R12 vs R134a Refrigerant: What is the Difference? - 2022 Complete Guide These cheap kits usually have a few cans of R134a (either 12 ounce or 16 ounce), maybe an extra can of refrigerant oil, a few generic R134a charge port adapters and maybe some o-rings. Unfortunately, taking the longer view of things, even if you do leak-test a car thoroughly and properly all A/C systems leak eventually, so any can of R12 you put into a car will likely wind up in the atmosphere, an eventuality that I am less and less comfortable with. 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. Its often said that R12 is no longer available. Given two identical vehicles, each with the same weighted amount of refrigerant, the vehicle with the R134a has the capability to remove more heat (measured in btus) from the vehicle than the same type of vehicle using the same amount of R12. This can be very very expensive. Therefore, the R12 refrigerant is illegal, and emitting it is illegal. The major environmental impact of this refrigerant escaping into the atmosphere is its contribution to global warming. The safe high side pressures are determined with a PT (pressures and temperatures) chart. As the manufacture of this product is now banned, the costs associated with it will inevitably rise. As this gas has such an effect on the environment, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has strict guidelines for its use. Technicians must capture and recycle R134a safely, and the gas must be disposed of by following the EPA guidelines. When theyre in a liquid state, theyll remove heat from air passing over the pipes theyre in and slowly evaporate to form a gas. The molecule size of R134a is smaller than that of R12, so there was concern that R134a could leak out through the hoses and flare fittings that R12 systems used. The symbol implies that R12 is a composite of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. The approval is very legal one, governed by the U.S. EPA. If you still find it difficult to use R134a in a home AC system, you can check out a comparison of R12 vs R134a fittings to know the refrigerant that best fits the AC system. However, the operating pressures are reportedly four times those of other refrigerants, so retrofit appears out of the question. After the optimum refrigerant charge is determined the car should be test driven to check for performance of the system. Also, if you want to know what happens if you put R134a in an R12 system, you should first confirm if the R12 system can be replaced or if the refrigerants can be mixed. Older fridges and air conditioning units that use this refrigerant will still work efficiently, and converting them to more modern refrigerants will be difficult and unrealistically expensive. You can find many videos and web forum posts where people retrofit R152a into cars that originally had R12 and profess excellent results, but it is not approved by the EPA for retrofit applications, only new car applications. Its been used in the refrigeration industry for a long time, so theres a large body of knowledge established around the product. Some compressor manufacturers or OEMs suggest PAG type oil for R134a. R12 R22 R134a R404a Manifold Gauge Set 3" Gauge HVAC A/C Refrigeration As long as the compressor was working well, it could be drained, filled with R134a-compatible oil, and reused. In many parts of the world, its now viewed as a greenhouse gas, and its use is discouraged. ODP = 0, Has a global warming potential (GWP) of 10900, No longer manufactured or imported into the USA, Has an ozone depletion factor (ODP) of 1 which is the highest possible, Has a global warming potential (GWP) of 1430. There are many thousands of older air conditioning and refrigeration plants that use these refrigerants. At this time you can still find R12, but, because it is no longer produced, availability is limited to current inventories and the price per pound is greater than R134a. This means that it has a high potential of causing depletion to the ozone layer. Its legal to own either of these gasses, but its illegal to vent them into the air. Hot spot auto parts .ca sells R12a for about $10/can and a $10 ALL IN ONE can with oil. In contrast, the most likely reason youd consider recharging with an alternative refrigerant is because the refrigerant leaked out of your car and youre trying to avoid doing a full-on A/C rejuvenation which includes finding the leak and properly changing refrigerants. Since you cant vent any refrigerant without breaking the law, and since youll be hard-pressed to find a shop that will recover anything other than R134a, youll have painted yourself into a corner. Stay home and grill your own steaks and stir your own martini. 