Our AC system SUCKS

He put dye in it...

 

Then you should be able to locate the leak with a UV Light and glasses.

 

Am I doing the right thing by opting to put potentially hundreds of dollars into 2010 Taco with almost 85K miles? I think I am...

 

That is nothing. But only you can answer that question for yourself.

 

None? I'm not sure what regular service is. It is not changing the oil if that's what you mean. The system holds 5.6 oz, iirc. So, adding any oil would just be a guessing game.

 

I'm attached to my truck; It was a gift from my dad. My truck has new brakes all around (Front brakes in March 2018 and rear brakes last month), new tires (October 2017), Subwoofer and amplifer (March 2018) Window tint (July 5th, 2018). I've got a clear Pennsylvania title in my name, and my goal is to drive my Tacoma until at least 2025 so I can save up for a house and not have to worry about monthly payments on a vehicle...

 

@Jimmyh

Random question...

Should my A/C condenser be hot? Like REALLY effin' hot?!?!

 

Obviously not boiling, but hot enough that I can't stand to touch it for very long. I've never even felt the outdoor condensers on my parents' central air get that hot!

 

The hotter it is, the harder it's working.
It means it's working normally.

 

It gets so cold in my truck when I'm actually driving (45+ MPH) that any female passengers not wearing a bra could end up being rather embarrassed...

At idle however, like the OP said, it's rather lackluster!

 

Because as stated the condenser is essentially removing the heat from the cab and taking it outside where it can be cooled by ambient air.
At speed there is enough airflow over the condenser to remove the heat but while stopped and at idle the stock fan/clutch combo doesnt pull enough airflow through the condenser to cool it sufficiently and because of that ac efficiency decreases.

 

At this point I'm glad I have A/C, period!

Until recently, one of my coworkers drove a shitty '96 Ford Ranger. It had no A/C and the heat didn't work!

 

They are independent systems but I see where you are coming from.
First of all the temp gauge on the truck wont rise until you are way overtemped.
2nd. The radiator will get more airflow while stopped than the condenser because it is closest to the fan and the condenser is not sealed to the radiator.
3rd. As long as the radiator can lower temps to 20 or so degrees below the engine thermostat temp then the engine will not overheat. Stock thermostat is around 182° iirc.

I dont know what temp the condenser needs to be below for max efficiency but it's probably below 160°F.

 

No need for the f-bombs...

 

I put that in the wrong post...

6am and I'm barely awake...

 

115 F right now. While stopped my AC completely shuts off. Confirmed the AC on these trucks sucks.

Last year when it was this hot out in Arizona, my engine got to 220 F and trans 240 F. I am happy to report atleast my CSF radiator is keeping my temps way down. 204 Engine 200 Trans.

 

Where are you at that it's 115? It's not even that hot here.

 

111*f out right now here in thousand oaks area.... today is gonna be a record breaking day for sure, way way to hot for the area compared to the average.

That stated, completely stock AC system and engine cooling system... AC froze me out of my truck on speed 3 and recirc.

AC does not shut off when the truck is stopped, works just fine at idle.

 

Southern California. Winchester area.

I think I am going to buy a new condenser. Some may see it as throwing parts at the truck, but I think mine might just suck. My stock radiator was pretty jacked up when I replaced it. I wish I would have payed more attention to the condenser when I was in there.

Even revving the truck up didn’t get it to blow “cold”. It basically went from not working at all blowing hot air, to blowing more of a luke warm/ barely cool air.

 

Big plate bumper and supercharger arent helping you out there. Honestly before id buy a condensor, id try to move the inner cooler out of the way to see what the condensor looks like, and if it looks good get a supplemental fan that will fit to push air at least through a portion of the frontal area.