Why did they change R12 oil to R134a?
It had to be changed to a new PAG oil. Now in order to abide by the law, the cars manufactured before 1995 needed to have a refrigerant conversion from R12 to R134a, which also led to further complexities. As R12 used a different oil that was not fit to be used with R134a, the replacement was not that simple.
How do I change the R12 in my air conditioner?
1) Discharge the R12 and recover the R12 for recycling. 2) Flush evaporator and condenser with AC flush kit to remove mineral oil 3) Flush AC high pressure and suction lines to remove mineral oil 5) Add specified Ester or PAG oil in the proper viscosity to the compressor, condenser and evaporator. 6) Swap out the high and low pressure switches
What is R12 refrigerant made of?
The molecules inside R12 consist of fluorine and chlorine, which is why it is called chlorofluorocarbon, or CFC for short, an abbreviation that was very common in the 1990s and earlier. Because of the versatile nature of R12, it quickly became a refrigerant that used in air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers.
Should you buy R12 or R134a refrigerant for your car?
Well, if you have a car that old, you have two options. Buy the R12 gas from a supplier online or in a shop, or modify your car’s air conditioning system to use R134A refrigerant. If you choose to keep the original and decide to buy R12, it will cost you more than you expect.
What do I need to convert R12 to R134a?
7:4412:07How to Convert Your Car's A/C System from R12 to R134a - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou only need to fill the system to 85 percent of its original capacity when performing a conversionMoreYou only need to fill the system to 85 percent of its original capacity when performing a conversion.
When retrofitting a system from R12 to R134a what is required to be done?
This generally involves removing all the old mineral oil from the system, replacing the accumulator or receiver/dryer with one that contains X-7 desiccant, replacing O-rings (if required), installing or replacing a high pressure cutout switch (which many shops seem to forget), changing the orifice tube or expansion ...
Can you top off 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.
Is R134a a direct replacement for R12?
There are three replacement refrigerant options for R12 systems: R134a, R401a, R401b. R134a is regarded, by manufacturers and adherents to the Montreal Protocols alike, as the best replacement refrigerant.
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.
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 will 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.
How much does it cost to convert R12 to R134a?
If you have a professional convert the R12 to R134a, you may spend about $250 for the entire service. However, this is much more cost-effective than replacing the entire air conditioning system. If you were thinking about getting an R134a system installed, your cost would be around $2,000 to $4,000.
Can you still buy R12 Freon?
Anyone with the required EPA R-12 certification still can buy the 1-pound cans at auto-parts stores, but the cans are kept in the back and guarded like gold.
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.
When should the accumulator be replaced with a new one?
As long as your air conditioning system is operating effectively, there is no need to replace the accumulator, and the life of an AC unit in a vehicle is usually 10-15 years.
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.
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.
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 a licensed shop service a R12?
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. One could argue that fewer and fewer shops are capable of servicing R12, but that depends on where you look.
Does R12 blow colder?
As a result, a perfectly functioning R12 system will blow colder and reduce temperatures faster than a system that was converted to R134a. This is especially true in abnormally high ambient temperatures and/or high humidity.
Basic Things to Know
In order to meet safety regulations and work well, a refrigerant should have two necessary characteristics. It cannot be poisonous or inflammable.
R12 to R134a Conversion
Now in order to abide by the law, the cars manufactured before 1995 needed to have a refrigerant conversion from R12 to R134a, which also led to further complexities.
Necessary Parts for Conversion
There are some important parts you will need in order to perform this conversion. These include:
Steps for Conversion
After you’ve managed all the required components for the conversion and managed the amount of R134a required. You should go for the conversion steps.
Final Thoughts
We have tried our best to give you a comprehensive insight on conversion from R12 to R134a and tell you about the consequences of using the R12 system.
What is R12?
R12 is a common coolant and has been used a lot in the early times for useful applications. The scientific name for this term is dichlorodifluoromethane, and CC12F2 abbreviates for its formula containing all the components or substances this mixture is made up of.
Importance of R134a
As R12 is not entirely safe for humanity to use, and there are many precautionary steps to be taken care of before utilizing it, R134a, an upgraded coolant, was invented.
The conversion process
So basically, there are not many ways to convert the R12 into R134a, but there are two methods that provide the desired results.
