STP

FAQ's

A/C Systems

It could be many reasons, but one of the most common reasons is a low refrigerant charge caused by a leak in the system. Taking the low-side pressure reading is the only way to tell if the system is blowing warmer air due to missing refrigerant. Therefore, it is important to check the A/C system pressure BEFORE you add additional gas into a system.

The refrigerant gas used in a vehicle’s A/C system is dependent on the model of the car and/or the manufacture year. To check which refrigerant gas your vehicle uses, locate the manufactures identification sticker under your bonnet.

To find the low-side port, first locate the A/C compressor. Two metal tubes come out of the compressor. The smaller tube is a high pressure line that runs to the front towards the radiator. The larger diameter tube which runs back towards the passenger compartment is the low pressure line. Follow this until you find the port. Some service port caps are marked with a “L” and “H” to distinguish between the high and low ports.

Readings between 45°-60°F indicate a properly charged system.

STP® Air-Con Cleaner cleans and deodorizes automotive air conditioning systems, including the vents, ducts, evaporator core, and drain pan. It effectively eliminates odours caused by microbes while providing a clean, fresh scent.

Topping up/ Refrigerants

YES! The STP® Air-Con range allows you to properly maintain and service A/C systems without the need for expensive equipment and training. This 10- minute A/C recharge job is as simple as the rest of your car maintenance: checking oil, tyre pressures and topping up screen wash.

You need to wear gloves for a couple of reasons:
1) As you release refrigerant from the can into your vehicle’s A/C system, the can will become very cold to the touch
2) You are working around a running vehicle. There will be hot surfaces that could possibly burn you. In order to protect your hands from the cold can and possible burns, always wear cloth-lined gloves as well as safety eyewear.

Refrigerant does not break down, expire or get used up. If the A/C system is low on refrigerant, it’s because there is a leak! If your car is more than five years old, then chances are that the O-rings and gaskets have become brittle and inelastic causing small leaks throughout the system. STP® Auto Freeze, EZ Chill or Advanced R-1234yf Auto Air Con Recharge can help top up lost refrigerant and restore cold air. Check which refrigerant gas your vehicle uses by locating the manufactures identification sticker under your bonnet.

Yes, not only is overcharging your system potentially dangerous, an overcharged system will not function properly and can seriously damage your A/C compressor or other components. The symptom of an overcharged A/C system is exactly the same as a system that is undercharged: warm air coming out of the vents. In order to prevent overcharging, it is important that you measure the A/C system pressure before charging and follow the respective instructions as per the reading. If your A/C system is overcharged, seek professional assistance to have the excess refrigerant recovered from the A/C System.

1.FIND PORT

  • Do not start the engine. Always connect and disconnect with engine off.
  • Locate the A/C low side service port.
  • Wearing googles and gloves, unscrew the dust cap and attach the STP® Reusable Trigger & Gauge by pressing down the coupler on the low side port. The coupler will only fit on the low-side port – do not force.
  • If reading is zero, this indicates there may be an abnormal leak in the system. Do not attempt to add refrigerant. Seek professional advice from a mechanic.

2. MEASURE

  • Start the engine
  • Set A/C to maximum cooling and activate recirculation mode.
  • Check that the A/C compressor is running, listen and watch the clutch engaging. Allow for the engine to run 2 minutes.
  • Without pressing the trigger, check the gauge reading and compare to the chart below. If the PSI reading is in the white sector (5-25psi), charge the A/C system following instructions in step 3.

3.CHARGE

  • Remove coupler from port with engine switched off.
  • Screw the canister of STP® EZ Chill or STP® Auto Freeze Air-Con Recharge into the trigger dispenser ??” do not overtighten.
  • Reconnect the coupler to the low side port and restart the engine.
  • Shake the canister and squeeze the trigger while rotating the can from the 12 to 3 o’clock position to disperse the can contents.
  • Check the pressure every 30 seconds by releasing the trigger. Continue the process, frequently releasing the trigger to check system pressure until gauge reads ‘filled’ (needle is in green zone). BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERCHARGE YOUR SYTEM. Do not let the needle past the green zone.
  • Once completed, pull the coupler up and replace cap on the low service port.

