I have a question about A/C recharge. I really want to do it myself, and I know that there are specific requirements about the type of refrigerant/oil used. Can I just add Interdynamics Certified A/C Pro Refrigerant 134a for hybrid vehicles? Or do I also need to add FJC 9148 Oil Charge (for hybrids)? I've only ever done the all-in-one charges on other vehicles, and I don't really understand- When do I need oil? Do I only need oil and not refrigerant? Which one do I add first? Do i need to drain it first?
welcome. report your post and ask that it be moved to the gen 2 maintenance and troubleshooting forum, where more expert eyeballs will see it. all the best.
If your system slowly degraded due to a small refrigerant leak, there is no need to add oil. All you need to do is purchase a bottle of R134a (no oil, no leak stop, no leak detection dye). One of those single use setups from AutoZone, etc would work just fine. Oil in a refrigerant system is rarely ever lost due to a slow leak. Only refrigerant is lost. A fast leak on the other hand, will entrain oil as it violently exits the system through a failed component. What you don't want to do is create a situation where you have excess oil in the system.
Attached is an excerpt from Repair Manual, the AC info. Personally? I'd just head for a dealership, prepared to spend about $150.
