SeanR

I had a real hard time in the DFW area getting my hands on "affordable" R-12 a year ago and after dealing with people wanting $800 for a #30 container I about said to hell with it and wanted to go total R-134. Got lucky last spring and found a great stash of R-12 but am always keeping an eye out. I was paying around $60 per #30 on R-134 until the announcement by the EPA that they were phasing it out last fall. It's stabilized so far as the replacement has not been finalized but as we all know this can and will change. E-bay has 134a at $110 per #30 and I've been stocking up.

I miss the times when a can of R-12 was $1.75 a can.

Rob Edwards

I guess I need to keep in mind that my 'lifetime' supply equates to way less than a lifetime supply for the pros keeping their Texan customers cool.... Sean, how much refrigerant do you think you go through in a year?

SeanR

I'm small volume since 95% of what I work on is 928's. Typically #30 to #60 in a hot season. I had #120 on hand at the beginning of last spring and now down to #75. This spring it looks like I'll go through at least a #30'er in the next month since I've been closed for 2 months. Going to have to scramble to restock. All of the stuff I've been buying is NOS and not the stuff from Mexico......that may change.

Rob Edwards

Does the Mexican stuff have real cane sugar in it?

SeanR

I hope so, I feel like sniffing some funny stuff at this point.

You should work your Mexi contacts and see if you can get the good stuff over the border.

Rob Edwards

Found on a way-back shelf at Greg's today. $1.29.

dr bob

Someplace in SoCal storage there are a couple r-12 cylinders for any future r-12 cars I might acquire. The last r-134a came from Sam's Club where cylinders were about $75 early last year. Contrast with Cali $12 + 10 deposit --per little can--, and the cylinder is a bargain. So far no need for either in my car, but jt's there if needed. So far so good.

For the early cars, R-12. Is certainly the weapon of choice. That said, the work needed to keep a system tight is the same for R-12 as it is for a R-134a. All those tired and leaking o-rings need to be renewed. The system needs to be flushed, and the hoses should be replaced. Even new, r-12 hoses leak r-12, and bleed significant R-134a under the best conditions. If you don't care for servicing the system at least annually, invest now in the new bits and the work. It's a great investment as r-12 and soon r-134a become even more $carce. Or, get all you can before the hoarders get there (too late...).