Alternate A/C refrigerants?

[NapaBavarian]

I'd like to be able to repair my own A/C but don't know anything about any of the newer refrigerants on the market, is anyone here familiar with this subject?

[thundering02]

R12 does not mix well with R134a....Kinda like green and pink antifreeze. otherwise I'm not much help here.

[want-a-fast-svx]

the two different types. The system should be totally bled and had all old oil and refrigerant removed before trying to recharge the system with 134a. The two refrigerants require totally different oils to work. Ideally you would have the system emptied out and put into a vaccum and then charge with 134. Thats ideal, when it got done on my old truck i wasn't about to pay for it so i just vented to atmosphere *(yes i know not good) and emptied the compressor. The truck still worked great, but thats a small space to cool.

[ensteele]

The system should be vaccumed as well to remove any moisture.

[NapaBavarian]

Um, thanks, but I was looking for alternates to those two, I have heard that there are some out there but havn't found if they are effective other than the sellers word, problem is 134 dosn't provide enough cool, especially for a crew cab, and 12 is expensive when you get a shop to do the work...

[Beav]

Personally I wouldn't use anything but 12 or 134. The 'drop-ins' have poor reputations and, as far as I've heard, none work any better than 134.

[want-a-fast-svx]

you could use 409, it uses the same oil as r12 so no retrofit would be necessary, my buddy just got done doing that. Its not quite as expensive as 12 but still not cheap. A properly working 134 system should cool just as well as r12 though.

[dcarrb]

Originally Posted by NapaBavarian

...problem is 134 dosn't provide enough cool, especially for a crew cab, and 12 is expensive when you get a shop to do the work...

If 134a doesn't cool properly, something's wrong with your AC.

dcb

[Naim]

If anyone is in the Milwaukee Wi area and wants their system charged, I can do that. I have both R-12 and R-134a.

What are you guys paying to have your systems charged?
R-12?
R-134a?

[PaulSVX]

What about duracool?

I have been using duracool in my other cars for years now, and it works great, without retrofits
http://www.duracool.com/

[Earthworm]

I've tried an alternative but it only lasted amout a month. I've since PROPERLY converted from R12 to R134 and the A/C is COLD and effective.

[PaulSVX]

I have been using duracool in my and it is working fine, no retrofits

[WGJ]

but here's a resource for an ostensibly environmentally 'safe' refrigerant that also does not require anything retrofitting to use in place of r12:

http://autorefrigerants.com/

I'm charging my AC with only 7 oz of ES12a (6oz of ES12a = 18oz of r12). I bought six bottles of ES12a before I realized ES12a is so much more efficient. Still, only cost about $60 w/charge kit...much more economical than r12 or r134a.

Will report result tommorrow night,
WGJ

I'm one of the cast of thousands whose AC was knocked out when I had the trans rebuilt.

[AJ4U2]

Originally Posted by WGJ

but here's a resource for an ostensibly environmentally 'safe' refrigerant that also does not require anything retrofitting to use in place of r12:

http://autorefrigerants.com/

I'm charging my AC with only 7 oz of ES12a (6oz of ES12a = 18oz of r12). I bought six bottles of ES12a before I realized ES12a is so much more efficient. Still, only cost about $60 w/charge kit...much more economical than r12 or r134a.

Will report result tommorrow night,
WGJ

I'm one of the cast of thousands whose AC was knocked out when I had the trans rebuilt.

That is what i replace mind with and no problems at all---Ice cold air---works better then r12 that was in it. Half the amount use to 134a or r12.