A/C Refrigerant
The chemical fluid used in the air conditioning system to absorb and release heat, cooling the cabin.
A/C refrigerant (commonly known by brand names like Freon) is the working fluid used in a vehicle's air conditioning system. The chemical properties of refrigerant allow it to evaporate and condense easily at specific pressures, absorbing heat from the cabin air and releasing it outside.
Modern vehicles use R-134a or the newer, eco-friendly R-1234yf refrigerant. The refrigerant circulates in a closed loop, pressurized by the compressor into a hot gas, cooled into a liquid by the condenser, and expanded into a freezing gas inside the evaporator to cool the cabin air.
If the A/C system develops a leak, refrigerant will escape, reducing the system's cooling efficiency until the air blows warm. Because refrigerant is regulated and can damage the environment, A/C leaks must be diagnosed and repaired by certified technicians before recharging the system.