AC repair

[zoe60]

I bought a big huge tank of unopened R-12 on Kijiji GTA (Greater Toronto Area).
The oil mixed with a small shot of R-12 was purchased on the bay. No flammability issues. Cold as a polar bear's you know what. Don't be fooled by imitations. Use only the genuine article.

I need an HVAC licence! The States are tough on that stuff.

[zoe60]

Well, I ordered the real thing on the Bay. I suppose they'll have good AC in the big house lol!

[Movin]

http://www.es-refrigerants.com/resources/docs/FACTS%20ON%20HYDROCARBON%20REFRIGERANTS.pdf

I finally found reference to documented cases of automobile occupants injured by a refrigerant flash fire. I had been searching for the wrong refrigerant. No one yet has been injured by this petro blend type of refrigerant in a car. But
R12, and 134 besides turning toxic in the presence of heat explodes when a source of ignition is present.
Quit saying "but it can't burn" lol...read it !

[zoe60]

It is interesting that the United States won't legalize petro blends. I have a suspicion that R134a will suddenly be made unavailable just like R12 was years ago. It is supposedly bad for global warming.

[Movin]

It is amazing what can happen when a very large money carrot is held out to hungry politicians.

[Dragonhealer]

If you can get R12, use it. out here it is typically 5% humidity on a wet day, 20% when raining....hard on A/C system efficiency, the other refrigerants fall short.
R12 exposed to a hot exhaust manifold turns to phosgene gas (carbon oxychloride), COCl2,
Poisonous, used in chemical warfare. All refrigerants carry some risk...
Movin and Bravekozak have it right.

[ricko1966]

My biggest concern on flammable gasses in A/C would be an evaporator leak would fill the interior with flammable whatever. A/C should be evacuated any time the system is open, if it will hold vacuum for 20 minutes chances are you don't have any leaks and some refrigerant s when combined with air creates acid which can damage your system as well air in the system changes your pressures making the system less efficient.A vacuum pump can be easily made from an old refrigerator compressor

I. Wasn't concerned about a crash or even a running vehicle I was more thinking of an evaporator leak on a parked car with the windows up a little static electricity or ?, chances are really slim but still not one I would take.Anyways looks like he got his refrigerant and all should be good.

[jason_]

I had a 50' semi trailer full of banned mixes. Took a serious fine and pulled my 401k and bought every bottle I could find anywhere in the neighboring 5 states.

Yes. The fine was pennies compared to my profit. Supply and demand !

Good luck!

Sent from my One using Tapatalk

[Movin]

I. Wasn't concerned about a crash or even a running vehicle I was more thinking of an evaporator leak on a parked car with the windows up a little static electricity or ?, chances are really slim but still not one I would take.Anyways looks like he got his refrigerant and all should be good.

I don't understand..the people hurt by flash fire had R12 or 134. Nobody in a car hurt by blends. Yet lol.

[ricko1966]

Condoms, seat belts, and approved refrigerant are all good things.I remember when no one thought the asbestos from clutches and brakes would hurt us.I was actually made fun of for worrying about asbestos in the 800's no one takes an air hose and blows all the dust the backing plates and drums anymore.Cigarette packages have warning labels etc.etc. Some alternatives r efrigerants may be fine only time will tell.But there are some that definitely would scare me.When I was studying and getting my ASE.in A/C so I could legally buy r12 and continue to service a/c.We were told stories of people charging with propane and blowing up cars, maybe it was b/s maybe it wasn't but I still will run r12 and 134. There has to be a reason 19 states have made flammable refrigerant illegal for automotive use.Maybe it is money maybe it is safety but I will keep wearing seat belts and condoms and washing brakes out not smoking and also using approved refrigerant. Big chicken huh.

[Movin]

I am with you in general, I think the silica in ceramic brakes will be as bad as asbestos. We probably had the same instructor for R12 . The schooling we got in college is based more on fact. The trainers we got for our license were employees of the company selling the freon. There was a video they had showing a car blowing up from a freon leak. It turns out it was firemen training and the explosion was not refrigerant. They had tried all day to get the refrigerant to blow and it wouldn't. They finally used propane for the training for the firemen.

They were charging a car with freon . They had drilled a little hole in the cars evaporator. They plugged the evaporator drain. A candle would not blow it. The reason is the system was not operating with oil and hot. Hot vaporised oil will flash burn. The cars that were for real in an accident and had the AC punctured had nonflammable freon but the AC oil was explosive. This same condition will happen with the blend gasses sooner or later. There is just so many more 12 and 134 systems. Corporate lies with full government support because it is huge money lining the right pockets.

[zoe60]

Finally got it working! I replaced the compressor with a NOS unit from Rockauto (last one, sorry), replaced the expansion valve, cleaned out the evaporator, and replaced every O ring in the darn thing. Got some 40 year old cans of freon from an old guy on Ebay. Pulled a vacuum on it and it held for 5 days while I waited for the freon. Charged it up tonight and it is blowing cold as a witches, well, you get the idea! Long as it doesn't leak I am in business. I don't think it will. The throttle kicker on my Escort carb wors perfectly. Keeps the RPM's at about 900 while it is on. Worth while project and not horribly expensive. I think you guys are right about using the R12 instead of something else. Thanks.

[Movin]

Awesome! I install r12 when needed , the way you did it it will work well for you. You will be working the old cooling fan harder, keep an eye on it.

[Dragonhealer]

Excellent job zoe60 !
I like your Escort idle-up, if you can tweek it to 1100rpm, your alternator and battery will love you, idle A/C will be better too! Unless you have an autotragic, then 950 is as high as you should go.

[zoe60]

I can adjust it anywhere I want it. You think 1100 would be better? I just winged it with the 900. Seems pretty good so far.