difference between r12 and r134a gauges
So, instead of using R12, other better options include R401b, R134a, R401a, etc. In todays world, the combination of its ozone-depleting ability and its contribution to global warming makes this product a major issue for many countries. It became known as R12 or Freon. The following is verbatim from EPAs website: EPA performs random inspections, responds to tips, and pursues potential cases against violators of the Section 608 regulations. Country of Origin: United States Hi, this is my first post, so please take it easy on the noob. Dont do it. Older fridges and air conditioning units that use this refrigerant will still work efficiently, and converting them to more modern refrigerants will be difficult and unrealistically expensive. Its still one of the most efficient at cooling, but the destructive effects on the ozone layer and its very high global warming potential have made this environmentally an unwise choice. The molecule size of R134a is smaller than that of R12, so there was concern that R134a could leak out through the hoses and flare fittings that R12 systems used. When ever possible you should ask the technician to note the same information on your repair bill and keep a copy in your glove box for future reference. R134a is classified as a dangerous greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. These are the major reasons that this product is now banned in many countries and replaced by other refrigerants that dont have such a serious environmental impact. 1. Start the car again and add R12A to bring the low side pressure to about 32 psi. Since you cant vent any refrigerant without breaking the law, and since youll be hard-pressed to find a shop that will recover anything other than R134a, youll have painted yourself into a corner. Welcome to rxmechanic.com. Then there are three new EPA-approved climate-friendly alternatives. There is R1234yf, which is already being used on new cars but is classified as mildly flammable. At $70 per pound, no one is using it in retrofit applications. SKU # 532244. . The compressors used by refrigeration plants to compress gas require oil to help lubricate its moving parts. If the target environment is only moderately hot, and your use of the car is light, R134a will probably be fine. The concern that the original R12 hoses would leak R134a like a screen door on a submarine appeared to be largely unfounded, as the insides of original hoses seemed to naturally become impregnated with a combination of refrigerant and oil that acted as a barrier. Using the specs for the current system, multiply the R12 charge by 0.9 or 90% to determine the refrigerant capacity. R12 costs about 4 times as much as R134a. Its possible to convert from R12 to R134a without replacing the systems components, so when R134a was brought out, it seems to be a good match to many automotive air conditioning issues. All leaks in systems using R134a must be repaired within 30 days. As long as the compressor was working well, it could be drained, filled with R134a-compatible oil, and reused. Even though their common major function is to cool the system, they have many differences. But many European cars, such as the vintage BMWs I love, had A/C systems that never functioned all that well even when they were new and charged up with R12. Given two identical vehicles, each with the same weighted amount of refrigerant, the vehicle with the R134a has the capability to remove more heat (measured in btus) from the vehicle than the same type of vehicle using the same amount of R12. Though you can purchase 12 or 16 ounce cans of R134a from local retailers it is very difficult to measure out the correct amount into your system. Piston Slap: Booting a Torino in a snap without snaps? With R12 you use to check to see if the site glass was full, if it had bubbles it meant you had a low charge. . You can look up the law yourself at www.epa.gov/mvac, but basically it boils down to three things. Its better that this is done by professional technicians as venting any of this gas into the atmosphere is environmentally damaging and illegal. R12 is known as a CFC or chlorofluorocarbon, with a chemical symbol of CCl2F2. Yes R12 systems did cool better than R134a, but there are differences and it is not wise to go back wards. For example, while R12 itself is similar to the halon used in fire extinguishers, when R12 is mixed with mineral oilthe most commonly-used lubricant oil in R12 systemsand aerosolized and burned, it creates phosgene gas, which was used as a chemical agent in WWI. 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 (Ill come back to that). The cylinder head gasket is one of the most over-engineered and stressed components in an internal combustion engine. Also, since R134a uses synthetic oil, it has a low global warming potential, unlike R12 which uses mineral oil which poses a negative environmental impact. This chart has a column of ambient (outside) air temperatures on one side and a corresponding range of high side pressures on the other side. Chemistry. In contrast, older CFC refrigerants had an ODP of 1. Lichamp HVAC R410A Manifold Gauge Set AC R134A, Freon R22 R32 410A 134A Diagnostic Manifold Gauge with Hose Kit Air Conditioner Refrigerant Recharge Kit Visit the Lichamp Store 403 ratings | 10 answered questions -27% $7999 List Price: $109.99 FREE Returns Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping. The global warming potential measures the amount of heat trapped by any gas compared to the amount of heat trapped by the same amount of carbon dioxide. With that said, Ill agree that