4.STORAGE

  • Once the trigger is connected to a canister, do not remove until can is completely empty.
  • Canisters contain gas under pressure which may explode if heated. Store in well ventilated place and protect from sunlight. IMPORTANT: ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES AND SAFETY GOGGLES

1.FIND PORT & REMOVE CAP

  • Do not start the engine. Always connect and disconnect with engine off.
  • Locate the A/C low side service port. The low side port is located on the larger diameter aluminium tubing, between the evaporator and compressor.
  • Wearing goggles and gloves, unscrew the protective dust cap and connect the STP® R-1234yf Gauge and Hose by pressing down the coupler on the low side port. NB: The coupler will only fit on the low side port – do not force.
  • If reading is zero, this indicates there may be an abnormal leak in the system. Do not attempt to add refrigerant. Seek professional advice.
  • Disconnect the coupler from the low side port. 2.MEASURE
  • Prepare the STP® R-1234yf Advanced Auto Air-Con Recharge canister by removing valve protection cap and attaching the gauge. This product has a left handed thread. This means you will turn counter clockwise to tighten. Do not overtighten.
  • Connect the coupler by pressing it into the low side service port.
  • Start the engine and set A/C to maximum cool with system on re-circulate. Allow to run for two minutes.
  • Check gauge reading without pressing the trigger and refer to the pressure chart below for diagnosis. If PSI reading is in the white sector (5-25psi), charge the system.

3.CHARGE

  • Squeeze the trigger to dispense can contents.
  • Look and listen for the sound of an abnormal leak. IF AN ABNORMAL LEAK IS FOUND, STOP ADDING REFRIGERANT.
  • Hold canister upright to charge and rotate between 12 o’clock to 3 o’clock, continually agitating (shaking) the canister every 30 seconds.
  • Continue process, frequently releasing trigger to check system pressure against pressure gauge chart, until gauge reads FILLED (green sector ??” system the correct amount of charge). A thermometer reading of below 10°C indicates system is charged. During the charging step, system pressure readings should be taken when the compressor is running. DO NOT OVERCHARGE.
  • Once completed, pull the coupler up and replace cap on the low service port.

4.STORAGE & HANDLING

  • Once the trigger is connected to the canister, do not remove until can is completely empty.
  • Canisters contains gas under pressure which may explode if heated. Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. IMPORTANT: ALWAYS WEAR GLOVES AND SAFETY GOGGLES

STP® Auto Freeze and STP® EZ Chill are R-134a refrigerants, specially formulated with an advanced additives package to help top up lost refrigerant and restore cold air to an automotive air conditioning system. The patented ICE 32® additives package contains active chemistry to help remove deposit build up on the interiors of A/C system pipes and tubes, therefore increasing the cooling efficiency. The specially designed formula also includes leak sealers and O-ring conditioners to help minimise refrigerant loss and prolong A/C system performance. Using STP® Auto Freeze and STP® EZ Chill Air-con Recharge is easy. This 10-minute recharge job is as simple as the rest of your car maintenance: checking engine oil, the tyre pressure, replacing screen wash.

STP® R-1234yf Advanced Auto Air-Con Recharge is a R-1234yf refrigerant, specially formulated with an advanced additives package to help top up lost refrigerant and restore cold air to an automotive air conditioning system. The specially designed formula contains premium compressor lubricant to reduce friction on seals and metal components which help extend the vehicle’s A/C system life. It also includes UV dye to detect leaks in metal & rubber components, helping identify areas where refrigerant is escaping from the system. Using STP® R-1234yf Advanced Auto Air-Con Recharge is easy. This 10-minute recharge job is a simple as the rest of your car maintenance: checking engine oil, the tyre pressure, replacing screen wash.

Check your A/C system pressure using a STP® Reusable Trigger & Gauge or STP® R-1234yf Gauge & Hose and determine whether a top up of refrigerant is required. If the pressure reading indicates the A/C system is low on refrigerant, it is possible that there is a small leak. This will allow the system to blow cold, but just not as cold as it has before. Topping up the system with additional refrigerant will help restore cold air in this instance. If the A/C system pressure is correct, adding additional refrigerant will not make the system blow out colder air. On the contrary, it will overcharge the A/C system and result in warmer air blowing from the vents.

We recommend using STP® Reusable Trigger & Gauge or STP® R-1234yf Gauge & Hose to determine the accurate fill. Without knowing what the system’s pressure is, you could easily overcharge the system causing warm air to blow from the vents and causing damage to your A/C system. Our color-coded pressure gauges indicate whether you should continue filling (charging) or not.

Hybrid Vehicles

In 2020, we are launching a hybrid and EV vehicle compatible formula for STP® Auto Freeze and STP® EZ Chill Air-Con Recharge. Check the front of the label on either product to confirm whether your canister contains the Hybrid & EV vehicle compatible formula.

No, currently STP® R-1234yf Advanced Auto Air-Con Recharge is not hybrid or EV compatible.