Tools needed for conversion
So here are some useful tools needed importantly for the conversion process and one cannot miss any of these tools listed below:
Final Verdict
So now that we are done with the whole article and each and every aspect regarding the conversion of R12 and R134a is discussed, we can safely say that you must be satisfied now.
R12 to R134a Charge Conversion Formula (pounds only)
A charge level between 75% and 85% is recommended when converting from R12 to R134a refrigerant. If no conversion information is provided, there is an easy formula to calculate the difference in charge level. This works when the R12 charge specification is listed in pounds. Take the R12 charge specification and multiply it by 0.9.
R12 to R134a Refrigerant Charge Conversion Charts
While the formula above is helpful, you might be strapped for time and need an answer quickly. Below is a PDF of tables that show R12 to R134a refrigerant charge conversions in pounds and ounces:
Additional Info from the Forum
In a discussion regarding R12 to R134a conversion, one of our members, Fixbear, provided some helpful tips. In addition to a full conversion chart (in ounces), he also provided the following consideration:
How to replace R12 compressor?
The first step is first to make sure that the AC system is empty. Discharge and make sure to recycle it properly. Make sure your AC compressor is in good shape, otherwise replace it. Flush your current system entirely of R12 without leaving any traces of the R12 in it.
How to convert AC to R134A?
There are two ways to convert the air conditioning of your vehicle to the R134A gas. One is the factory method, where you would need to replace the AC parts, and the other is to modify the existing components to use R134A. The second option may be cheaper, but it’s better to go for the first, because since your car is already getting old, ...
What is R134A used for?
Today, R134A is commonly used in vehicle air conditioning systems , but it can also be used in refrigerators, freezers and other refrigeration equipment similar to R12. R134A is sometimes also used to cool overworked ...
What is R134A?
The R134A as a replacement for R12. Soon the R12s were banned in many places. As a result, they were replaced by other refrigerant gases, one of which is R134A. Unlike R12, R134A contains hydrogen and fluorine molecules, which is why it is also called HFC and not CFC. The use of R134A prevented damage to the ozone layer.
What is the problem with R12?
The only problem with R12 was that it would decompose on contact with a flame or fire and become toxic by inhalation. People were advised to quickly switch off all stoves and flame sources in case of leakage and to open all windows so that all the toxic gas could spread in the atmosphere.
What is the chemical name for R12?
The technical or chemical name of R12 is dichlorodifluoromethane. CCI2F2 is its formula, which contains the chemicals that make it up. According to its technical data, the weight per molecule of R12 is about 121 with a boiling point of -21.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is R12 a CFC?
Soon, after research and studies, scientists concluded that R12, a CFC gas, was harmful to the ozone layer and thus damaged it, which is why alternatives to R12 were chosen. One alternative to the refrigerant R12 is R134A.
How to convert R12 to R134A?
How to convert your auto R12 system to R134a. There are two ways to convert your car’s old R12 system to R134a: The factory method and the easy method. The factory method is the best choice because you’ll replace parts that are probably leaking due to age. Plus, you’ll get the best AC performance using the factory method.
How to clean a R12?
1) Discharge the R12 and recover the R12 for recycling. 2) Add recommended amount of PAG or Ester oil. 3) Swap out the high and low pressure switches. 4) Attach high and low port adapters. 5) Attach vacuum pump and manifold gauge set and pull a vacuum for 45-minutes minimum.
What is R134A?
R134a raises discharge pressure, so it increases compressor work load. Some older compressors can’t handle the increased load. If your vehicle has a Harrison DA6 replace with an HD-6, HR-6, or HR-6HE. If your vehicle has a Ford FX-15 compressor, replace with an FS-10 compressor.
How to remove mineral oil from a compressor?
2) Flush evaporator and condenser with AC flush kit to remove mineral oil. 3) Flush AC high pressure and suction lines to remove mineral oil. 4) Empty oil from compressor. 5) Add specified Ester or PAG oil in the proper viscosity to the compressor, condenser and evaporator.
Is R134A lighter than R12?
Since R134a is LIGHTER than R12, you must convert the charge weight to get the proper charge during your retrofit. Fill the system with 75 to 85% of the factory specified capacity to achieve the best cooling. Use this formula or the chart below.
Does R134A cool down?
R134a doesn’t cool as efficiently as R12, so even when properly charged your system won’t cool as well. Plus, R134a has a lower tolerance for over/under charging. In fact, you’ll DECREASE AC performance by adding too much R134a refrigerant. That’s just the opposite of R12.