GPdriver1986 Posted August 10, 2003 Report Share Posted August 10, 2003 I found out that my AC still has some R-12 in it but not alot and it needs a refill. If I go to the states and buy some r-134a and some oil can I refill it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaPaPooh Posted August 10, 2003 Report Share Posted August 10, 2003 you have to recover the r-12 and clean the system if you dont the r-134a will mix with the r-12 and it will become sluge i have beem told its a green substance thats all i know oh if you don't recover clean and lube you might have to replace the whole system it the 2 mix im not sure though anyone else? good luck! hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redfox340 Posted August 10, 2003 Report Share Posted August 10, 2003 you have to recover the r-12 and clean the system PaPaPooh is correct. You can't just add or top off refridgerent; it's not possible & illegal. And, no, you can't mix the two types of refridgerents; they have different thermodynaic properties. You have two choices: retro-fit system for R-134a or recover & recharge system with existing R-12. It's not hard to find, and many quick lube or A/C shops have it in stock. If you're recovering & recharging R-12, the following MUST happen according to US law. * You'll need to evacuate the entire A/C system. * Once system is completely recovered, perform a system vacuum test (usually 10mins) * Recharge the refridgerent * Fill system to factory spec amount of refridgerent - Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STR Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 i don't know about the states, but here in Canada if you have a shop take out the r-12 for ANYTHING, they can not put it back in. Once its out, they only can put in r-134a. Its against the law to put r-12 back in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
god910 Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 Nope you can replace it here. They have procedures in place to keep it from leaking (yeah right) so they believe it's okay to keep in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 you CAN "top off" the refrigerant. Rather than switching to sub-par 134A, search ebay for freeze 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91GranSport Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 Here's a solution for you: 1. Have your A/C system pressure checked to see whether or not it has any leaks. 2. If it has a leak, you'll have to purge the entire A/C system and you'll probably have to retrofit it to R-134a, which will be very expensive. 3. If your system only needs to be topped up, then simply have it topped up with an alternate refrigerant such as DuraCool or RedTek. I have R-12 in my A/C system and it has a very minor leak at one of the nipples. I refilled my A/C system with RedTek last year and it's still doing fine. I haven't pressure tested it to see how much pressure is left but I still have nice cold air coming through. Alternate refrigerants such as RedTek and DuraCool can only be purchased by mechanics with an A/C license. I can't remember who manufactures RedTek but I know Wurth is the manufacturer for DuraCool. Both DuraCool and RedTek are a lot less expensive than converting to R-134a and they both work as well as R-12 and R-134a. I believe they're around $14.00/can, and the can is about 350 grams. Let us know how it turns out, because it's a lot easier to refill your system with an alternate refrigerant than it is to convert our entire system to R-134a. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomshado Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 It cost me about $40 to retrofit my 89 cutlass r-12 to a 134a. its really easy, and well worth it. besides, recharging 134a is easy, and legal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91GranSport Posted August 12, 2003 Report Share Posted August 12, 2003 $40.00 is a steal, the least expensive I've found was well over $300.00 for parts and labour. I refilled my entire A/C system for less than $25.00 using an alternate refrigerant, while keeping my current R-12 based system. It cost me about $40 to retrofit my 89 cutlass r-12 to a 134a. its really easy, and well worth it. besides, recharging 134a is easy, and legal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommyTaz022200 Posted August 12, 2003 Report Share Posted August 12, 2003 Since I just bought my car and it came with no history or recipts of any kind I don't know what kind is in it. I know it orignally was R-12 (stivker in the engine says only refill with R-12) My air doesn't blow cold tho, so I'd like to fix it. How would I know what in it? Is there a way to tell by looking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaPaPooh Posted August 12, 2003 Report Share Posted August 12, 2003 look for a white sticker that says r134a if there is not one it means there is still r12 if it has been retro fitted they are suposed to put a stick that says it has been changed but if the owner baught a kit they may not have put the sticker on you can look at the fittings and see if there are red and blue (?) cap on the fittings best bet is to pay the $35 or the price for system check at a auto shop near you to see whats in it hope this help!