Air conditioner freon is responsible for cooling your car - it's a key component of your car's A/C. First things first. This port is typically found on the line connecting the accumulator … Initially, an invasive recipe was proposed: the system should be flushed to remove any traces of the old R12-specific mineral oil, the compressor and expansion valve should be replaced with R134a-specific versions to perform correctly, and the old hoses should be replaced with 134a-specific barrier hoses to forestall leakage. In most cases this can be fixed with a proven stop leak additive to seal up any leaks. An AC doesn’t “use up” refrigerant. Because this recipe was quite expensive, a backlash developed which gave companies an opportunity to sell “conversion kits” consisting of nothing but the charging port adapters and a small bottle of oil that was somehow magically supposed to make your mineral oil R134a-compatible. If you’re resurrecting the A/C in a vintage car, the vast majority of the time the refrigerant has long since leaked out, but if your car has refrigerant in it, and you need to open up the A/C system to work on it, spend a little money and take the car to an A/C shop. In the years following the switch to R134a, there was confusion over what was required to maintain the A/C of older cars. You're A/C system works overtime during the summer, cooling the hot vehicle down after a long day in the sun, and when the temperature drops, you switch to the heater without much thought. Thus you see how R134a conversion was often applied to systems that were not working correctly, if they were working at all. The following bullets are verbatim from EPA’s website: There is an additional requirement that the car’s A/C have charging fittings that are unique to the refrigerant being used, but it’s the venting part that’s of the most interest, as it’s the area where you can get fined. When R12’s effects on the ozone layer became known and it was superseded by R134a, EPA came down hard with large fines on both professionals and DIY-ers. International manufacturing of new R12 ceased in 1996, but existing R12 can still be reclaimed and purified. With that said, I’ll agree that the flammability issue may not be as black-and-white as it appears. Step-by-step instructions. Other brands of R-22 refrigerant gas are made by other manufacturers. Even if you’re OK with that, if the system needs work, any refrigerant in it will need to be recovered. A set of R134a-specific charging port adapters should be installed to eliminate the possibility of refrigerant cross-contamination. As part of doing that, you often wind up replacing major portions of the system—not because that’s strictly required in order to convert it to R134a, but because that’s what you need to do in order to get it functional again. Freon. We’ll explore this new cooling substance and what it means for your ride. Electrical Problems. In addition, there was the lubricant issue. In this article, we use the word Freon and refrigerant interchangeably. Over time, a credible middle ground emerged. Before the Freon is converted into a liquid in the high side, it starts out as a gas in the low pressure side of the system. R12 systems used mineral oil, but unfortunately mineral oil doesn’t dissolve in R134a. This is why it is crucially important that R134a systems be properly evacuated (pumped down to boil off any moisture) and kept sealed. Of course, there could be other problems such as a seized compressor or a blocked expansion valve. Sample Freon Replacement Costs. A low level of refrigerant, also known as Freon, is the culprit in most cases. The coloring comes from dye that is added. Unfortunately, the widespread use of R12 appeared to be significantly degrading the Earth’s ozone layer, potentially causing a worldwide health crisis. In addition, there is a $10,000 “rat-out” fee your neighbor can collect if you’re venting refrigerant and he tattles on you. LS-PRO Refrigerant Gas Leak Detector High Sensitivity Good for All Halogens freons Like R22 R134a R410a R502 R12 R404a R407 etc. In the automotive world, the replacement for R12 was tetrafluoroethane, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) branded as R134a. You can look up the law yourself at www.epa.gov/mvac, but basically it boils down to three things. The manufacture and sale of the small cans of R12 used by hobbyists to “top off” a system also ended, although New Old Stock (NOS) cans of R12 are still privately traded on eBay and Craigslist (I’ll come back to that). That’s simply not true. Start your car and turn on the air conditioner to its maximum cool setting with the blower set to high.. 2. It became known as R12 or Freon. Refrigerant: Must be EPA-approved and cannot be intentionally released (vented) into the environment. R134a reacts with water to form hydrofluoric acid which damages the internal A/C components. Keep the Freon can upright to only charge with gaseous Freon. Because R134a is an HFC, not a CFC (stay with me for a minute), it does not have the ozone-destroying properties of R12. Don’t do it. Wrenchin’ Wednesday: No-drip funnel storage, Your tires are talking to you— here’s how to understand them, Prepping for that first drive is an annual rite of spring, V-8 pairs that share displacements but not manufacturers, 5 foreign cars that were copied from American style. Servicing: When payment of any kind is involved (including non-monetary), any person working on an MVAC system must be certified under section 609 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and they must use approved refrigerant handling equipment. We carry R134a refrigerant, PAG46 oil, AC stop leak, AC system cleaner, and more. The vehicle is kept cool by the constant circulation of refrigerant through the high and low pressure sides of the system. As long as the compressor was working well, it could be drained, filled with R134a-compatible oil, and reused. If you use anything other than R134a, you’ll likely create a situation where you must be the one servicing the system. Actually, a car's air-conditioning system can run for years without recharging if properly maintained. Car Air Conditioner Troubleshooting: Common Problems and Diagnosis Troubles with Too Much Freon, Overcharged AC Symptoms Which brings us to…. 1. Freon gauges, which are more accurately known as A/C Diagnostic Manifold Gauge, typically range from Php 900 to Php 3,000 depending on the brand. Because the two oils were different, R134a certainly wasn’t a “drop-in” replacement for R12. In the simplest form, you’ll know when you need an AC recharge if your AC starts pumping warm air instead of cold. MiToo Portable Air Conditioner, 3 in 1 Air Cooler, Purifier, Humidifier…, Leak Saver: Direct Inject - Refrigerant Leak Sealer - For Systems Up to 5 Tons - Compatible With Most Air Conditioner and Refrigeration Systems - Proudly Made in the USA, Elitech LMC-200A Electronic Refrigerant Charging Weight Recovery Scale Wired Remote, Freon Scale 330lbs/150kgs, Elitech WJL-6000 Freon Leak Detector Halogen Leak Detector Refrigerant Gas HVAC R22 R410A R134A R1234YF CFCs HCFCs HFCs Detector High Accuracy, Refrigerant Gas Leak Detector R410a Freon Leak Detector Adjustable Sensitivity R-22 Refrigerant Leak Detector with Sensitive Sensor,Sound &Light Alarm,Handbag in Air Conditioning&Refrigeration System.