How often should I recharge my car AC?

Never, on a healthy system. Automotive AC is a sealed loop — refrigerant isn't consumed like oil or fuel, so if it's low it leaked out, and a recharge without finding the leak is a seasonal rental, not a repair. Most systems do lose a very small amount over many years through hose permeation, so a car that needs a top-up once a decade is normal. A car that needs one every summer has a real leak, usually at an O-ring, the condenser, or the compressor shaft seal — and every recharge pumps more moisture and dye into a system that will eventually cost you a compressor.

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