the flammability issue may not be as black-and-white as it appears. Both of these gasses are very safe for use in all forms of refrigeration as theyre not flammable, explosive, or toxic. Each has its own cult following and requires its own EPA-approved charging fittings. Note that there is another kind of oil called Polyol Ester Oil (POE). Before landing on the debate of R134 vs R12 you should know that both R134a and R12 are AC refrigerants types used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. R134a replaced R12 from 1994 onwards. Environmental Impact: When R134a escapes into the atmosphere, it contributes to global warming. The best replacement for R134a is R1234yf, while R12 refrigerant replacement was R134a. Its a safe product for use in a variety of domestic and commercial environments. Whenever its exposed to the environment, it changes to a gas. When the temperature is reduced to-7C or below, the plants ability to cool the airdrops significantly. But some types of PAG do not mix well with the old residual R12 mineral oil left in the system components whereas ester does mix very well. Bottom line, R134a simply doesn't cool as well as R12. He started writing automotive articles to share his garage experience with car enthusiasts and armature mechanics. There are kits that convert R12 to R134a. Since these days a can of R134a is about $15, the cost differential isnt what it was in the panicked days of the mid-1990s. The value of carbon dioxide is 1. Sign up for the latest automotive news and videosin short, everything for people who love cars. You confirmed my decisions in one elegant post (as opposed to the 60-odd hours of blog post readings and YouTube videos). R134a won't provide the same level of cooling as R12, though. Theyve moved away from using R12 in favor of more modern, environmentally safer products. Best for varieties of operating conditions: Its boiling point is -21.6 Celsius. Kuehl is a registered trademark of Griffiths Technical Inc. Griffiths Technical Inc is not associated with Porsche Cars North America. Yes, theres a certain irony in the fact that weve gone full-circle from the invasive youll need to replace almost everything including the compressor and hoses in order to properly convert R12 to R134a to you dont need to replace all that much; just flush it, new oil, new drier and o-rings, and back to youll need to replace almost everything including the compressor, hoses, and the condenser. But this change has occurred both because the cars are that much older than they were when the R12 to R134a change occurred in the mid-1990s, and there is now a better understanding of the need to take advantage of updated compressors and condensers in order to get the A/C systems to blow adequately cold with R134a. Safety: R134a is safe to use as its non-flammable and cant explode. Some compressor manufacturers or OEMs suggest PAG type oil for R134a. For R12, its mineral oil. A gentleman in Canada was very interested until he learned about the R12. These applications will - due to browser restrictions - send data between your browser and our server. The weight is only 2.4 ounces. Subtract or 0.25 pounds from this number. All refrigeration plants use compressors to compress the gas returning from collecting heat, raise its temperature further, and compress it to facilitate cooling. The biggest difference between the two is that R1234yf is mildly flammable and does require special handling. Its chemical symbol is CH2FCF3. All signatories to the Montreal Treaty stopped the production of CFC products. Tiny amounts of oil will inevitably find their way into the stream of gas. If your car was produced after 1994, it likely has R134a used as the refrigerant. The higher the ambient temperature the higher the high side pressure. If your cars system has a sufficient condenser design and air flow to expel the greater amount of heat extracted by R134a, then by all means you should convert over when the time comes. Price is reasonable Consistent and accurate The air conditioning system in your car uses a combination of evaporation and condensation to cool the interior. Gauges are used to read the pressure of various liquids and gases in a cooling system, as well as vacuum pressure in the process of testing or charging the device. This means that when using R134a, the compressor should be oiled with Polyalkylene Glycol or PAG oil. Inhalation of vapor: Inhaling a large amount of R134a vapor can lead to drowsiness, temporary nervous system depression, and lethargy. So, along with R134a came a new oil: Polyalkylene Glycolor PAG oil. So the oil must be compatible with the refrigerant. Stay home and grill your own steaks and stir your own martini. Technicians must capture and recycle R134a safely, and the gas must be disposed of by following the EPA guidelines. Its been likened to trying to convert a petrol engine to run on diesel. Its been labeled as a greenhouse gas, and its use is no longer supported. This is used in automotive air conditioning in older vehicles and domestic and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration. Disconnect the two hose lines to the compressor, protect the ends from getting dirty. Also, look for a blue sticker that gives the date of conversion. However, you can convert R12 to R134a by yourself, save money and keep all the tools purchased. I have never see the other way around. R134a is a pure refrigerant that is sometimes used in blends, while R410a is itself a blend. If your compressor requires replacement or its seals and o-rings need to be replaced due to leakage, it would be wise at this time to either obtain