Review on 🌡️ XtremepowerUS Refrigeration Manifold Gauge Vacuum by Lawrence Allison

Bought to charge after replacing parts in my truck's air conditioning. The vacuum pump works as expected and is quiet enough that none of my neighbors have complained. Also, it quickly brought my system down to -30 HG, which apparently means "vacuum". Unfortunately, it only took 5 seconds to lose that vacuum by closing the manifold lines. Oh no! Read the instructions, repeat the cycle, same result. Check all available system connections, repeat cycle, same result. Looks like I'll have to take it all apart and start over. So yes, a lot of crap. Well thank goodness web forums and cranky old HVAC guys with opinions are all I can say. I took their advice and tested the manifold (gauges and hose barb) that comes with the kit and guess what? It's broken! Luckily there was a leak on the low pressure side (blue) so I was able to run a vacuum through the high pressure side (red) that lasted all night. Excellent! Now I can't charge through the high side because I don't like exploding metal cans, especially when they're in my hands, and the blue side of this manifold leaks like a boat with a big hole (read: a lot). Luckily my neighbor had one of those O'PepZone self-loading hoses in the garage and luckily it didn't leak so I could get the job done. Now the moral of the story: check the manifold first. The quality control on this part doesn't seem great as my review isn't the first to complain about the "vacuum not holding" issue. But also be thankful for the beautiful things in your life, even if they are small. Were it not for the numerous fortunate things that have happened to me (see above) counteracting the very unfortunate thing that arrived in the XtremePowerUS box, I might still be a distorted pretzel under my dash repeating a job that was actually correct the first time.