Ensure you contact a professional mechanic to do the work for you so you dont end up incurring more costs for yourself. This can be very very expensive. However, theyre still used in older plants, systems, and the automotive industry. Yes, theres a certain irony in the fact that weve gone full-circle from the invasive youll need to replace almost everything including the compressor and hoses in order to properly convert R12 to R134a to you dont need to replace all that much; just flush it, new oil, new drier and o-rings, and back to youll need to replace almost everything including the compressor, hoses, and the condenser. But this change has occurred both because the cars are that much older than they were when the R12 to R134a change occurred in the mid-1990s, and there is now a better understanding of the need to take advantage of updated compressors and condensers in order to get the A/C systems to blow adequately cold with R134a. Recharge the compressor with a/c ester oil and a tracer dye. The 10 Best Air Conditioning Gauges To Buy - May 2023 Edition - We Kompare Even if youre OK with that, if the system needs work, any refrigerant in it will need to be recovered. Legally. 135, three new EPA-approved climate-friendly alternatives., Installing a lift pump in a Duramax diesel. Instead of using R12, its preferable to use R134a because it is very easy to find in the market, its sold at an affordable price, and is environmentally friendly. How To Use An A/C Manifold Gauge Set - CARiD It belongs to a class of chemicals known as HFCs, and they dont contain chlorine, so R134a doesnt damage the ozone layer. R12 has a global warming potential factor of 2400. But if you live in a hot climate, want to daily-drive the car, and the car has a tiny-capacity A/C system which, even after modernization, may only perform marginally, you may want to consider sticking with R12. 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. This means that when using R134a, the compressor should be oiled with Polyalkylene Glycol or PAG oil. R12, on the other hand, is called chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). This is why it is crucially important that R134a systems be properly evacuated (pumped down to boil off any moisture) and kept sealed. Most countries frown on the use of these gasses due to their environmental impact. Some compressor manufacturers or OEMs suggest PAG type oil for R134a. There are other EPA-approved refrigerants such as Hot Shot and Freeze 12, which you can find here. R12 is extremely stable and wont deteriorate operating under the most extreme conditions. The new player in the market is HFO-1234yf (R-1234yf), which is considered ozone-friendly and has a GWP of less than 1. This item: R12 R22 R134a R404a Manifold Gauge Set 3" Gauge HVAC A/C Refrigeration Charging Service. Motor manufacturers in the USA used R134a in air conditioning systems for new cars from 1994. Heres R12 vs. R134a pressure chart. In the last 10 years, new information has shown that this gas contributes to global warming. Since 2010, all home AC systems manufactured use a refrigerant like R134a that has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP). If your compressor requires replacement or its seals and o-rings need to be replaced due to leakage, it would be wise at this time to either obtain a compressor that has o-rings and seals that are compatible with R134a or have your unit re-manufactured with compatible components. R12 contains a chemical called chlorine that destroys the ozone layer, thereby causing potential environmental risk. Your email address will not be published. The problem is that some inexpensive available refrigerantsammonia and propane, for exampleare poisonous and/or flammable. R134a systems operate at higher discharge-side pressures than R12, which can cause compressor seals to leak. R134a is called tetrafluoroethane (HFC). Kuehl is a registered trademark of Griffiths Technical Inc. Griffiths Technical Inc is not associated with Porsche Cars North America. As Ive said, R12 is a nasty ozone-destroying chemical and should never be released to the environment under any circumstances, so in addition to being illegal to vent it, you have a moral obligation not to vent it. I think that, with hindsight, many people would agree that, even given that R12 is an ozone-destroying agent, fines of this level made many hard-working A/C technicians hostile to the government, and thus were counterproductive. R1234yf is more environmentally friendly and has a global warming potential of 4. How to Convert Your Car AC R12 System To R134a - Mechanic Base PDF R134a R513A - Tecumseh Products AC R-134 Manifold Gauge Sets & Replacement Parts for Car AC Gauges 2021 Complete Guide. Also, the fittings and hoses should be perfectly compatible with R410A. If an A/C system isnt working, the root cause needs to be diagnosed, and the system needs to be fixed. R12 is otherwise called dichlorodifluoromethane is a colorless gas (chlorofluorocarbon halomethane (CPC) that is used as an aerosol spray propellant and a refrigerant, and is soluble in organic solvents. What Happens If You Put R134a in an R12 System? - techtown Of course, there could be other problems such as a seized compressor or a blocked expansion valve. R12 was used mainly in domestic and commercial refrigeration, while R134a was used mainly by the automotive industry. Thats not the case with R12, ensuring that the efficiency of the plant isnt compromised. Theyre also tasteless, colorless, and odorless. Though you can purchase 12 or 16 ounce cans of R134a from local retailers it is very difficult to measure out the correct amount into your system. This product does contain dangerous chemicals such as methyl chloride and vinyl chloride, both of which are carcinogenic and may cause congenital disabilities. The higher the ambient temperature the higher the high side pressure. Note also that, unlike mineral oil, both PAG oil and ester oil are hygroscopicthat is, they absorb water. By noting the ambient temperature you can look up what the preferred high side pressure should be. Carbon dioxide is deemed to have a value of 1, so the higher the compounds factor, the greater its effect on global warming. Bottom line, R134a simply doesnt cool as well as R12. Swapping the components isnt a herculean task, but recharging the AC is a challenge. The problem in all of this is the sentence As long as the system is functioning correctly and not leaking. Who in their right mind would take a tight, cold, R12-based system and convert it to less-efficient R134a? R134a vs. R12 - Griffiths R12 has an ODP of 1, meaning that it has the highest potential to destroy the ozone layer. Many existing installations continue to use the product. 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. No, its not possible to mix these two refrigerants. R134a was developed to replace R12, so it works over the same range of applications. I have seen a large difference in pressures you are looking for due to temperature demand of unit. Most importantly, the oil used in the plant must always be compatible with the refrigerant used. These two refrigerants are very similar. And it was safeneither poisonous to breathe, nor flammable. A gentleman in Canada was very interested until he learned about the R12. This product is safe to use in that its not toxic, flammable, or explosive. Certainly no one selling cans of R12 on Craigslist is asking for your EPA 609 card. The problem was that there was not agreement on exactly what was required for the conversion. It only works with 134a refrigerant. You can look up the law yourself at www.epa.gov/mvac, but basically it boils down to three things. Chemistry. Very few DIY-ers have recovery equipment (I dont), so you need to take the car to a shop that does, and fewer and fewer shops keep and maintain R12-recovery equipment. This can significantly affect energy consumption as the plant will operate for longer, or a larger plant will have to be installed. R12 is known as a CFC or chlorofluorocarbon, with a chemical symbol of CCl2F2. R134a vs R12 - What is the Differences? - Rx Mechanic R12, on the other hand, has an ozone depletion potential of 1, implying that it can damage the ozone layer. R134a is a greenhouse gas, while R1234yf has a lower global warming . R134a can easily go between liquid and vapor states as with other refrigerants.