A/C refrigerant options R12/R134/etc
07-17-2009, 01:53 PM
#16
Three Wheelin'
People - avoid this crap. Pony up for the R-12, or pony up for a full R-134a conversion and deal with the lower performance.
02-17-2010, 09:48 AM
#17
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
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My car, (1992 968) was retrofitted w/ R134a when I bought it. I live in GA and learned that 134 didn't work right during the first summer. I read about some things on here and decided to get it vacuumed and refilled with 'Freeze 12' based on some positive results I read. The freeze 12 is better than 134a, but it still isn't great. It works really well until the outside temp climbs up into the 90+range.
On the otherhand, I have an old pickup truck filled with freeze 12 that blows icicles no matter what the outside temp. I think it has more to do with the expansion tube/valve than anything else and our cars don't like newer stuff.
Get R-12 filled by a professional if you can. As long as you don't have any leaks, that should last you a good 8-10years, so it is probably worth the extra cost.
On the otherhand, I have an old pickup truck filled with freeze 12 that blows icicles no matter what the outside temp. I think it has more to do with the expansion tube/valve than anything else and our cars don't like newer stuff.
Get R-12 filled by a professional if you can. As long as you don't have any leaks, that should last you a good 8-10years, so it is probably worth the extra cost.
02-17-2010, 01:26 PM
#18
Freeze-12 is 80% R-134a, 20% R-142b, see link http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/snap/refrig.../refblend.html
I have topped off a couple R-12 systems with this stuff and it did no apparent harm. I suspect the R-142b helps make it compatible wth R-12. If you're doing a complete system refill it's cheaper to just go with R-134a. I'd be suprised if Freeze-12 offers superior cooling performance. Also, most AC shops won't touch your system if they see the Freeze-12 adapters on there....
I have topped off a couple R-12 systems with this stuff and it did no apparent harm. I suspect the R-142b helps make it compatible wth R-12. If you're doing a complete system refill it's cheaper to just go with R-134a. I'd be suprised if Freeze-12 offers superior cooling performance. Also, most AC shops won't touch your system if they see the Freeze-12 adapters on there....
02-17-2010, 08:23 PM
#19
Instructor
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: L.I. New York
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I have used this stuff, it works well. Nothing to convert.
http://www.es-refrigerants.com/
have no leaks nice and cold
http://www.es-refrigerants.com/
have no leaks nice and cold
02-17-2010, 09:07 PM
#20
Interesting site... It's $21 per can and no where does it spell out how much is in the can. The enlarged photo of the can says 3 oz. That would be $84 for 12 oz ? R-12 is considerably less than that.... Did I miss something? Also, I found nothing on the site about fittings... I find it hard to believe it will just plug into existing R-134a fill fittings. The idea is to discourage people from mixing refrigerants (I think it is an EPA requirement). Unless you plan to do all your own AC work I would strongly suggest you ask your AC mechanic if he will work on your car with a substitute refrigerant....
03-20-2010, 07:14 PM
#21
Finally a nice 75 degree day to do the charge on my reinstalled AC system. I decided to stick with R12 (easily obtained on e-bay). I have a set of cheap gages but they did the job. At 76-76 ambient I'm measuring vent temps around 40-42 F. Not too bad... FWIW, I used a side tap for the 12 oz cans and it worked well, seals better than the top tap (and the tops can get a little rusty on the older cans of R12). Another thing that helped was a heat gun on low setting to warm up the can while charging.
