MACS Monthly Newsletter - 2022 - DEC4

Figure 7: Did replacing the valve core and/or the service
cap (properly torqued to seal) and leak checking
after the service cap was reinstalled resolve the leak at
the service port? Replacing the valve core and/or replacing/reinstalling
the service port cap resolved nearly
all service port leaks regardless of the method of leak
detection (electronic sniff er, UV light inspection, educated
guess, etc.).
The information gathered in the June 2021
MACS Field Survey was extremely valuable
to the SAE Task Force studying the issues
with service ports. This information was used
as one of the main drivers in the conclusions
and recommended corrective actions in the
final report.
SAE Informational Report - SAE J3266 Automotive
Air-Conditioning Service Ports Final
Report
At the conclusion its work, the task force published
its final report
Control Standards Committee. In order to make this
report a permanent record and available to the public,
Informational Report SAE J3266 was published.
The recommendations from SAE J3266 fall into
three main categories:
1. Create a new SAE J-standard to define functional
requirements for sealing caps.
2. Create a new SAE J-standard to define functional
requirements for quick-couplers.
3. Update J639 to clarify cap and accessibility
requirements.
The recommended actions
are currently being
evaluated by the SAE Committee, supplier base and
OEM members to move these recommendations forward.
Figure
9: There are at least 7 diff erent cap threads commonly
in use today: M8 with short post, M8 with long
post, M10x.75 with long post, M10x1 with short post,
M10x1.25 with short post, and M9x1 with short post.
to the SAE Interior Climate
Figure 8: What types of damage do you see in the service
port valve core that may cause refrigerant leakage?
The data indicates dirt and/or debris is common inside
the service ports, which is likely caused by missing service
port caps. This was a significant problem. Other
concerns included issues with rubber ball type service
ports, bent valve core pins, corrosion, and loose valve
cores.
Continuing Actions
A new J-standard for sealing caps would define
criteria for caps such as materials, retention mechanisms,
color/label codes, and system pressure requirements.
Ideally, these criteria would reduce the
frustrations in identifying replacement sealing caps.
They would also reduce the service rates of lowcharge
A/C systems, since the A/C system is now
more likely to be properly sealed. While the Japanese
Refrigerant Association (JRA) has made recommendations
on cap threads to be used for R-134a
and R-1234yf, there is no similar recommendation or
requirement from SAE. See Figure 9.
December 2022
4
MACS Service Reports
Steve Schaeber
MACS Monthly Newsletter - 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MACS Monthly Newsletter - 2022
