R12 in AZ

[-Spike-]

134-A is 5x the cost of R-12 here but we wanted to do our bit for the greenhouse thing.

Your's and other info given here tells me I need to rethink my experience. The short time I had 134-A gave me much the same cooling as R-12 so only the cost of conversion stands in my way.


Kalawang

Stay with the 12. There is very conflicting information about r-12 affecting the ozone and global warming and all that. Also, the only time it comes into play is when the refrigerant is released, not when it's in use. The only valid reasons I know of for switching is cost and availability to the home mechanic. Recycle some aluminum or something

-Spike

 

[Brian Macgyver]

In the "BIZ" for years, and the majority of 134 conversions work well. Most problems are with compressors not made by Nippondenso. Nippons will take the extra pressure with no problems. The first time you use 134 in a 12 system be sure to use a conditioner or conversion kit because this contains a chemical that will neutralize any harmful reactions that may result from the combination of 134 with residual amounts of 12 in the system. You MUST vacuum the system down thoroughly to remove most of the R-12 oil and then relube with conversion oil. Without these precautions you risk the "black death", a gooey result of mixing oils and freons that are incompatible. If this happens, you will need to disassemble the whole system and replace much of it to correct it. I have rarely seen it happen with proper precautions.

 

[Koffer]

With no mod's??

Well I did change the hookups, put the oil/cond/leakfinder/ stuff in and left the vacuum on it for over 2 hours to dry it out .
I didnt think it was going to work even this long and it was a "try it and see what happens" thing. It worked so well I did my old 87 fj60 too and that was still blowing cold when i sold it a year ago

 

[CJF]

Hey Koffer,

Now I'm curious about this; can you "school me" on it, as they say? I imagine the new connectors and oil are some sot of kit? What about the vacuum; how does that work?

Curtis

 

[97 FZJ80]

Is there a way to convert a standard R134 system to R12? I know that this sounds counter-intuitive, but I would like the extra cooling capacity of the R12.

 

[sonoranfun]

I will run R12 for ever until it is no longer available or untill the 33lbs of R12 in my garage runs out.

Yeah forget selling the $1,600 in R-12 you have and switching to 134 cause that wouldn't buy sliders and a bumper or anything.. Good, lord, I only wish I had that kinda R12 or for that matter cash that I could afford to keep that much of it!

As somebody who lives in Tucson, I run 134 in both my 80s and to be honest I'm happy with it.. My 95 has a thermometor on the vent and it's at 29 degrees on the hwy.. Granted that goes up to maybe 50 in traffic but still it's more then enough..

The only thing I can tell you is that unless you have the leaking and everything fixed, with the price of R12 you would be better of just redoing the system. I just bought a stock Denso condenser on eBay new for $119 with the clutch and all. The Dryer was another $19 so all said and done you could re-do the whole system for $200..

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Brian Macgyver]

I have several pounds of R-12 on hand. I will not part with it. It is liquid gold and my Celica still uses it. My Montero was ice cold on it when I sold it.
134A works just as well when used right. Some later low volume compressors will not pump it so well, but Toyo always uses Nippon pumps that handle it well.

Do not even start me on the economic and patent reasons for the change, that would take a large separate thread. But you should use the version that is most cost effective for you.

If you convert your rig, just be sure to flush out all of the old stuff, and realize that the system will hold 5% less freon, and cool about 10-12% less.

 

[sonoranfun]

Well, none of it really matters, a couple more years and there isn't gonna be 134a either so start buying that up and get yourself ready for a CO2 conversion...

Mac, I hear ya but at the same time it's like the dentist, you're gonna have to do it at some point so why put it off.. Although the same could be said about dying and I'm in no rush there so maybe I am with ya..

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

coldest AC of all my junk. .

Except for your 100.

 

[Tools R Us]

For R12 and cheap, road trip to Nogales or Rocky Point, cross the border, have it charged. It's illegal to import, but they aren't going to check your charge level on the way in and out.

 

[phxtlc]

For R12 and cheap, road trip to Nogales or Rocky Point, cross the border, have it charged. It's illegal to import, but they aren't going to check your charge level on the way in and out.

Sweet Idea!!! You wouldn't know of a shop?

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Except for your 100.

WRONG ...the 40 is the winner in the coldest AC contest.

The 100 is the coldest for R134 but it only has the 80 and a F450 for competition.

 

[Tools R Us]

WRONG ...the 40...

A bit testy today?

 

[Tools R Us]

Sweet Idea!!! You wouldn't know of a shop?

Nope a couple of buddys have done it and been happy. Try posting over on the CSC forum, Cantinero goes to Rocky Point often and may know of a shop?

By the time you buy the gas there and back it would probably be cheaper to have it done here, but then again it's an excuse to go!

 

[cruiserdan]

And to think we used to bitch if we paid a buck a can for the stuff.

 

[-Spike-]

I used to have a BB gun that used cans of R-12 for propellant.

-Spike

 

[sonoranfun]

For R12 and cheap, road trip to Nogales or Rocky Point, cross the border, have it charged. It's illegal to import, but they aren't going to check your charge level on the way in and out.

I'm too scurred to drive into Mexico.. I'm working on learning spanish but until I do the only thing I can ask the policia if they stop me is "did you wash it" and while I could see that being a handy thing to know I would still like to be armed with enough spanish words to keep me from having to ask in the first place..

I used to have a BB gun that used cans of R-12 for propellant.

Somebodies dating themselves... I guess that could be taken wrong and since it's me talking I hope you know what I meant... Well......just to be clear I mean it's a telling statement as to your age..

 

[re_guderian]

My old FJ60 was converted to "Freeze-12", a supposed drop-in replacement for R-12. Still required a license to buy, and there's only a few shops in the valley (Checker's large stores, and one on Grand and 19th Ave,) that carried it, but the license was $15 and 30 minutes on the internet...