re: Car air conditioning doesn't get very cold at idle... Reasons? Update pg 2

Yeah, not trying to do that man... From what I understand the only reason to evac is to determine exactly how much refrigerant that the vehicle currently has... Can you have correct pressures without the proper refrigerant amount? If you can't, seems like someone should just be able to add refrigerant until the pressures are correct

Yes you absolutely can have close to correct pressures with incorrect refrigerant. Dirty coils/lack of airflow can raise or lower pressures to make it seem like correct levels

Considering those automotive systems probably hold less than a lb I’d assume a leak would result in little cooling/freezing in no time at all. Not very familiar with automotive at all though like I originally said

I've heard the exact same

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Considering those automotive systems probably hold less than a lb I’d assume a leak would result in little cooling/freezing in no time at all. Not very familiar with automotive at all though like I originally said

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Most cars are about 15-30 oz.

It all depends on the size of the leak. I have a car that loses about 3 oz a year for the last 4 years. I just add what it needs at the beginning of the spring.

As for using stop leak, I would personally not do it, but "they" say the current quality stop leaks are fine BUT the "good stuff" is expensive.

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seems like someone should just be able to add refrigerant until the pressures are correct

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this is correct...the only thing that matters in a refrigerant system is the proper high-side and low-side refrigerant pressures. be sure you have the proper pressures adjusted for ambient temp and basically, there is nothing more to do.

possibilities from most probable to less.

low freon
weak or non working electric fan
condenser dirty/clogged with debris
sticking expansion valve
compressor internals going bad
too much freon in the system.