Freeze-12 experience

[1990new]

Ole Yeller is showing signs of needing a Freon addition.
Stills cools OK but when it has been running for a long time in really hot
weather, the system starts losing it's cooling capacity.
If I turn it off for 5 or 10 minutes, the cooling capacity comes back for a while but starts losing it again after 20 or 30 minutes.

Had the system in my aqua converted to 134a a few years ago and its still working fine.

Was wondering if anyone has experience with just adding Freeze-12 instead of doing the conversion?

[Pu241]

Is your condensor fan working?

[neanderpaul]

Only auto festys came with the fan iirc.

[1990new]

Is your condensor fan working?

Just checked to be sure.
Started up first time today and turned on AC.
Fan started when AC button turned on and stopped when AC button turned off.
Didn't let run long enough for engine to get hot.

[Pu241]

It appears you maybe correct Paul!

Guess I need to dig in as to why they are not on all AC'd units.

[Pu241]

Just checked to be sure.
Started up first time today and turned on AC.
Fan started when AC button turned on and stopped when AC button turned off.
Didn't let run long enough for engine to get hot.

This is the small fan in front of the condenser heat exchanger, maybe 10" wide, no shroud around it?

[1990new]

This is the small fan in front of the condenser heat exchanger, maybe 10" wide, no shroud around it?

Don't have one. I just assumed that you meant the radiator/condenser fan.

The automatics probably required the added fan because of the need for greater cooling capacity for the trans fluid.

I had this same problem about two years ago and a local shop still had some Freon12. Cost $54 just to add 4oz of the stuff. He still has some and can do the same again and it should fix the problem.

I can order two pounds of the Freeze-12 with the adapters for about the same price.
Was wondering if anyone had added the Freeze-12 on top of the Freon12.

Advise? Opinions?

[sc72]

We just did a full A.C. redo on our 92 GL with the help a member from this site, i bought a rebuilt compresser from TX, a drier and a new expansion valve from our Bumper to Bumper store, replaced all the Orings, installed all the parts after being blown out, put 4oz of ester oil in, then 21oz of 134a and she's nice and cold, never any mention of conversion other than using 134a instead of r12. so i guess what i'm saying is to draw down the system, add ester oil, then your 134a and you should be good to go. good luck.just our .02

[1990new]

We just did a full A.C. redo on our 92 GL with the help a member from this site, i bought a rebuilt compresser from TX, a drier and a new expansion valve from our Bumper to Bumper store, replaced all the Orings, installed all the parts after being blown out, put 4oz of ester oil in, then 21oz of 134a and she's nice and cold, never any mention of conversion other than using 134a instead of r12. so i guess what i'm saying is to draw down the system, add ester oil, then your 134a and you should be good to go. good luck.just our .02

I had the the system vacuumed out and converted to 134a on the aqua a little over two years ago and its still good. Was planning on doing the same to the yellow one the last time it started to lose cooling capacity but the guy at the shop said it would be cheaper just to add some r12 that he still had, so I did that and it has lasted about two years. I guess I'll see if adding a little more r12 will keep it going another couple more years. It's been going 21 years, maybe it will last a couple more.

My original 1990 "Blue Beast" that my son has in Louisville, KY needs the full AC redo like you did. If you don't mind telling us...about what was your total cost to get it back in shape?

[Larry Hampton]

Dad used to use Freeze 12 in his combine. It was an R-12 system. Added every harvest, blew cold.

[Pu241]

Just checked to be sure.
Started up first time today and turned on AC.
Fan started when AC button turned on and stopped when AC button turned off.
Didn't let run long enough for engine to get hot.

I didn't know the radiator fan was switched that way with AC on a manual car.
I had assumed that all festiva AC units had a condenser fan.
Is there any difference between factory and dealer add on in regards to the condenser fan?
I know about the lines to/from the compressor but never gave anythought to the condenser fan.
I'm sure there has been an AC transplant from ATX to manual tranny, wonder if they work better in a manual tranny due to the extra heat transfer?

[1990new]

Dad used to use Freeze 12 in his combine. It was an R-12 system. Added every harvest, blew cold.

Thanks ....I think I will go ahead and order the Freeze-12 kit and try
it mixed before I go the 134a conversion route for now.

[1990new]

I didn't know the radiator fan was switched that way with AC on a manual car.
I had assumed that all festiva AC units had a condenser fan.
Is there any difference between factory and dealer add on in regards to the condenser fan?
I know about the lines to/from the compressor but never gave anythought to the condenser fan.
I'm sure there has been an AC transplant from ATX to manual tranny, wonder if they work better in a manual tranny due to the extra heat transfer?

Owned an 89 automatic for a short time a few years ago that had factory air. All the others were manual with factory AC, so don't know about dealer AC.
Probably would improve the AC efficiency to have the extra fan while stopped or in slow traffic on the manual though.

Over all my AC has performed pretty well over the years.

[htchbck]

I didn't know the radiator fan was switched that way with AC on a manual car.
I had assumed that all festiva AC units had a condenser fan.
Is there any difference between factory and dealer add on in regards to the condenser fan?
I know about the lines to/from the compressor but never gave anythought to the condenser fan.
I'm sure there has been an AC transplant from ATX to manual tranny, wonder if they work better in a manual tranny due to the extra heat transfer?

I'll let you know as soon as I either fix or replace the radiator in Chuck as he is a former ATX car with AC (and condensor fan). I would actually expect that they are probably not better. On an MTX car the main fan runs as soon as you hit the AC switch, regardless of engine temp. All the separate (about 8" if that) condensor fan does is split the two functions , meaning the Main fan only comes on when the engine is hot, regardless of AC status. So when the AC is on and the engine is hot enough to trigger the main fan as well, you might get a little better cooling, but anything about 20MPH isn't going to matter much anyway, if anything the fans might hurt a little by slowing airflow.

[sc72]

I had the the system vacuumed out and converted to 134a on the aqua a little over two years ago and its still good. Was planning on doing the same to the yellow one the last time it started to lose cooling capacity but the guy at the shop said it would be cheaper just to add some r12 that he still had, so I did that and it has lasted about two years. I guess I'll see if adding a little more r12 will keep it going another couple more years. It's been going 21 years, maybe it will last a couple more.

My original 1990 "Blue Beast" that my son has in Louisville, KY needs the full AC redo like you did. If you don't mind telling us...about what was your total cost to get it back in shape?

Hello 1990new, i'd be glad to.
rebuilt compresser from Gold Auto, $65+$15 shipping $80
Drier from Bumper to Bumper $17
Expansion valve from Bumper to Bumper $21
two cans of 134A fromWally World $18
Advice from Festyboy $ Priceless
total $136