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommyTaz022200 Posted August 17, 2003 Report Share Posted August 17, 2003 I don't have any colored caps. My husband took the air conditioning completely apart to pull the engine. There doesn't seem to have been anything in it, nothing came out, not even air. So what would be the best route to get some air in my car now? I looked al the conversion kits you can buy but I'm not sure what parts need to be replaced. Does anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slade901 Posted August 17, 2003 Report Share Posted August 17, 2003 I don't have any colored caps. My husband took the air conditioning completely apart to pull the engine. There doesn't seem to have been anything in it, nothing came out, not even air. So what would be the best route to get some air in my car now? I looked al the conversion kits you can buy but I'm not sure what parts need to be replaced. Does anyone know? Check under the hood. Try to find out if you see R-12 or R-134a for the refrigerant of your AC. If it is R-134a then no conversion needed. Just need to connect everything back and you need a vacuum pump to pull the any air inside the AC system and to boil out any moisture inside the AC system since it was opened. The vacuum pump must be left for about 1 hour at least and making use that it holds vacuum at 28 hg. After that, run the engine with AC turn High and Fan blower High and you can charge it back with the refrigerant and some oil charge. Checking the pressure every charge of the refrigerant can. It usually takes 2-3 refrigerant can to fill the AC system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90lumina3.1 Posted August 17, 2003 Report Share Posted August 17, 2003 lemme straighten this out... i retrofitted a few cars so far, and heres what i can say. its cheap(40.00) only if the system is COMPLETELY DEVOID OF R12, if not, it has to be evac'd, then another 40.00 for the DIY kit. basically saying, if its empty, spend $40 and retrofit it, it can be done even cheaper if you dont use the kit with the gauge. otherwise, find a friend in the AC buisness, and get some r-12. (i work at a pep boys, believe me on this one. you cannot buy r-12 without a lisence. if its empty, dont even bother w/ r-12. its illegal to sell to an unlisenced person.) r134a is much easier to work with, and cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slade901 Posted August 17, 2003 Report Share Posted August 17, 2003 If you really really want to get an R-12 and do it yourself, you can get your license in no time. With a little reading and studying for a couple hours, you will get your license in just a couple of hours. You take it online and pay with credit card online and the results will be shown immediately. http://www.epatest.com/e_609cert.html Some alternative to R-12 might need EPA Section 609 MVAC Certification to purchase it and some alternative to R-12 might not require certification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91GranSport Posted August 17, 2003 Report Share Posted August 17, 2003 Damn, all you need to do is study and write a test? I can't comment on every province in Canada but here in British Columbia you must be either a mechanic, collision repair technician or some other automotive related tradesperson in order to get an Gov't of Canada A/C license. If you really really want to get an R-12 and do it yourself, you can get your license in no time. With a little reading and studying for a couple hours, you will get your license in just a couple of hours. You take it online and pay with credit card online and the results will be shown immediately. http://www.epatest.com/e_609cert.html Some alternative to R-12 might need EPA Section 609 MVAC Certification to purchase it and some alternative to R-12 might not require certification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NORBI Posted August 17, 2003 Report Share Posted August 17, 2003 Get a Freeze 12 that can be mixed with R12 and you wont have a problem. I am about to do it to my car because i need a little more gas in my AC and will add Freeze 12 to it. Its only 4$ a can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPdriver1986 Posted August 18, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2003 Do you mean 3 small cans of refrigerent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slade901 Posted August 18, 2003 Report Share Posted August 18, 2003 You need 2-3 cans of R-134a/R-12/or alternative freon which is 12 oz per can. You need an oil charge as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91GranSport Posted August 18, 2003 Report Share Posted August 18, 2003 I don't know about other alternate refrigerants but RedTek and DuraCool both have oil built right in. You need 2-3 cans of R-134a/R-12/or alternative freon which is 12 oz per can. You need an oil charge as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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