Re: R-12 AC Refrigerant
1. Check your FLAPS (friendly local auto parts store). R-12 is still sold. But you need an EPA license to buy it. You can get that for around $25 online at the EPA Web site. Give them a credit card; take the open book test; and, they mail you a license. The price goes up every year because it is not being made anymore. I think it's around $30+/can now. Do you live near Mexico?
2. Convert to R-134a. It's time. Avoid these hassles. It's not hard to do, and your system probably needs some work anyway. So, if you have to open it to do something else, convert.
3. There's an auto A/C bulletin board that's pretty good. Don't have the address handy.
4. Generally accepted thinking is that if you have a perfect R-12 system, keep it, and refill with R-12. If you need to open the system to fix something, don't waste a large amount of money refilling with R-12 to lose it when the system breaks again. In that case, spend a little more money and convert to R-134a. An R-12 refill now is over $100. It is worthwhile to protect that investment. An R-134a refill is $15-$20.
5. You can convert from R-12 to R-134a with a $40 Interdynamics kit that adds R-134a compatible oil and changes the fill ports. Don't do it. Don't have time to give you all the reasons. It'll marginally work for a few months to a few years, but it will eat the both very expensive condenser and evaporator.
6. It's not hard to convert the right way. You're probably going to have a major piece out of the system for repair anyway.
-remove and drain the compressor
-run the proper solvent and compressed air through the lines to get the rest of the old oil out
-replace the accumulator/drier/reservoir ($25)
-replace the expansion valve ($7)
-replace the "O"-rings ($10)
-replace high and low side ports ($15)
-add the R-134a compatible oil ($10)
-put the system back together and vacuum (special equipment)
-fill with R-134a ($15-$20 for refrigerant, $10 for special tool)
-check pressures with $40-$75 gauges
1. Check your FLAPS (friendly local auto parts store). R-12 is still sold. But you need an EPA license to buy it. You can get that for around $25 online at the EPA Web site. Give them a credit card; take the open book test; and, they mail you a license. The price goes up every year because it is not being made anymore. I think it's around $30+/can now. Do you live near Mexico?
2. Convert to R-134a. It's time. Avoid these hassles. It's not hard to do, and your system probably needs some work anyway. So, if you have to open it to do something else, convert.
3. There's an auto A/C bulletin board that's pretty good. Don't have the address handy.
4. Generally accepted thinking is that if you have a perfect R-12 system, keep it, and refill with R-12. If you need to open the system to fix something, don't waste a large amount of money refilling with R-12 to lose it when the system breaks again. In that case, spend a little more money and convert to R-134a. An R-12 refill now is over $100. It is worthwhile to protect that investment. An R-134a refill is $15-$20.
5. You can convert from R-12 to R-134a with a $40 Interdynamics kit that adds R-134a compatible oil and changes the fill ports. Don't do it. Don't have time to give you all the reasons. It'll marginally work for a few months to a few years, but it will eat the both very expensive condenser and evaporator.
6. It's not hard to convert the right way. You're probably going to have a major piece out of the system for repair anyway.
-remove and drain the compressor
-run the proper solvent and compressed air through the lines to get the rest of the old oil out
-replace the accumulator/drier/reservoir ($25)
-replace the expansion valve ($7)
-replace the "O"-rings ($10)
-replace high and low side ports ($15)
-add the R-134a compatible oil ($10)
-put the system back together and vacuum (special equipment)
-fill with R-134a ($15-$20 for refrigerant, $10 for special tool)
-check pressures with $40-$75 gauges
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