R12 ac?

[Helirich]

My AC does not work. I'm in Florida, so it must work. The PO told me it did wnen parked two years ago. I am a licensed AC tech, so this is not too big of a deal. Obviously, the pressure has leaked down below the minimum to turn on the system. Back when they restricted R12, my brother bought quite a few bottles of it. So I could charge it with that. Do most of you convert to 134A? Is there less performance when you do that?

I sware there was a thread in the "how to" section titled "bullet proof AC". I figured I would read that when I got the chance. Now I can't find it. Could it have been deleted?

[Ron]

Expect higher pressures and lower performance with 134a.

Maybe this link?:
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?15344-How-To-Diagnosing-and-bulletproofing-your-A-C

[Michael]

I bit the bullet a few years ago and converted to 134. I doubt any real R12 is left for us to get our hands on and finding a r12 machine is another hurdle. I had a nice r12 machine and about 12 cans of r12 substitute but decided to go the 134 route out of simplicity. It supposedly cools about 8-10 degrees less and I think you don't use as much freon with the newer stuff. You might need to adjust your pressure switch so the fans still cycle at the right pressures.

I sold my machine but it sure was pretty. Had that cool vintage tool look that I love but it took up a lot of space.

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[Ron]

...and I think you don't use as much freon with the newer stuff. You might need to adjust your pressure switch so the fans still cycle at the right pressures.
I think you meant compressor.

======

Changing over means a full flush, different oil, and a new accumulator (some say hoses too).
I doubt you'll like the results in FL.

[Michael]

I think you meant compressor.

======

Changing over means a full flush, different oil, and a new accumulator (some say hoses too).
I doubt you'll like the results in FL.

Yeah compressor. I must have had fans on my mind since on some cars they on and off with the compressor. (Not mine though).

[cdrusn]

In a perfect world, continuing with R12 would be the way to go. As long as you have no leaks and have access to 3 or 4 cans to have stored away
you are good to go. In the world we live in it is going to be harder or impossible to find R12 so going to R134 is necessary. You might be able to just
buy the conversion low pressure high pressure valves to go on the compressor, vacuum the system and recharge the system with R134. . The seals might leak or they might not and if they leak a little bit so what, R134 is $6 a can. You won't notice the difference in performance. I lived in Hawaii for 45 years and it is much hotter than Florida all year long and all of my a/c was R134 and was comfortable as long as it worked correctly.

[Helirich]

In a perfect world, continuing with R12 would be the way to go. As long as you have no leaks and have access to 3 or 4 cans to have stored away
you are good to go. In the world we live in it is going to be harder or impossible to find R12 so going to R134 is necessary. You might be able to just
buy the conversion low pressure high pressure valves to go on the compressor, vacuum the system and recharge the system with R134. . The seals might leak or they might not and if they leak a little bit so what, R134 is $6 a can. You won't notice the difference in performance. I lived in Hawaii for 45 years and it is much hotter than Florida all year long and all of my a/c was R134 and was comfortable as long as it worked correctly.

Umm, Florida is ranked the #1 hottest state, Hawaii is #2. Of course that is annual average. I would have thought Arizona, but I guess they get cold in winter.

https://www.currentresults.com/Weather/US/average-annual-state-temperatures.php

In any case, my brother has several large tanks of R12. He thought he was going to make a killing. Lol. Now he's going to give them to me.

I have a Bronco that I converted to 134 and it doesn't work great. In newer cars that are designed for it, it works fantastic. I think they use larger condensers for the new cars. In this case, I think I will try the R12. If it works, fine. If not, I may have to buy 134 stuff.

[mark w]

There is also the option of using Red Tek substitute, which is more environmentally friendly. this is what DMC uses now for several years.

DeloreanTech has some videos about it on Youtube.

[Nicholas R]

There is also the option of using Red Tek substitute, which is more environmentally friendly. this is what DMC uses now for several years.

DeloreanTech has some videos about it on Youtube.

https://i.imgur.com/9ZKDpnf.jpg

[DMC-81]

Hi. I'm in Central Florida and I still run R12. Here is my refurb thread if it helps:
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?15632-Refurbing-a-Very-Early-A-C-System

[Michael]

Hi. I'm in Central Florida and I still run R12. Here is my refurb thread if it helps:
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?15632-Refurbing-a-Very-Early-A-C-System

WOW! Now that's a AC refurb!

[DMC-81]

WOW! Now that's a AC refurb!

Thanks Michael. :thumbup: It was a rewarding adventure.

[David T]

R-12 is available on E-Bay. Stay with it as long as you can. -134 will diminish your capacity. You can also use R-414 (a blended substitute).

[dn010]

I live near Tampa. I've been using 134 and haven't had any issues with it keeping me cool. Of course, the proper way to convert to it is to change the hoses, the oil in the AC system, flush it, new accumulator, etc. So, with all of that, it is easier and cheaper to keep R12 in it but I really don't have a problem with the 134.

[Lenny]

This worked for me.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?18483-My-ac-is-working!!!&p=260346&viewfull=1#post260346

[TTait]

Particularly being an AC tech, you shouldn't have any issues hunting down the leaks and getting everything sealed up pretty well. I'd vote for staying with R12. You ned to pull and hold a hard vacuum either way, and you don't want to be leaking either. Some people go to R134a because they can live with a small leak and just top off every year, but I'd imagine you have the tools and experience to find the small leak easily so it won't matter.

R12 just cools better. 134 is fine if you don't have R12 - but R12 works better.

*As to the Hawaii comment - many homes there don't have AC - you need to remember its average temp in Hawaii they are looking at. When it hits 84 degrees every day year round, your going to have an average high temp - but a hot day in Hawaii is usually 87. What's a hot day in Florida, Texas, Arizona or California?*

[Helirich]

Particularly being an AC tech, you shouldn't have any issues hunting down the leaks and getting everything sealed up pretty well. I'd vote for staying with R12. You ned to pull and hold a hard vacuum either way, and you don't want to be leaking either. Some people go to R134a because they can live with a small leak and just top off every year, but I'd imagine you have the tools and experience to find the small leak easily so it won't matter.

R12 just cools better. 134 is fine if you don't have R12 - but R12 works better.

*As to the Hawaii comment - many homes there don't have AC - you need to remember its average temp in Hawaii they are looking at. When it hits 84 degrees every day year round, your going to have an average high temp - but a hot day in Hawaii is usually 87. What's a hot day in Florida, Texas, Arizona or California?*

I do have all the tools, but sometimes chasing leaks is still an issue. I have a slow leak in my Bronco. I top it off about three times a year. Every part on the AC is new in the last two years. I believe the leak is in the new evaporator. But it's difficult to get at. I just live with it. Most of my experince is with walkin refrigerator/freezers. Slightly differnt.

On the Delorean, I first will put my gauges on and see if there's any pressure. There's no reason to pull a vacuum if there's still pressure in the system. (Nothing can leak in if there's pressure.) If that's the case, I will just top it off and see what happens. If there's no pressure, I'm going to pressure it up with argon to see if there's any giant leak. (Ever since I stopped doing regular work in refrigeration, I charge my nitro tank with argon for back up to welding) I can force the compressor to start to see if it's locked up. At that point, if I don't have a leak, I can vacuum it and put R12 and some oil in. I have recovery equipment if I want to pull it back out.

DMC 8 has a fantastic referb thread, but I would just buy new stuff.

In Florida, it rarely hits a 100, but gets regular 92-95 days.

[TTait]

Helirich - see PM.

[Helirich]

Helirich - see PM.

TTait, your pm's are full. I can't reply to you.