Both of these refrigerants wont be used in new air conditioning or refrigeration plants, but theyll continue to be used in existing plants and the automotive industry. The following is verbatim from EPAs website: EPA performs random inspections, responds to tips, and pursues potential cases against violators of the Section 608 regulations. The concern that the original R12 hoses would leak R134a like a screen door on a submarine appeared to be largely unfounded, as the insides of original hoses seemed to naturally become impregnated with a combination of refrigerant and oil that acted as a barrier. Subtract or 0.25 pounds from this number. The symbol implies that R12 is a composite of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. By international agreement in 1987 (the Montreal Protocol), the use and production of CFCs such as R12 began to be phased out, with automobile manufacturers required to stop using it by the end of the 1994 model year. With R12 you use to check to see if the site glass was full, if it had bubbles it meant you had a low charge. As the manufacture of this product is now banned, the costs associated with it will inevitably rise. With a tight modernized system thatll accept either refrigerant, you should then consider where and how the system will be operated. R12 is known as a CFC or chlorofluorocarbon, with a chemical symbol of CCl2F2. You can look up the law yourself at www.epa.gov/mvac, but basically it boils down to three things. PDF A Comparison Between Refrigerants Used In Air Conditioning This drop can affect energy consumption since the plant will operate for a longer period or a larger plant will have to be installed. In Stock. These attributes make it very attractive for domestic refrigeration. As you probably know, matter can exist in three statessolid, liquid, and gas. The typical scenario here is when the car owner buys an inexpensive retro-fit kit from the local auto parts store. Doesnt contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. All these industries still have old plants that use these refrigerants. R134a reacts with water to form hydrofluoric acid which damages the internal A/C components. 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. Its chemical name is dichlorodifluoromethane, and its chemical formula is CCl2F2. R-134a entirely dominated the automotive market by 1994. You either get a system that will function well with R1234yf or get any other type. These properties make it very attractive for domestic, commercial, and automotive refrigeration and air conditioning. This means that this compound is made up of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. As these two products essentially do the same job, there are many similarities between the two refrigerants. Sign up for the latest automotive news and videosin short, everything for people who love cars. Once you take these precautions, it would be possible to use R134A gauges R410A systems seamlessly. This is an electronic tool that sucks in air through a tube and across a sensor. But once youre on that path, you can improve the system with a new compressor and parallel-flow condenser which, in most cases, will allow you to get good results with R134a. Refrigerant 134a, or R134a, was developed as an alternative to the CFC refrigerants known to cause environmental damage. AC R-134 Manifold Gauge Sets & Replacement Parts for Car AC Gauges How To Use An A/C Manifold Gauge Set - CARiD What's the difference between these and how do. But, if your old compressor has lock-up or if your current expansion valve is not functional it would wise to replace the expansion valve with a valve designed for R134a. After the optimum refrigerant charge is determined the car should be test driven to check for performance of the system. Your decision could be made based on economics, environmental concerns, or both. This chemical is tetrafluoroethane, and its chemical formula is CH2FCF3. Find more info about me and HVAC Training 101. I wouldnt say Im a BMW enthusiast. Technicians must capture and recycle R134a safely, and the gas must be disposed of by following the EPA guidelines. Ed. Awareness of Changing Refrigerant Types - I-CAR In addition to the low boiling point, there are two other de facto requirements for refrigerant: It shouldnt be poisonous, and it shouldnt be flammable. Only licensed air conditioning companies and technicians may purchase this refrigerant. The major environmental impact of this refrigerant escaping into the atmosphere is its contribution to global warming. But in order for refrigeration to work, you need something that has a low boiling point, something that exists as a gas at room temperature and can be easily pressurized into a liquid so that, when it is allowed to expand, it immediately boils at room temperature and cools. 