rgs944

Has anyone heard of or used a product call freeze12? They claim it is compatable with R12 to refill your system. I have a small leak that takes about 1 can a year to keep the system charged.

KuHL 951

I've used it before with great success but only on an evacuated system with new drier and seals. It's compatible with the R-12 oil but I don't think I would use it just for topping off with R-12 still in the system. The problem is you'll never be able to get the system serviced by a shop once they figure out what is in there contaminating the recoverable R-12.

944Ross

On the other hand, you'd probably convert to 134a anyway, or 100% Freeze12, so I would go for it. Be sure to tag the system to indicate it is charged with that.

whalebird

Evacuate and recharge with the proper amount of 134 and forget about it. It's as easy as that, and don't believe all the crap about changing all the different o-rings, expansion valve,etc.

944Ross

Unless you drain the compressor of the old oil and recharge it with ester, it will be a short A/C season.

whalebird

There are a good variety of oils available that is compatible with both. They have been in widespread use for well over ten years now. The Drier "bottle" hold much more oil than the compressor.

Mike C.

Freeze-12 will work but nit is a mixture of gases which, if the system leaks again, is a bad thing since some gases leak faster than others, changing the overall composition. This is not a good thing. R-134a is about half the price IIRC also. I have used Freeze-12 to top off a low R-12 system and the AC did function well for the rest of the season. But if a system is all leaked out, I don't know why you wouldn't just change over to R-134a. In fact, Freeze-12 is 80% just that. Here are a few links with more info:
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/refrig.../macssubs.html
http://www.autoacforum.com/messagevi...threadid=13315

m73m95

Freeze 12 is great for topping off. I've used it in a few cars, and have had no issues.

Also, 944Ross is right about Whalebird's post ..... you just refill the system with 134 without thoroughly evacuating out the R-12 oil, you will be replacing most of the AC system components.

Tom M'Guinn

After recharging every summer for years (sometimes twice), I finally changed the o-rings and replaced the compressor to condenser hose with one from Griffiths (available at Pelican), and I'm now going on two years without a recharge...