Page 2 of comments on Convert your automotive air conditioner from R-12 to R-134 Refrigerant.
by Cooper
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Well, I was hoping to learn about getting my AC up and running in my 90 Buick LeSabre, but I think I'll just put up with the heat. It's only hot for about three months anyway. After reading all of these comments I would say that paying the $400(which is an outrageous price for a little can) for the R-12 would work better than spending $1000 or converting and everything else. My car isn't worth either fix so I'll just deal with it.
Haven't any of you guys heard of hydrocarbon refrigerants? Work better, provides great cooling faster, cost less, much lower pressure, and compatible with all systems? And they don't add to global warming or ozone depletion! Do the right thing by your kids and Google up Duracool or Hychill or any of the other manufacturers - and don't believe the fluorolobby hype that there is any risk of fire, HCs are in use all over the world and there simply aren't any bodies...
Well, this post is well over 2 years old. So R134 is now also old hat and there are other substitutes around. The basic problem with AC conversions is that any good mechanic will want you to change everything (compressor, condenser, filter, and any flexible hoses too) so that he can make some good money out of you, and the COST is what most people are seeking to avoid. The truth is you don't need to replace anything if you don't have a leak and your AC is working fine, just LEAVE it alone and if it's R12 SELL THE CAR, it's TOO OLD already! If you do have a leak, with either type of gas, then if it's slow (i.e. takes a couple of months to stop cooling) then just keep topping it up with whatever is in it already. If it's a faster leak, SELL THE GODDAM CAR! If you REALLY want to give this a go out of curiosity, then get a conversion kit and read the instructions, then follow them - check those against this guy's instructions, and leave a bit of leeway in case the instructions on the conversion can are relevant only to the use of the can! If you don't want to risk damaging your car but you do have AC problems - SELL IT! If you have a non-working AC or one with a leak, DON'T CONVERT IT, because doing the conversion won't fix your problems! For goodness' sakes, use some COMMON SENSE and stop offending each other, plebs!i bet you are one of the many people in finacial troubleguess how i know, because you have no concept of saving money and not buying a new car or whatever when there is a small problem with the old onei bet your still making payments on your car aren't youfor crying out loud drive your car till it dies rather than getting a new one every 5-10 years
this last comment was dumb
Jimbo, thanks for insulting nearly every honest working american who can't quite afford a socialist-subsidized auto, like you probably drive. Some of us actually take pride in keeping our $2000 pickups running past 60,000 miles and saving some of our hard earned money that Obama and his minions haven't been able to steal from taxpayers, yet. if you don't agree with fixing A/C on an older model car, why the hell did you come onto this page in the first place?!!
I like this part: "For goodness' sakes, use some COMMON SENSE and stop offending each other, plebs!"Just after he tells us we're all idiots for trying to save money by not buying a new car every 5 years. Common sense indeed.
the cheapest and in my eyes the best way is to replace the cfc's in you a/c system that has lost gas is to replace it with hcfc'sie i used regular bbq propane and butane mixed, you use approx half the amount of the regular refigerant that was in it!!! if it leaks it has zero afect on ozone, does not need to have the oil changed and is in plentifull supply!the only side that scares ppl is the fact it is flammable, but what you are not told is that normal refigerant when mixed with the oil in the system and is under pressure, if this leaks this 2 is flammable!the olny things needed really are the tools to get the gas into the system!again these can end up costing more than just getting it done professionally!i feel quite happy running around in my car with propane in! and even though the condenser is at the very front of the car and is the 1st thing to be hit in an accident it does not bother me!we tested what might happen with a loose hose and car running on an old car i had! all that happened is 1 small cloud of gas as it escaped in a hurry!!!look for hycilll minus 30 this is a product out there for car a/c that is just propane and butane mixed! sold for this purpose!!!i highly reccomend it :)ian
VERY HELPFUL IN A LANGUAGE YOU CAN UNDER STANDTHANK YOU
You don't turn the can upside down, that ruins the compressor. The compressor only pumps a gas not the liquid. If you want to get all the refrigerant from the can shake it or place it in some warm water to evaporate the rest of the liquid into a gas state.
you forgot to clean out and switch the compressor oil, R-12 takes mineral oil, R-134a takes PAG oil (it glows under a blacklight for leak detection) R-134a is incompatible with mineral oil and could cause your compressor to fail.
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