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. This week, we discuss the thing thats actually boiling and coolingthe refrigerant itself. Tech Talk - Differences between R-1234yf and R-134a - FJC Inc R134a and R12 are both refrigerants used in vehicle air conditioning systems. In the case of R134a, its the global warming potential thats an issue. Unfortunately, converting existing air conditioners that use R22 to use new refrigerants isnt easy. Pressure Temperature Table If it is adjustable there will be an adjustment screw between the two terminals. But, if your car lacks enough condenser and you have many 100+ degree days then you may want to stick either increase air flow, add another condenser as we mentioned in The Mr. Ice Project or stick with R12. However, you will need different recovery machines and other equipment to handle R1234yf. We don't save this data. 2021 Complete Guide. R134A does not deplete the ozone layer of the earth as it is a CFC refrigerant. In addition, there was the lubricant issue. Theres one type of oil that will work with both refrigerants. Reusing Refrigerant: Refrigerant must be properly recycled or reclaimed before it can be reused, even if it is being returned to the vehicle from which it was removed. Unfortunately, this product still contains chlorine. From this number, subtract 1/4, or 0.25 pounds. Note that there is another kind of oil called Polyol Ester Oil (POE). Can I Use Automotive r134a in a Refrigerator | An Expert Guide Now, in the case of big American cars, with their massively overbuilt A/C systems and huge condensers, R134a conversion often worked fine. So if you car has a large amount of rubber hose, such as a 40 feet with the 911, then you will be re-charging the system often and that is expensive no matter which refrigerant you use. PDF R134a R513A - Tecumseh Products For instance at 25 F the pressure of R-12 is 24.6 PSI and the pressure of R-134a is 22.1 PSI. 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. Before landing on the debate of R134 vs R12 you should know that both R134a and R12 are AC refrigerants types used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. BTW Im sorta tempted to buy one of your BMW 2002 cars. Lets take you through the advantages, disadvantages, and differences of these two refrigerants a detailed comparison including R12 vs R134a performance. We, the Rxmechanic team, have presented a well-detailed comparison of R134a vs. R12. Its called Polyol Ester Oil or POE oil. Also, the fittings and hoses should be perfectly compatible with R410A. I have never see the other way around. Another way to check is to look at the air conditioning connectors. We have the best A/C Manifold Gauge Set and Components for the right price. If your a/c system is empty/low on refrigerant, if your system has a leak or if you need to open the system, then now is the time to decide which refrigerant you want to use. Most vehicles manufactured before 1993 have the R12 A/C system. Rob Siegel has been writing the column The Hack Mechanic for BMW CCA Roundel magazine for 30 years. The main difference between R12, R134a, and R1234yf is their effect on the environment. R-12 and R-134a use different size fittings in order to avoid mixing the two types of refrigerant. And it was safeneither poisonous to breathe, nor flammable. R12 is miscible with mineral oil under any operating condition. Here are a few of the more common questions. However, theyre still used in older plants, systems, and the automotive industry. 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. You do not however need to replace all the o-rings or seals for a simple conversion, it is simply a logical thing to do when and if the time comes to work or replace certain components because of age issues. And then there is the very interesting refrigerant R152a, which is the ingredient in keyboard duster, minus the bittering agent added to prevent inhalant abuse. 21, 1439 AH. First, it is a pernicious ozone-destroying agent, so if you are going to use it in a car, you are morally required to do everything under the sun to thoroughly leak-test the system before charging it with R12. Nevertheless, repeat after me: It is illegal to vent refrigerant. 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. Besides R134a there are some other refrigerants that are approved to replace R12 and there is a long list of refrigerants that are not approved. Whenever its exposed to the environment, it changes to a gas. In sum, R12 has done more bad than good. At room temperature R410a has a pressure of nearly 200 psi, while R134a is around 70 psi. R12 costs about 4 times as much as R134a. R134a can easily go between liquid and vapor states as with other refrigerants. 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. 5 foreign cars that were copied from American style. Therefore, the higher the factor of the chemical (compound), the greater its effect on global warming. R12 systems used mineral oil, but unfortunately mineral oil doesnt dissolve in R134a. Small NOS cans of R12 are widely available on eBay and Craigslist for about $30 apiece. R134a was touted as the replacement for R12 until it too was deemed environmentally undesirable. Also worth noting is that the R-600a requires a shorter time to reach -21C (60 minutes) compared to the R-134a (135 minutes) [1]. The hose length is 60 inches and comes with a 1-year warranty. The original rubber a/c hose lines in your car will leak out R12 through the hoses lining. These properties make it popular for domestic and commercial refrigeration. You do not have to split up the 5-6 oz of oil and add it to each component, just simply put it all in the compressor as it will move throughout the whole system once the system is operational.