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how to convert from r12 to r134a on a 1986 v.w. golf

by Deion Harvey DDS Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago

How do you convert R12 to R134a?

Steps To Convert R-12 to R-134a Take the vehicle to a repair shop licensed for A/C work that can evacuate the system of R-12 and recover it properly. Using an A/C flush kit, flush the evaporator and condenser to remove any remaining mineral oil in the system.

How do you hook up a R134a to a T valve?

Screw the T-valve to a can of R-134a, start the engine and turn the A/C to its highest setting. Connect the T-valve hose to the low side service port. Open the valve and let the system draw refrigerant out of the can, monitoring the temperature with a thermometer in the center vent.

How to replace the R12 air conditioning system?

You need to open the engine compartments. Find the high and low service ports for the R12 air conditioning system. Push the new R134a fitting over the old fitting. You need to use torque fitting to 20 foot-pounds Ensure that all the valves in your manifold gauges are closed.

Does my car have R12 or R134A air conditioning?

Vehicles manufactured before 1994 used R12 for air conditioning. Vehicles older than 1994 started using R134A instead of R12. So what if you have a car that was made in 1994 or even earlier? Well, if you have a car that old, you have two options.

How do I switch from R12 to R134a?

How to Convert Car AC R12 to R134aDiscard R12. Before you do anything else, you need to pump out the R12 refrigerant that is currently in the system. ... Retrofit the System. You must add new fittings to both the low and high side service ports on the AC system. ... Hook up Gauges. ... Pump in R134a Refrigerant.

Can I replace R12 with R134a?

No. Federal law prohibits topping off an R12 system with a different refrigerant. Your options are to locate some R12, however you must be certified to purchase, and add it with an R-12 recharge hose.

Can you put r134 refrigerant in a R12 system?

Mixing R12 and R-134a refrigerants is illegal, and even if you previously bleed out the R12, the system has to be adjusted to use R-134a, or it will cause leaks, copper corrosion, and lack the lubrication required for optimal operation.

Can you convert R12 gauges to R134a?

FJC 6025 R12 to R134a Manifold Gauge Conversion Kit Converts R-12 gauge to R-134A. Contains R-134A 90 degree Quick Couplers and Adapter for R134a Refrigerant Tank.

What happens if you put R134a in a R12 system?

R134a systems work at higher discharge-side pressures than R12 systems, which could lead to compressor seals leaks. Additionally, since R134a is composed of much smaller molecules, it has a greater chance of leaking from an R12 system.

Are R12 and r134 fittings different?

R12 has threaded fittings (left) and R134a uses quick disconnect fittings (right). However, if you want to go the extra mile in preserving your car's originality and value (and you have additional money to spend) there a plenty of reasons to avoid doing this conversion.

What is the best replacement for R12 refrigerant?

The best replacement for R12 is considered to be R-134a. The chemical name of R134a is tetrafluoroethane and it chemical formula is CF3CH2F. It is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and has zero ozone depletion causing potential and very low greenhouse effect.

When retrofitting a system from R12 to R134a what is required to be done quizlet?

When retrofitting a system from R-12 to R-134a, what is required to be done? Retrofit labels must be attached to the vehicle in a visible location.

How do I Retrof my AC in my car?

1:0120:50How To Retrofit an AC System R-12 to R-134a -EricTheCarGuy - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOil out of the system before you put in new oil fortunately. I'm not gonna have to do that but thisMoreOil out of the system before you put in new oil fortunately. I'm not gonna have to do that but this is what we're dealing with pretty much a retrofit kit consists of some new fittings.

Is R12 refrigerant still available?

R12 Refrigerant Today It is illegal to manufacture new R12, but it is not illegal to sell or use R12. And many of the cylinders and cans of Freon R-12 sold for decades throughout the United States are still around.

How much is 134a in a R12 system?

R12 to R134a Refrigerant Charge Conversion in pounds (lbs)R12 Charge SpecificationR134a Refrigerant Charge Level1 lb.0.65 lbs.2 lbs.1.55 lbs.3 lbs.2.45 lbs.4 lbs.3.35 lbs.3 more rows•May 10, 2022

What size are R12 service ports?

1/4 in6430BrandsATCOFemale Thread Size5/16 in.-24Port TypeR12Port Size1/4 inFeaturesStraight1 more row

What is the best replacement for R12 refrigerant?

The best replacement for R12 is considered to be R-134a. The chemical name of R134a is tetrafluoroethane and it chemical formula is CF3CH2F. It is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and has zero ozone depletion causing potential and very low greenhouse effect.

What happens if you put the wrong refrigerant in your car?

You cannot mix refrigerant types, and putting the wrong refrigerant in your car will cause damage to the air conditioning system! If you're not sure which kind of refrigerant your vehicle takes, DIY A/C charging may not be for you.

Who invented R-12 refrigerant?

What was needed was something that was neither and was safe to handle, and in the early 30s GM's chief engineer Charles Kettering developed dichlorodifluoromethane, also known as R-12. At the time, Frigidaire was a wholly-owned subsidiary of GM, and Kettering's team also took the lead on developing R-12 refrigerant.

What refrigerant was used in the 60s?

