Recently my AC was drained due to a minor break in the dryer lines. All my R-12 leaked. Now I got my hands on a couple of cans and I want to recharge my system. Any pointers? Do i need to add an oil into the Ac unit before the R12?

 

If your AC system has been open than you need to evacuate the system. Which is running a vacuum pump to remove any moisture from the system, recomended time to evacuate the system is 30 min.

 

I'd change the drier first if it was me, but that might not be entirely necessary.
Then I would add a small can of compressor oil in first, then the R-12.
Just make damned sure you hook into the low pressure line, too of course!

 

Oh, and make sure the feds don't come by and catch you using R-12

 

Actually, just about anyone can get and use R-12. Last summer I got "certified" online for about $15, if I remember correctly. Got a cert in the mail, too. That's good enough to buy all the R-12 I want.. doesn't say anything to the effect that I don't know what I'm doing, though.

 

I found a couple old cans down in my basement from my father I guess, I used enough to fill my system back up w/o doing any oil or evacuating. It worked, not the coldest A/C but better than nothing. I have a feeling that the A/C might be going here pretty soon anyway. There is a Track Auto price tag on them, $1.49.