Thread: Auto A/C

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134A or R12?

134........

134. Although I have heard that R12 is colder, R12 will cost you an arm and a leg if you can even get it. Lot of places no longer carry it. There are subsitutes but I don't know how good they are.

Besides the way I've heard it even 134 may be obsolete in a few years.

I got out of AC about 10 years ago.. just after 12 was blackballed. At the time, there was a product called HOTSHOT.. a drop-in replacement for 12. It was a mix of 12 and 20. Dunno if it's still around, or how much it costs.

134 Why? Cause you can get it anywhere. Its cheaper and you can convert R12 systems to 134. I have done several not a big deal. If you want BIG TIME cool you can run amonia referiration

Charlie is right. Properly sized components using 134 will cool as well as R12 (you wont be able to tell the difference).

Go to Vintage Air's site and there are some tips. Bigger condensers are the usual suggestion.

Although 134 is an interim coolant, the replacement is not yet a given. LIke Charlie says, 134 is cheap, available, and a known entity. Stay away from the Mexico stuff that has unknown gasses added....miracles may happen but they sure dont happen in thermodynamics.

I use Duracool. Propane/butane mix and lube. Works better than R12 or R134a, cheaper, less leakage, less pressure. Yes, propane will burn, but guess what? So will the other stuff.
We used to do a purge with propane. No vacuuming, just open a line and flow the gas in until it comes out the other fitting, and close it up. Pressurize, and away it goes.
Also uses half the gas that the R's do. I've been told the molecules are bigger so they don't leak as easy. ? Who knows?