air conditioning to 134

[jmtandem]

anybody had experience converting the old air conditioning system to 134? Is the conversion reliable and does it cool about the same?

 

[AlK]

Take a look at this thread it may be of some help.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2699

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Al

 

[bigkid59]

I am working on such a conversion today. It is on my girlfriend's Dodge van.

I went to the Google search engine and entered "r12 to r134a conversion" and found more information than you would believe. I printed out a lot of information and made up a sort of manual to use for reference while doing the conversion. I left this info at her house so I don't have it here right now. I remember that there is one reference from an air conditioning shop in the Northeast that really had a great deal of info regarding every possible question.



Hope this helps!

 

[Wayne M.]

JMTANDEM, I did a few conversions, including my '86 Lebaron. The size of the condensor really plays a key role in how well the system works with 134. We have a good size so I don't think you'll have a problem. Just follow the directions on the kit, Change the drier, and make sure there are NO LEAKS!, suck it down real good and don't overcharge it. Let us know how u make out. I know it's only a matter of time before I will have to do it too!

 

[fastmark]

I just did it on my 84 crew cab. I put r12 in it first since I had plenty. Properly charged it ran 45 degrees out of the vent at idle in the shop. It blew a spring fitting at the condensor and spent a little ozone. I did not want to loose any more r12 so I had it converted to 134 at a shop. I do not have the gauges for 134. It only gets down to 52 out of the vent going down the road. I am not real happy with 134. It might not be properly charged. I will borrow some gauges and check the charge. Just in case big bro is listening, I am a EPA certified freon handler. I might try some of that Enviro safe stuff. It sounds alright. Mark

 

[CrewCabDiesel]

I have done the conversion to R134-A, and it works ok, takes a little while to cool down, but once its there it works great. I did replace EVERYTHING in my AC system and then pulled it down for about an hour before charging.

 

[dasyure]

In my experiance if your lucky it will be 10 degrees warmer than R-12 (even with replacing everything), also read it causes testicular cancer. I've tried 414b it works about like 134a with higher pressures. Had eviro safe in 2 delivery vans for about 2 weeks so far it runs a littel less high side pressure and 5 to 8 degrees cooler than R-12. Put it in a 85 chevy don't know what it was doing befor (it was empty) but with the ev it was 43 on high fan out side air and it was 86 out side at the time. If you want to know more numbers in a couple of days I'm going to warm up the truck make shure it's toped off (R-12) check temps and switch it to the enviro safe.

Sean

 

[ETOBICOKE]

Duracool

My brother and I have been using a product called Duracool and have had excellent results. This is a hydrocarbon based product made from natural organic products. It can be used as a direct replacement for R12 they also have it for R22 and R502. The best part is it's not as yet regulated so you can purchase it without a hassle. You need less Duracool to refill a system, 35% by weight for R12. We have been using this product for 2 years now, but I do not know if it is sold in the US, we get it from our local auto parts jobber.



Duracool Limited

10260-21Street NW,

Edmonton, Alberta,

Canada, T6P 1W4

PH 403-449-4777

Fax 403-449-4766

Email duracool@copusmart. ab. ca



Neil

 

[Midnight]

Just remember when filling with 134. Only replace with 80% of the total r12 charge.

 

[fastmark]

keep us informed on the Enviro- safe. I might switch. It sounds about right for the gov to make us switch from r12(since all the patent rights were out anyway) to something that will make your fall off.

 

[bvanetten]

Hey Fastmark. I went to a ac class about a year and a half ago. It was put on by one of the owners of Vintage Air. He has a 32 ford that blows 36 degrees with r134a! The guy really knows his stuff. Said theirs alot more that goes into a proper conversion than refrigerent and condenser, although the condenser is real important. Oriface tubes, expansion valves, POA valves, themocuples... They all need to be designed for 134a. He said the amount of charge was critical. 1/10th of a pound over or onder charged and you loose 10 degrees of cooling at the vent! Now thats a bit to picky for my taste. I'm going to buy that enviro-safe today. I'll let everyone know how it goes in the burb and the 300d.



later

Bruce

 

[paccool]

Been following this post and have a question. I don't have any equipment to do the swap and will need to take it to a shop. Anyone have a guess as to the cost to convert to the 134?

 

[fastmark]

conversion cost

Just happened to have the ticket right here.

low side fitting... ... ... ... 8. 28

high side fitting... ... ..... 5. 60

ester oil... ... ... ... ... ... ..... 7. 20

a/c dryer... ... ... ... ... ... ... 55. 50

134a freon... ... ... ... ... ... 27. 00

Labor... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..... 45. 00

-------------------------------------

total... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 148. 58 plus tax

 

[fastmark]

80% charge

one of the the things the shop mentioned was that he first started out putting the 80 to 85% when the 134 was new but was then told to charge it up 100%. I talked to the guy at the Chry dealer ship and he said no way should you put in 100% of 134. That might be my problem. I will borrow some guages and check some pressures. I really want to see about the Enviro safe stuff, though.

 

[jsimpson]

Dodges don't have high side cutoff switches, so I had one added when I made the new hoses to extend past my intercooler. No problems now; cools great!

 

[Racer Brown]

134a Swap

I, like Fastmark, am an EPA certified freon handler also. I did the 134a swap on an 83 Chevy a couple of years ago and I didn't see any difference from the R12 to 134a. You don't use as much refrigerant when 134a is used. The low side of the compound gauges will tell you what the temperature is in the evaporator and rule of thumb is that you add 20 deg to that for the air temperature after the air passes over the coils and comes out. My system works fine on that truck. I do think that I'm going to check into this EnviorSafe stuff though. That seems to be the ticket now... ... ... ... ... ... ... Racer

 

[jsimpson]

I'm sure Envirosafe may be OK for those of you with your own recovery equipment. But no service facility is going to touch any system filled with anything but 134 or 12. It just isn't worth the risk of getting something alien into an expensive can of refrigerant.

 

[dasyure]

Switched from r-12 (system full by sight glass) was running 275 high side 34 low side 40° temp drop, put in enviro safe industrial r-12 275 - 300 high side 34 low side 50° temp drop at idel 650rpm puts out 53° (10° cooler than r-12) get movin down the road about 1700rpm it drops to 39° (also 10° better than before)

I like it just have to wait and see if there are any long term side effects.

As to the no service facility will toch it your right, but I havn't found one that can find leaks so I don't realy care. I guess I quallify as a service facillity and I refuse to work on 134a systems!

As for recovery equipment a bucket of ice and a 30# can will remove all but about a 1/8 of an ounce of the freon from a system.

Sean