2001-2023 Griffiths Technical Inc. All Rights Reserved. R12s boiling point is -21.6F or -29.8C. R12 is known as a CFC or chlorofluorocarbon, with a chemical symbol of CCl2F2. Lichamp HVAC R410A Manifold Gauge Set AC R134A, Freon R22 R32 410A 134A Diagnostic Manifold Gauge with Hose Kit Air Conditioner Refrigerant Recharge Kit Visit the Lichamp Store 403 ratings | 10 answered questions -27% $7999 List Price: $109.99 FREE Returns Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping. Tech Talk - Differences between R-1234yf and R-134a - FJC Inc After the initial charge the system is then tweeked : you determine the optimum amount of refrigerant to match your system by monitoring the a/c outlet vent temperature and the high side pressure as you add or remove refrigerant. Miscibility with oil: R12 can be mixed with the compressor oil no matter the operating condition. R134a is an HFC or tetrafluoroethane, and its chemical formula is CH2FCF3. The problem was that there was not agreement on exactly what was required for the conversion. R12 is known as a CFC or chlorofluorocarbon, with a chemical symbol of CCl2F2. It is usually sold under the brand name, Freon 12. For instance at 25 F the pressure of R-12 is 24.6 PSI and the pressure of R-134a is 22.1 PSI. Only licensed air conditioning companies and technicians may purchase this refrigerant. In todays world, the combination of its ozone-depleting ability and its contribution to global warming makes this product a major issue for many countries. Legally. If an A/C system isnt working, the root cause needs to be diagnosed, and the system needs to be fixed. See your PT chart. Thats not the case with R12, ensuring that the efficiency of the plant isnt compromised. It belongs to a class of chemicals known as HFCs, and they dont contain chlorine, so R134a doesnt damage the ozone layer. Yes, there will be less refrigerant by weight. We have the best A/C Manifold Gauge Set and Components for the right price. BTW Im sorta tempted to buy one of your BMW 2002 cars. R134a is used in many applications such as: Although this type is better than R12, using this kind of refrigerant also has some problems associated with it. Bottom line, R134a simply doesn't cool as well as R12. In addition, there is a $10,000 rat-out fee your neighbor can collect if youre venting refrigerant and he tattles on you. This is an electronic tool that sucks in air through a tube and across a sensor. The global warming potential of R134a is 1430. However, you need calibrated gauges for R410A. Welcome to rxmechanic.com. Important Features: Color-coded Easy to use Made of high-quality brass Specific for R-134a Pros: Easy to operate. Why racetracks are giving hybrids and EVs the cold shoulder, Rearview cameras have been around longer than you think, At $720,000, this Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina is looking for its top, For roadster lovers, Mazdas Miata is (still) the answer, National Council of Corvette Clubs lifts competition ban on E-Ray, How fast is the Corvette E-Ray? Alternator Overcharging - Causes and Fixes. You confirmed my decisions in one elegant post (as opposed to the 60-odd hours of blog post readings and YouTube videos). SKU # 532244. . Its not illegal to own this product, but with it being withdrawn from use in so many countries, its no longer manufactured. For instance you can evacuate FRIGC FR-12 into a refrigerant recovery bottle that has R134a in it or visa versa. The best oil that runs well with R134a is PAG oil or Polyalkylene Glycol. Amazon.com: Lichamp HVAC R410A Manifold Gauge Set AC R134A, Freon R22 Usually, mechanics charge around $200 for conversion. Also, since R134a uses synthetic oil, it has a low global warming potential, unlike R12 which uses mineral oil which poses a negative environmental impact. Here are a few of the more common questions. That makes it safe in terms of safety to use. Part # LX-14. This is measured using a factor known as ODP (ozone depletion potential). Interestingly, theres one oil type that works perfectly with both types of refrigerants. The simple answer is you cant. Thank you! Stay on the right side of the law, the environment, and your conscience, and dont vent refrigerant. 1. The boiling point of R134a is -15.34F (-26.3C.) These applications will - due to browser restrictions - send data between your browser and our server. If your car was produced after 1994, it likely has R134a used as the refrigerant. R134a was the replacement refrigerant for R12. Of course, there could be other problems such as a seized compressor or a blocked expansion valve. Because of R1234yfs mild flammability, BMW and Mercedes are now adopting R744. A vacuum pump, a refrigerant recover system, quality service gauge set with both low and high side gagues, and much more besides the lessons to learn what to do and what not to do. R12 has an ODP of 1, meaning that it has the highest potential to destroy the ozone layer. . The name of the oil is Polyol Ester (POE). As a result, each refrigerant's system requirements are quite . For all of these reasons, the issues of conversion and performance need to be cleanly separated. Your email address will not be published. R134a systems operate at higher discharge-side pressures than R12, which can cause compressor seals to leak.

Is Johnstown, Pa A Good Place To Live, Where Did Decolonization Occur After World War Ii?, Morse Code Tapping Sound In Ear, Identify Three Facets Affected By Cultural Differences, Articles D