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On a long-dormant system, the odds are very high that its dead because it has no refrigerant in it, which means it has leaked out which means theres a leak that must be located and fixed. However, there wereand aresome challenges to using it in an automotive A/C system designed for R12. We mention using ester type refrigerant oil. Let's talk about refridgerants: R-12a or R-134a? | TDIClub Forums In addition to the low boiling point, there are two other de facto requirements for refrigerant: It shouldnt be poisonous, and it shouldnt be flammable. Servicing: When payment of any kind is involved (including non-monetary), any person working on an MVAC system must be certified under section 609 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and they must use approved refrigerant handling equipment. The ozone depletion potential of a chemical is a factor that shows the level of degradation itll cause to the ozone layer that surrounds and secures the earth from harmful radiation. The sticker typically has a place to note the amount of refrigerant used, the type of oil and amount of oil, the technicians sign off or name and the date of the conversion. With R134a you do not rely on the site glass. Besides R134a there are some other refrigerants that are approved to replace R12 and there is a long list of refrigerants that are not approved. And by matching the correct amount of R134a to use in a given vehicle, correcting the superheat of the expansion valve (if necessary), you can in some manner nearly balance or match the amount of heat drawn out by the evaporator and released by the condenser. The problems that arise are related to the oils used in the system and the fact that they have different charge weights and different boiling points. Ive always liked them. There should also be a blue sticker somewhere on the system telling you the date the system was converted. The new player in the market is HFO-1234yf (R-1234yf), which is considered ozone-friendly and has a GWP of less than 1. Most importantly, the oil used in the plant must always be compatible with the refrigerant used. EPA is authorized to assess fines of up to $37,500 per day for any violation of these regulations.. If you still find it difficult to use R134a in a home AC system, you can check out a comparison of R12 vs R134a fittings to know the refrigerant that best fits the AC system. Many older automotive systems still use R12, and as youre still able to purchase individual small cans of this refrigerant via on-line marketplaces, its use in many classic motor vehicles will likely continue. For those of you who are considering what the cost is for R12 you can think of it this way: Dont go out to dinner this weekend. Its possible to convert from R12 to R134a without replacing the systems components, so when R134a was brought out, it seems to be a good match to many automotive air conditioning issues. I have seen a large difference in pressures you are looking for due to temperature demand of unit. Its been used in the refrigeration industry for a long time, so theres a large body of knowledge established around the product. Generally the system will be initially charged with approximately 80% to 85% of the original amount of R12, using R134a. R12 is known as a CFC or chlorofluorocarbon, with a chemical symbol of CCl2F2. Its found in domestic and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning. You can get it and use it. The 7 Best HVAC Manifold Gauges 2023 Reviews & Buying Guide Gauges are used to read the pressure of various liquids and gases in a cooling system, as well as vacuum pressure in the process of testing or charging the device. It provided much needed context as I embark on re-building the AC in my sons new (to him) 1988 Toyota pickup. The money you will save by will pay for the R12. No, its not possible to mix these two refrigerants. Tiny amounts of oil will inevitably find their way into the stream of gas. For example, if your system originally had 36 ounces of R12 then you multiply that by .80 and you have 29 ounce of R134a. A set of R134a-specific charging port adapters should be installed to eliminate the possibility of refrigerant cross-contamination. With new R12 no longer being manufactured, the market price soared to $100/pound. With R12 you use to check to see if the site glass was full, if it had bubbles it meant you had a low charge. Any old black o-rings should be replaced with R134a-compliant green o-rings. There are other EPA-approved refrigerants such as Hot Shot and Freeze 12, which you can find here. Usually, mechanics charge around $200 for conversion. Many vehicles that contain this type of refrigerant will continue using it. Best for varieties of operating conditions: Its boiling point is -21.6 Celsius. Typically 5 to 6 ounces of a/c oil is adequate but this may vary depending upon the car. That makes it safe in terms of safety to use. R134a is the most commonly used refrigerant to convert automotive air conditioning away from the destructive R12. The typical scenario here is when the car owner buys an inexpensive retro-fit kit from the local auto parts store. Motor manufacturers in the USA used R134a in air conditioning systems for new cars from 1994. R134a isnt as efficient in cooling as R12. Even though their common major function is to cool the system, they have many differences. R134a is not an ozone-destroying agent, but it is a greenhouse gas, and is illegal to vent as well. As long as the compressor was working well, it could be drained, filled with R134a-compatible oil, and reused. As this product is highly damaging to the environment, the environmental treaty signed in Montreal in 1987 stopped the use of CFC refrigerants, which included R12. Safety: R134a is safe to use as its non-flammable and cant explode. All in all, I'm very happy with the results and see no reason why they won't last. The conversion to more modern refrigerants will require a replacement of the system, which will cause issues in terms of originality when showing this type of vehicle. Since 2010, all home AC systems manufactured use a refrigerant like R134a that has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP). The molecule size of R134a is smaller than that of R12, so there was concern that R134a could leak out through the hoses and flare fittings that R12 systems used. R134a is NOT less efficient than R12 Actually R134a is more efficient. Lets take you through the advantages, disadvantages, and differences of these two refrigerants a detailed comparison including R12 vs R134a performance. However, it must be noted that itll disintegrate into toxic compounds when exposed to flame. In