By the '60s and '70s, automotive air conditioning was quickly going from being a luxury to a must-have option, especially on many full-size and luxury cars. R-12 was the standard refrigerant for automotive A/C systems for many, many years. It was good for its designed purpose; R-12 was a very effective refrigerant and was even used as ...

How to get refrigerant out of a can?

Connect the T-valve hose to the low side service port. Open the valve and let the system draw refrigerant out of the can, monitoring the temperature with a thermometer in the center vent. You'll be able to feel the can getting lighter and colder as it empties.

When did the R12 refrigerant stop being made?

So, under an international agreement, a law was introduced worldwide to stop the manufacturing and use of CFCs. In 1996, the International manufacturing of R12 refrigerant was ceased.

What is the R134A retrofit capacity?

You can use the R134a retrofit capacity chart for this purpose. Generally, the new amount is 75-85% of the quantity advised by the manufacturer. R134a has a lower tolerance for mischarging, so you will face worse performance even if you overcharge as compared to the R12.

What is the ingredient in a car's refrigerator called?

The ingredient used in the refrigerator and A/C of your car is called a refrigerant , and the performance of the car’s cooling system depends greatly upon the quality of refrigerant.

Does R134A cool as well as R12?

R134a operates at higher discharge pressure, which can cause compressor seals to leak out. The result was evident- R134a could not cool as well as R12.

Is PAG oil compatible with refrigerant?

The previously used oil in the car systems was not compatible with the new refrigerant as it was not dissolved. It had to be changed to a new PAG oil.

Is tetrafluoroethylene a CFC?

Tetrafluoroethylene was a type of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC). R134a is also sometimes called ‘Freon’ although it’s not a CFC, which means ozone-depleting properties do not exist in R134a.

What is the difference between R134A and R12?

R12 has threaded fittings (left) and R134a uses quick disconnect fittings (right). However, if you want to go the extra mile in preserving your car’s originality and value (and you have additional money to spend) there a plenty of reasons to avoid doing this conversion. Understand that R12 has its advantages.

Why convert to R134A?

Converting your old car to R134a was so heavily endorsed in the past (and still is) because it is better for the environment. It is not ozone-depleting, unlike R12. But the real reason people do it is for cost and convenience. At $50+ a can, R12 is expensive and hard to find. You also need to show proof of a 609 EPA license before you can purchase any, forcing non-licensed owners to bring their vehicles to a licensed shop (going against the satisfaction of servicing their old car by themselves). That licensed shop needs to be equipped to service R12, and many aren’t. Add to the fact that R134a conversion kits are relatively inexpensive, and you can see why most people don’t hesitate to convert their cars.

Which is better R12 or R134A?

R12 can blow 6 to 7 degrees cooler than R134a and is 15% more efficient. R134a systems require larger condensers and higher operating pressures than R12 systems because R134a doesn’t have as high of a heat transfer rate as R12 (which has a heavier molecular size than R134a).

Is R134A a leak?

1. R134A is more hygroscopic than R12, so it is more prone to moisture absorption. This requires tighter seals and connections, as well as increased maintenance. Also, since R134a has a smaller molecular size, it is more prone to leaks than R12. 2.

Is PAG oil compatible with R12?

2. PAG oil (Polyalkylene Glycol, a lubricant) comes standard in R134a cans, and this oil is not compatible with R12. If the R12 isn’t 100% flushed out of the system during a conversion, the newly introduced PAG oil will eventually turn into a gelatin-like substance, foregoing its ability to lubricate (PAG oil does not tolerate chlorine, which is found in R12).

Does PAG oil comply with R12 seals?

Some backyard mechanics or shady shops take short cuts and don’t replace all the seals during a conversion, for example. PAG oil does not comply with R12 seals, dramatically reducing the life of the seals and resulting in leaks.

Can you restore a R12?

There has been an increased demand in restoring cars to factory original condition (with original A/C systems) and many vintage restoration shops are purchasing, restoring, and maintaining both R12 cars and R12 recovery equipment. Yes, it is a hassle to bring your car to these types of shops if they aren’t local, but once you have a perfectly functioning R12 system, it will require less maintenance than a “converted” R134a system, as well as blow colder, reach temperature faster, and maintain the originality of the car. Add to the fact that many R134a conversions are improperly done (resulting in issues), and you can see why an original, unmodified R12 system is desirable to both enthusiasts and collectors.

Why won't my 134A compressor work?

2 Reasons the 134A conversions will never work correctly. the gas filament inside the expansion valve is set to an R12 temperature. So original expansion valves will never work properly with 134A temperature. At night you might get a slight cool moment. Secondly, the design of the condenser is a "tube and Fin" design. Doesn't work well with 134A. Then there's always the mineral oil and pag oil coagulation resulting in the compressors "black death", but settings that aside...Expansion valve and condenser you can't avoid....

Is R12 expensive?

r12 is extremely expensive and almost impossible to find. i did the upgrade a year ago to r134a and no issues.

Can a R12 valve work with a 134A valve?

Yes, the new valves say 134a on them. so yes they work with 134a, but they have used gas in the new ones that will also operate with R12. The "best of both" . Before it was "either or." So old R12 will not work with 134a. Plus you changed your condenser. My point to others who try 134A with an R12, original equipment valve expansion valve, and original condenser will have a less than desirable outcome.

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