 →) | 550–600 g |
| Ford Focus Mk4 (2019 →) | 600–650 g |
| Hyundai i30 (PD, 2018 →) | 550–600 g |
| Mercedes-Benz C (W205, 2015 →) | 550–600 g |
| Opel Astra K (2016 →) | 550–600 g |
| Peugeot 308 II (2014 →) | 550–600 g |
| Renault Megane IV (2016 →) | 550–600 g |
| Škoda Octavia III (2013–2020) | 550–600 g |
| Toyota Corolla (2019 →) | 550–600 g |
| Volkswagen Golf VII (2013 →) | 550–600 g |
| Volkswagen Passat B8 (2015 →) | 500–600 g |
All R1234yf. The ranges are the lower and upper values given by the manufacturer according to engine and equipment options.
Pressure check
You can make a rough assessment in a few minutes with the service station's gauges. For a definitive result, the refrigerant must be recovered and weighed.
The scale shows approximate ranges for a healthy system running in a warm environment; values rise in hot weather and at high rpm. Pressure only tells you whether refrigerant is present, not how much: if you suspect too little or too much refrigerant, the right way is to recover and weigh the refrigerant and recharge to the manufacturer's value.
Reading with the engine running and the A/C on
If the low pressure side is out of range, check the expansion valve.
Leakage and charging
The A/C circuit is not completely sealed. A few grams are lost naturally every year through the compressor shaft seal, hoses and O‑rings; this also happens in a fault-free system.
In new systems the annual loss is around 52 grams. Considering that a typical passenger car holds 500–700 grams of refrigerant, cooling performance drops noticeably within a few years.
"Topping up" is not the answer: adding refrigerant without knowing how much is in the system ends up either too little or too much, and moisture and air stay inside. The correct sequence is:
If a leak is suspected, the system is pressurised with nitrogen and tested; the leak point is found with UV dye and an electronic detector. To be sure of the refrigerant type and purity, it is analysed with the ELC‑ID before charging; contaminated refrigerant damages the unit's filter and the vehicle's compressor.
System components
Five main components form a closed circuit. Starting from the compressor, the refrigerant follows this path in order and returns from the evaporator to the compressor.
Driven by the engine, it compresses the refrigerant, raising its pressure and temperature. Compressor oil circulates with the refrigerant to lubricate it.
Located at the front of the vehicle, in front of the radiator. It cools the hot, high-pressure gas with the airflow and turns it into liquid.
Traps the moisture and particles in the circuit. It should be replaced every time the system is opened; moisture is the main cause of acid formation.
Suddenly lowers the pressure of the liquid refrigerant to prepare it for evaporation and regulates the amount of refrigerant going to the evaporator.
Located inside the dashboard. As the low-pressure refrigerant evaporates here, it absorbs heat from the cabin air; the cooled air is blown into the cabin.
ELCİ service stations recover, weigh and evacuate the refrigerant, then charge it to the gram at the manufacturer's value from the vehicle database. A printed report is issued after every job.