fact, R12 was used for many years as a propellant in a variety of aerosol products and sprayed directly into the air, and it is closely related to the halon used in fire extinguishers. ZENY 3,5CFM Single-Stage 5 Pa Rotary Vane Economy Vacuum Pump 3 CFM 1/4HP Air Conditioner Refrigerant HVAC Air Tool R410a 1/4" Flare Inlet . You might find that the system doesn't get as cool even after properly charging it. R134a is still used in the automotive industry as a refrigerant and in other industries, such as pharmaceuticals, as a propellant. The safe high side pressures are determined with a PT (pressures and temperatures) chart. Why racetracks are giving hybrids and EVs the cold shoulder, Rearview cameras have been around longer than you think, At $720,000, this Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina is looking for its top, For roadster lovers, Mazdas Miata is (still) the answer, National Council of Corvette Clubs lifts competition ban on E-Ray, How fast is the Corvette E-Ray? R134a is a newer type of refrigerant that has some significant advantages. A vacuum pump, a refrigerant recover system, quality service gauge set with both low and high side gagues, and much more besides the lessons to learn what to do and what not to do. Some compressor manufacturers or OEMs suggest PAG type oil for R134a. To discover the capacity for refrigerant, you want to use the specs for the current system and multiply the R12 charge by 0.9 or 90%. Versus Ferrari F8 & Lamborghini Huracan Evo Cammisas Ultimate Drag Race Replay, Ultra RARE: Colin Chapmans Lotus Eleven + 327 Corvette Stingray with 4-speed | Barn Find Hunter Ep. There are significant differences between R12, R134a, and R513A, which must be considered when handling, processing, applying, or retrofitting with these refrigerants. But many European cars, such as the vintage BMWs I love, had A/C systems that never functioned all that well even when they were new and charged up with R12. Energy usage: R134a is less efficient in cooling compared to R12. Its among the greenhouse gases and will keep adding the current problem of heat not leaving the earths atmosphere. R12s GWP is 10,910. But, if your car lacks enough condenser and you have many 100+ degree days then you may want to stick either increase air flow, add another condenser as we mentioned in The Mr. Ice Project or stick with R12. The two systems use different fittings. However, you can convert R12 to R134a by yourself, save money and keep all the tools purchased. That doesnt mean to say that there are still many thousands of existing installations that are running refrigeration plants using this refrigerant to cool them. This chemical is tetrafluoroethane, and its chemical formula is CH2FCF3. You can order a personally inscribed copy here. Country of Origin: United States Hi, this is my first post, so please take it easy on the noob. Any new installation of refrigeration or air conditioning wont use R134a as a refrigerant as the production and importation of this gas to the US has been banned. How to Convert Your Car AC R12 System To R134a - Mechanic Base Kuehl is a registered trademark of Griffiths Technical Inc. Griffiths Technical Inc is not associated with Porsche Cars North America. These properties make it popular for domestic and commercial refrigeration. R12 is found in all kinds of refrigeration, ice makers, air conditioners, water coolers, transport refrigeration, and chillers. I wouldnt say Im a BMW enthusiast. We learned the theory behind refrigeration and air conditioning, which centers on this wonderfully useful bit of physics: When liquid boils and evaporates into a gas, it expands and cools. Its unlikely that air conditioners or refrigeration plants will be converted from R12 or R134a to R22, but it can be done if reclaimed R22 refrigerant can be located. R134a is used in many applications such as: Although this type is better than R12, using this kind of refrigerant also has some problems associated with it. The next piece of equipment to track down leaks is a leak sniffer. We have the best A/C Manifold Gauge Set and Components for the right price. This implies that the discharge pressure of the compressor should be moderate so it can produce the refrigerants condensation in the condenser at the atmospheric temperature. Santech R12 to R134a Coupler . What's the difference between these and how do. Besides, R134a refrigerant was manufactured after R12 was banned to help reduce the harshness of the old chemical (R12) on the ozone layer. Using the specs for the current system, multiply the R12 charge by 0.9 or 90% to determine the refrigerant capacity. Important Features: Color-coded Easy to use Made of high-quality brass Specific for R-134a Pros: Easy to operate. R12 has a GWP of 10,910, so its effect on global warming is over 10,000 times greater than carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, converting existing air conditioners that use R22 to use new refrigerants isnt easy. R134a is called tetrafluoroethane (HFC). Because A/C compressors have moving parts, they require oil. The major environmental impact of this refrigerant escaping into the atmosphere is its contribution to global warming. This makes it expensive to purchase and adds to the attraction of replacing it with other greener products. Note that R134a is also sometimes called Freon, even labeled as such on the can, so its best to be clear and use the names R12 and R134a. Unfortunately, this product still contains chlorine. Many existing installations continue to use the product. Its legal to own either of these gasses, but its illegal to vent them into the air. R12 vs R134a Refrigerant: What is the Difference? - 2022 Complete Guide Temperature and pressure chart for refrigerants R22, R410A, R12, R134A, R401A, R409A, R502, R404A, R507A, R408A and R402A. R134a is otherwise called 1,1,1,2 Tetrafluoroethane, Florasol 134a, Freon 134a, Norflurane (INN) or HFC 134a. This means that the mineral oil in the system wont dissolve. This chemical is an excellent refrigerant liquid. After the system has been tested out it should be checked for leaks. Older fridges and air conditioning units that use this refrigerant will still work efficiently, and converting them to more modern refrigerants will be difficult and unrealistically expensive. If you have a perfectly operating system using R12 you do not have to drop what you are doing and convert to R134a. So the oil must be compatible with the refrigerant. Recharge the compressor with a/c ester oil and a tracer dye. Refrigerant 12 or Freon 12 is colloquially known as R12. All references (pictorial or text) to the Porsche name, model names or numbers, part numbers or shapes are replacement reference only.