Didn't see anything about this, so figured I'd post up. I have a 84 R12 system that over the years has had R12, and envirosafe as the cooling fluids in the last 10 years. This last year I dug the truck out of the back 40 and discovered it was cooling poorly. Go to look, and can't find a vendor for my envirosafe. Crap.
Went poking around, and found a discussion on YT of all places on charging R12 systems with HFC-152a. This is the propellant used in "dust off" cans and is considered envornmentally safe and approved by the powers that be for use as canned cair. Decided to give it a try. Sounded great on reading - lower head pressure, less fluid needed compared to R12, and I went and sourced my parts.
I ordered ultra duster cans (Amazon) and since a full charge on my rig is *supposed* to be about 28oz (YMMV - big threads exist on what the actual numbers are) with 1/3 to 1/2 needed per the discussions about using 152a, figured I'd need 2 10oz cans with some left over. Bought a 6 pack since I do actually use them to blow dust out of computer chassis. Cost was reasonable - think around 4 dollars a can, equal to about 2 cans of R12 (street price of about $100.00 locally)
Have a side-tap for cans that works with R12 and R134, and its almost perfect for the ulta dust can. More on that later. Went to a buddys house who has a vacuum pump and drew down to zero. I *know* my system has a slow leak, but didn't want to leave any moisture in there. I live in AZ so moisture is not usually a big problem, but best practices. Vacuum done, hooked up the can tap to the yellow hose and put the can into the tap.
Side-tap was mostly effective - will need to make a 2 to 3 mm spacer to wrap around to provide a perfect seal, but worked well enough. Had a little bit of gas escape as the seal was not crushed 100 percent. Ended up charging by effect - when air temp coming out the vents was decidedly cold, and pressure was 30 on the low side gauge, we stopped. Had some residual propellant in the 2nd can. Figure with the not quite perfect seal and residual my charge was between 10 to 14oz which is somewhere between my 1/3 to 1/2 total R12 charge amount.
Air temp outside was 100 plus (arizona, remember) and without using a temp gauge in the vents (not handy) got the inside of the cab quite cold in about 5 minutes of recirculate. Even with a fresh charge of R12, it never worked as well.
This was almost 2 weeks ago, and I have been using the truck and testing the AC on the various hot days to see how its going. Load on the engine is much less, noise from the compressor is reduced, and its still blowing cold. By comparison my girlfriends 2017 Renegade with the new toxic refrigerant takes about 10 minutes of driving to reduce cabin temp in our current heat wave. LC will do it sitting at a high idle.
So far impressed. Any for the inevitable discussion - yes, I know its not R12. Yes, I know its not a current EPA approved solution. I'm also not an AC tech, its my own damn vehicle, and I don't let anyone else touch it but me. If you try this, it may blow up your AC. You may get the heartbreak of scrofula, it may make baby deer and whales cry. I don't care, and take no responsibility - hopefully anyone wanting to experiment with this is enough of an adult to research the danger/rewards for themselves.
Just to note - I believe that the EPA is looking at HFC-152a as a possible *future* automotive AC coolant.....wouldn't that be something if it gets approved, eh?
Cheers,
Glenn in Marana
Went poking around, and found a discussion on YT of all places on charging R12 systems with HFC-152a. This is the propellant used in "dust off" cans and is considered envornmentally safe and approved by the powers that be for use as canned cair. Decided to give it a try. Sounded great on reading - lower head pressure, less fluid needed compared to R12, and I went and sourced my parts.
I ordered ultra duster cans (Amazon) and since a full charge on my rig is *supposed* to be about 28oz (YMMV - big threads exist on what the actual numbers are) with 1/3 to 1/2 needed per the discussions about using 152a, figured I'd need 2 10oz cans with some left over. Bought a 6 pack since I do actually use them to blow dust out of computer chassis. Cost was reasonable - think around 4 dollars a can, equal to about 2 cans of R12 (street price of about $100.00 locally)
Have a side-tap for cans that works with R12 and R134, and its almost perfect for the ulta dust can. More on that later. Went to a buddys house who has a vacuum pump and drew down to zero. I *know* my system has a slow leak, but didn't want to leave any moisture in there. I live in AZ so moisture is not usually a big problem, but best practices. Vacuum done, hooked up the can tap to the yellow hose and put the can into the tap.
Side-tap was mostly effective - will need to make a 2 to 3 mm spacer to wrap around to provide a perfect seal, but worked well enough. Had a little bit of gas escape as the seal was not crushed 100 percent. Ended up charging by effect - when air temp coming out the vents was decidedly cold, and pressure was 30 on the low side gauge, we stopped. Had some residual propellant in the 2nd can. Figure with the not quite perfect seal and residual my charge was between 10 to 14oz which is somewhere between my 1/3 to 1/2 total R12 charge amount.
Air temp outside was 100 plus (arizona, remember) and without using a temp gauge in the vents (not handy) got the inside of the cab quite cold in about 5 minutes of recirculate. Even with a fresh charge of R12, it never worked as well.
This was almost 2 weeks ago, and I have been using the truck and testing the AC on the various hot days to see how its going. Load on the engine is much less, noise from the compressor is reduced, and its still blowing cold. By comparison my girlfriends 2017 Renegade with the new toxic refrigerant takes about 10 minutes of driving to reduce cabin temp in our current heat wave. LC will do it sitting at a high idle.
So far impressed. Any for the inevitable discussion - yes, I know its not R12. Yes, I know its not a current EPA approved solution. I'm also not an AC tech, its my own damn vehicle, and I don't let anyone else touch it but me. If you try this, it may blow up your AC. You may get the heartbreak of scrofula, it may make baby deer and whales cry. I don't care, and take no responsibility - hopefully anyone wanting to experiment with this is enough of an adult to research the danger/rewards for themselves.
Just to note - I believe that the EPA is looking at HFC-152a as a possible *future* automotive AC coolant.....wouldn't that be something if it gets approved, eh?
Cheers,
Glenn in Marana