a compressor that has o-rings and seals that are compatible with R134a or have your unit re-manufactured with compatible components. After the optimum refrigerant charge is determined the car should be test driven to check for performance of the system. Below are the major differences between R134a and R12: The chemical composition of R12 and R134a differ. R12 was the first refrigerant created. As this gas has such an effect on the environment, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has strict guidelines for its use. Because of R1234yfs mild flammability, BMW and Mercedes are now adopting R744. Not so fast. Therefore, its most suitable for both commercial and domestic environments. All compressors require oils to lubricate the moving parts. This is why it is crucially important that R134a systems be properly evacuated (pumped down to boil off any moisture) and kept sealed. These properties make it very attractive for domestic, commercial, and automotive refrigeration and air conditioning. By noting the ambient temperature you can look up what the preferred high side pressure should be. As a result, each refrigerant's system requirements are quite . R134a Expansion valve different from R12? However, R12 refrigerants are still used as fire retardants in aircraft and submarines. This product is non-toxic, non-flammable, and not explosive, so its extremely safe to use for domestic refrigeration. But once youre on that path, you can improve the system with a new compressor and parallel-flow condenser which, in most cases, will allow you to get good results with R134a. The most significant disadvantage of this product is the damage that it can do to the environment if its vented irresponsibly. 5 foreign cars that were copied from American style. Note that R134a is also sometimes called Freon, even labeled as such on the can, so its best to be clear and use the names R12 and R134a. Its often said that buying or selling R12 is illegal. Theyre older generation refrigerants that have some serious environmental factors against them. (To be clear, both cars also have a new rotary-style compressor and a big parallel-flow condenser and fan.). Converting them is extremely expensive, and in many cases, replacement is the only option available. As part of doing that, you often wind up replacing major portions of the systemnot because thats strictly required in order to convert it to R134a, but because thats what you need to do in order to get it functional again. R12 will completely dissolve in mineral oil, but R134a wont. Generally this works well for the whole system. The problem with these so called drop in replacements is that to properly handle them you may need dedicated equipment to identify the gas and evacuate it for proper disposal. Using R134a requires that Polyolester (POE) lubricant must be used in the compressor. R134a systems operate at higher discharge-side pressures than R12, which can cause compressor seals to leak. Failure to abide by the EPA regulations can result in expensive fines for either you or your service technician. 2021 Complete Guide, Find more info about me and HVAC Training 101, Screw, roll, rotary, reciprocating, and centrifugal compressors for refrigeration and air conditioning, Used in automotive air conditioning since 1994, and has been retrofitted to many older models as a replacement to R12, Used to remove humidity from compressed air in gas dusters. Because A/C compressors have moving parts, they require oil. Hopefully after you have read this entire page you will have enough information to determine which type of refrigerant is best for you. Inasmuch as R134a has a global warming potential thats over 1000 times more threatening than carbon dioxide, its better than R12. Yes, there will be less refrigerant by weight. Besides, R134a refrigerant was manufactured after R12 was banned to help reduce the harshness of the old chemical (R12) on the ozone layer. Many vehicles that contain this type of refrigerant will continue using it. R134a isnt as efficient in cooling as R12. In most cases, the systems used have varied components, designs, and service ports. As the manufacture of this product is now banned, the costs associated with it will inevitably rise. They might say for instance, add 3-4 oz of oil to the compressor, 1 oz of oil for when you replace a drier, 2 oz oil for the evaporator and so on. A significant investment. An R134a-specific expansion valve was preferred but not strictly necessary. I was recently selling a beautiful 1987 BMW 325is with cold R12-based A/C. The best oil that runs well with R134a is PAG oil or Polyalkylene Glycol. Because of this products greenhouse gas attributes, its manufacture has been banned in the European Union since 2011, and motor manufacturers stopped using it in motor vehicle air conditioning at that time. R-134a entirely dominated the automotive market by 1994. R134a is NOT less efficient than R12 Actually R134a is more efficient. R12s boiling point is -21.6F or -29.8C. Unfortunately, this product still contains chlorine. It has a lower global warming potential than R134a. Most countries frown on the use of these gasses due to their environmental impact. Plus, not releasing the chemical into the air is morally justifiable. I wouldnt say Im a BMW enthusiast. Existing technology: R134a has been in use in the refrigeration industry for very many years, and theres so much information about the safe use of the product. If an A/C system isnt working, the root cause needs to be diagnosed, and the system needs to be fixed. In the case of R134a, its the global warming potential thats an issue.
