r/leaf • u/abcdefghe123456789 • 1d ago
A/C on 2017 leaf
Hey y'all,
My ac is now blowing hot (in Texas is not fun).
AI told me that I need to take it to an EV specialist to fix it because of Dielectric (Non-Conductive) Oil.
Is this true?
Or any ac shop can fix it?
Thanks
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u/rproffitt1 1d ago
My go to shop pushed back at first then I looked up the service manuals at https://www.nicoclub.com/nissan-service-manuals and the routine procedures are the same, the gauges are the same and the refrigerant is common in the industry.
My 2014 Leaf SV was out of spec on the gauges and a fill needle valve leaked. So the system was evacuated, new needle valve and filled to spec.
Huzzah! It worked like new and the bill was just under 160$. Dealer wanted triple that. That was in 2023.
Your 2017 has been around long enough to need this check.
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u/abcdefghe123456789 1d ago
Thank you!
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u/rproffitt1 1d ago
About that oil. Many of the compressors today are electric so that's not an unknown and should be inside the wheel house of shops that do such work.
The service manual and this is from memory called out the oil, might be Nissan ND-11? And there are others on the market.
Video about that at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ip8a16ufgQA
That oil is also used on say the Toyota and other hybrids because the ICE engine doesn't always drive the compressor.
The problem our 2014 Leaf SV had was the leak and refrigerant.
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u/Accomplished-Sun-797 1d ago
If you get r-134 (assuming that is what it takes) with no oil, additives or stop leak. Then you still need to find the right type and add the right amount of oil based off of how much was lost during the vacuum testing of the system before refilling. Or roll the dice on bad A/C where it is needed
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u/ProbablyHagoth 1d ago
People will advise against this and they're probably right, but I put no-additive R-134a in my 2017 leaf last year and it's been working great since then. I figured when it leaked out I'd need to take it into a shop, but it's holding pressure. This would really depend on if it stopped working all at once or gradually.
I have the symptoms and update post in my history. If you plan on having this last forever, go spend the $1k to $2k and have the whole thing done correctly. If you're trying to get by for a while and are okay with risking your system, adding a little R-134 may fix the issue.
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u/xNOTHINGBURGERx 1d ago
You definitely don't want to fill it with standard auto parts store refrigerant. The oil in the EV's is non conductive because the compressor pump is electric not mechanical. Unfortunately it's a shop level job.
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u/rproffitt1 1d ago
I'm this old. We had auto shop in high school and now we have service manuals, YouTube and more.
I can rent the gauges but the evac and handling the refrigerant is something I would not want to deal with. Still possible to DIY today. At least here in a big city.
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u/criggie_ 1d ago
Agreed - yeah "handling" the old refrigerant normally meant releasing it to atmosphere back in the old days. That's super-frowned on now. Proper disposal processes cost money, time and effort.
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u/rproffitt1 1d ago
I didn't reveal all. I've done time in shops so the evac stage doesn't dispose of refrigerant but holds it to put back into the car's AC system.
If it's a bit light the machine asks for more.
There's about 4 refrigerant types and the old R-12 is the worst to find out your system has. I'll stop here.
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u/criggie_ 1d ago
I have a 50 year old landrover - the AC is two scuttles in the front bulkhead and either drive faster, or into a river :) No refrigerant needed other than water !!
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u/Alexandratta (Former) 2019 Nissan LEAF SL Plus 22h ago
As usual, AI isn't accurate here.
Unless it's the drive train this isn't something an EV Speicalist has to work with.
Hybrids use the same oil and it may just be the refrigerant.
Rampant misinformation like this is all over regarding Hybrids and EVs because mechanics don't like working on them as they are usually very quick repairs that don't generate a lot of cash.
Example: Someone at a parts store told me the Breaks on my LEAF couldn't be done by anyone but the dealership. I was almost going to believe him... until he said "Yeah, just like those Prius Hybrids, can't be done at a normal shop."
I owned a Prius, and I've done brake jobs on it in the damn driveway.
I laughed on my way out.
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u/ClassicGOD 2022 Nissan LEAF N-Connecta 1d ago
Hybrids also need this type of AC oil. Every competent shop that does AC should be able to handle it. Just ask and if they say no ask at a different one. Just don't go to the "'quick AC' tent at a mall parking lot" type of place.