Super Seal Stop-Leak

Automotive A/C systems are closed systems that are subject to harsh weather and road conditions. Your A/C has plenty of places for leaks to occur – in metal components like the condenser, evaporator, accumulator or receiver/drier; as well as in the rubber components like hoses, O-rings and gaskets. The refrigerant in your vehicle’s system only gets lower because the system has developed a leak, which over time, causes you to feel warmer air blowing from the vents. Typically, refrigerant leaks occur in cars that are over five years old because the rubber O-rings and gaskets that seal the different components of the system have become brittle and dried out, allowing the refrigerant in the system to leak past. Using STP® Reusable Trigger & Gauge or STP® R-1234yf Gauge & Hose allows you to measure the A/C system pressure to determine whether refrigerant has leaked from the system.

While in the air conditioning system, STP® Super Seal remains a liquid lubricant and contains additives to penetrate and rejuvenate O-rings, gaskets, and other rubber connectors to prevent leakage. The chemical formula also includes a drying agent that eliminates any moisture that may occur inside the air conditioner. In metal components, refrigerant leaves the system through the leak and chills the outside air, resulting in condensation. This moisture activates STP® Super Seal fluid to form a scab on the exterior of the metal component and patch up the leaking area.

STP® Super Seal is designed for use in R-134a A/C systems. It is not compatible with vehicles that have R-12 or R-1234yf systems.

One can of STP® Super Seal is all you need to seal pinhole-sized leaks in your system. If the system is leaking slowly and holds a charge for more than two weeks, STP® Super Seal should seal the leak(s). However, if your A/C system cannot hold a charge for 24 hours, this may indicate an abnormal/large leak. Seek assistance from a qualified technician in this situation.

A canister of STP® Super Seal contains enough fluid to seal multiple pin-sized holes in both metal and rubber components in a single application. However, if your A/C system cannot hold a charge for two weeks, there may be an abnormal/large leak. Seek assistance from a qualified technician in this situation.

STP® Super Seal will take effect within one day of installation.

It depends on the nature of the leak but any leak fixed by STP® Super Seal during a recharge will create a permanent bond that will last approximately 12 months of A/C usage. In addition, STP® Super Seal will continue to flow through the A/C system as a lubricant and seal any new leaks that may develop, which makes it great for preventative maintenance.

One can of STP® Super Seal is all you need to seal pinhole-sized leaks in your system. In order to determine the size of your leak, use the following rule of thumb: If your car can hold a refrigerant charge for two weeks before blowing warm again, then STP® Super Seal will be able to patch your leak. If your vehicle is losing refrigerant in less than two weeks, then you may have an abnormal leak and using two cans of STP® Super Seal will not help. In this case, you should seek help from a qualified mechanic.

No. The chemical formulation remains in a liquid state inside the A/C system until it detects moisture at the leak point and self-seals. STP® Super Seal contains a drying agent to prevent any sealing activity while in the system.

1. Start engine and set A/C to maximum cooling with system on re-circulate. Allow to run for 2 minutes, ensuring the air conditioner’s compressor is running and clutch is engaging.
2. Turn air conditioner & engine off.
3. Turn the valve handle of the recharge hose counter clockwise until the piercing stem is in the up-right position. This will prevent the accidental piercing of the STP® Super Seal can. Caution: do not add STP® Super Seal through a manifold gauge & hose set. Use only enclosed recharge hose.
4. Carefully screw the top of the STP® Super Seal can onto the end of the recharge hose with the valve hand.
5. Locate the low side service port and remove the protective dust cap. The low side port is located on the larger diameter aluminium tubing, between the evaporator and compressor.
6. With the A/C switched off and whilst wearing goggles and gloves, pull back the sleeve and attach the hose by pressing the coupler down onto the low side port. Make sure fitting is tight. NB: the coupler will only fit low side port ??” do not force.
7. Holding the can up-right, turn the valve handle on the recharge hose clockwise until the piercing stem has punctured the canister. 8. Turn the valve handle counter clockwise, until you hear the refrigerant moving from the car A/C system into the STP® Super Seal can.
9. Wait 10 seconds and turn valve handle clockwise to close valve. 10. Do not remove the can, but shake the canister to allow refrigerant to mix with STP® Super Seal.
11. Start engine and set A/C to maximum cooling with system on re-circulate.
12. Holding the can in an upside-down position above the service port, turn the valve counter clockwise. Shake lightly until can is empty.
13. Disconnect the recharge hose from the low-side service port.
14. Ensuring there is no residue in the can, disconnect the can from the recharge hose and discard. Turn the valve handle on the recharge hose until the piercing stem is in the up position.
15. To prevent STP® Super Seal from sealing the service port, immediately flush the charging port with STP® EZ Chill or STP® Auto Freeze recharge product.
16. Allow the A/C system to run for 15 minutes to let the STP® Super Seal and refrigerant circulate.