85fortheDrive

I'm in need of some R12 freon but know that it's a guarded substance. There's an advertiser on eBay promoting Freeze 12, which purportedly is a legal substitute.

My questions:

1. Anyone ever tried this stuff?
2. Does it get as cold as R12?
3. Will it require any cap/fitting replacement?

OR

NAPA sells a R12 to R134 conversion kit for about $30. This seems too good to be true. Won't I need to replace more hardware (compressor, hoses, etc)?

DandeMan has had a similar post, but bubbles in the flow window make me pretty sure I'm simply low on refrigerant. So before I get into HVAC relays et al, I simply want to add some more coolant.

Thanks Folks.
Tim

Mark

PM Earl Gilstrom and have him send you the "AC Bible"...he is the man on shark AC...

I learned a lot more than most know - just by talking to him for abut 20 minutes today at DR's.

dr bob

Freeze-12 is a blend that includes isobutane, a flammable gas known to cause fires in 928 cars. Flash back if you will to the last OCIC, where a disaster was averted by some quick action with a fire extinguisher.

R-12 is available, it's just not real cheap any more.

re: the $30 conversion kit: Don't waste your time. A conversion includes replacing all the o-rings, rebuilding or replacing the hoses, drain and flush the old oil from your compressor and replacing with new, upgrade the drier, new expansion valve(s), new pressure switch, evacuate over night with a good vacuum pump. Then and only then is it OK to put R134a in the car. Takes the better part of a day to do all the conversion work, then an hour or two the next day to charge it. Assuming that you did everything right and there are no more leaks. Assuming that your compressor and all the other existing parts are in good enough shape to start with.

Fix your leaks, recharge with R-12, be happy!

SharkSkin

Look for oil seepage along any of the AC lines or fittings. If the hoses are wet with oil then they are probably toast and need to be replaced. If you have too much oil to be certain where it's coming from start with a general cleanup.

zoltan944

i think you need the license to get freeze-12 just like R-12. r-12 is still the coldest anyway

SwayBar

I've been using Freeze 12 for eight years and am very happy with it as it's plenty cold.

RDS928S

Tim,

the best R-12 replacement is Duracool 12a.
I use it in my 86.
Check out www.duracool.com

RDS

justin

Ive also been using freeze 12 for about three years, no probs.

fst951

Just use R12. You know it works and it works very well. It carries mineral oil nicely. Replace your o-rings nad fix the system right.

I late August, you will be glad you fixed it correctly.

Thanks,

Garrity

85fortheDrive

Thanks everyone. While it's not unanimous, my decision is to indeed inspect the lines and then do a refill of R12. If the problem gets persistent, I'll sniff the wind and see if it's time to convert to another coolant.

Big thanks,
Tim

heinrich

Ask Louie Ott

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Tim,
I had Freeze 12 in my car for 3 years or so with no problem. I was concerned because I could not find any local shop who was willing to service Freeze 12 systems. I decided to convert to R134 so that I could have it worked on anywhere.
BTW Freeze 12 is:
70-90% 1,1,1,2 Tetrafluroethane (R134), and 10-25% 1-Chloro, 1,1,Difluoroethane.
Neither of these is a pure hydrocarbon. The flashpoint is greater than 300oF. The manufacturer clains it is nonflamable. Prof. Ott may disagree.
I think the worst thing about it is it's kind of a rogue refrigerant and with increasing regulation you may not even find anyone to recover it or touch it even to replace it.
I'm glad I have one of the two mainstream refrigerants.