Thread: A/C Refrigerant

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[QUOTE=Corvette64]
When I was working on the International Space Station radiator panels a few years ago NASA was charging the system with pure ammonia. The Space Shuttle uses it too. Most of the commercial refrigeration units like you find in grocery stores use ammonia systems, not that I'd use it in a car, just some more worthless information I've collected in 51 yrs

When I was going to school for HVAC our instructor, who had been in the businees for 30 some odd years, was asked what techs made the most money in the profession. His answer was ammonia techs, but he didn't know one that had lived long enough to retire.

Originally Posted by HWORRELL

I'd use nothing except "PURE" r134-a, it works excelent,it's easy to obtain and is relativiely inexpensive. The other side to this is if at some point you needed or wanted to have a shop work on your A/C you would probally be refused service as shops are required to have recovery equipment and most have an r-12 machine and a 134 machine and if you cantaminate those tanks you have a very expensive disposal problem. every vehicle that comes in for a/c work that I don't personally know gets the refrigerant identifier hooked up and if it shows other than 134 or r-12 "very rare anymore" I send the customer packing.
Now an automotive a/c is a leak waiting to happen,no matter what with a little time it's gonna leak,so why would anyone want to put an explosive gas in one.....

thats the right answer.

Ammonia doesn't explode, it just kills you. Sold a Servel fridge to a trapper up North, two years later it killed him and his brother. Propane doesn't explode, if it leaks it might burn, but like I said, R134 burns too.

Originally Posted by R Pope

Propane doesn't explode, if it leaks it might burn, but like I said, R134 burns too.

A few years back one of the locals here in Springfield was having his truck washed and he was running propane. Something in the car wash mechanism got caught on the line leading out of the tank and ripped it off. The ensuing EXPLOSION killed one of the car wash employees and demolished the car wash and obviously the truck. And you don't think that propane doesn't explode? Wrong.

You don't see any difference between 3 oz of gaseous propane and 30 gallons of liquid? The Bic in your pocket is far more likely to explode than an AC full of Duracool. Oilfield guys use a tank of propane to provide pressure for paint sprayers, where there is too much danger of explosion from electric sprayers.
I better shut up now, I'm starting to sound like the guy in the cartoon!

Guys - this post has gone astray - I asked if anyone had experience with Duracool. I've gotten a couple responses that said it's OK but a lot that have told me that I'd best use R134A or I'll get blown up. R134A, according to various websites can autoignite at a temperature 300F BELOW Duracool. I still want to know what experiences people have had. I know what 134A and R12 will do in an A/C system, I still don't have real life information. The anology to a BIC lighter spelled out the real fire/explosion and dangers.

To repeat my questions:
1. How well does it work as far as cooling
2. Have any equipment problems been seen (i.e. compressor, evaporator, valves, dryer, condenser to name a few components)

Thanks