Anyone using R-12a in their A/C system?

[CheeseHelmet]

My A/C system's receiver/drier has a slow leak so I'm going to replace it before it gets hot out. It seems R-134a isn't very easy to get locally, the only stuff I find is R-12a which is supposedly a lot better than R-134a. The manufacturers of these R-12a refrigerants boast colder temperatures with less engine load as well as it being environmentally-friendly.

I could get some R-134a from the states but I'm wondering if it's worth the trouble, if this R-12a stuff is as good as it's supposed to be then I want to use it. Have any of you tried it?

Relevant links:
- http://www.redtek.com/win_12a_prod.html
- http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=145180

 

[justanothermp5]

R-134a is the most common, theres a reason R-12 isnt used much anymore (at least in the states, didnt know it still was used up there). R-12 is terrible for the enviroment, if you have a leak, stay away from it. Most shops should be able to refill R-134a. Plus you have to use different oil for the R-12 systems.

R-134a is better overall, its in the car, so stick with it.

 

[CheeseHelmet]

R-134a is the most common, theres a reason R-12 isnt used much anymore (at least in the states, didnt know it still was used up there). R-12 is terrible for the enviroment, if you have a leak, stay away from it. Most shops should be able to refill R-134a. Plus you have to use different oil for the R-12 systems.

R-134a is better overall, its in the car, so stick with it.

I'm not talking about R-12, I'm talking about R-12a!

It's a newer refridgerant that's actually better for the environment than R-134a (hence why it's so hard to get R-134a around here).

 

[justanothermp5]

R-12a....what the hell is that? I just got my refrigerant handeling license, and i've never even heard of that
only heard of R-134a, R-12, and HFO-1234yf...which is the new one coming out here.

but from the link you posted, it looks ok, as long as you dont need to upgrade any hoses I would go for it, i know people used to have to upgrade hoses when they went from R-12 to R-134a because R-134a is molecularlly smaller then R-12 and would seep through the rubber...cant say how R-12a compares tho

 

[CheeseHelmet]

From what I've read everything stays the same (hoses, drier, expansion valve, even the compressor oil) and the only difference is that you don't put the system under a vacuum before filling it (otherwise the refrigerant might freeze once it enters the system).

They also claim that you need less than half the mass of R-12a than is required when using R-134a (the low-side pressure stays about the same and the high-side pressure can drop by 50psi).

 

[justanothermp5]

the refrigerant might freeze? dam...thats crazy. so what kind of machine do you use to refill the system then? it has its own machine?
I would say go for it, and post up how it is

I have R-134a in my car, just did a evacuate and recharge at school, and i swear it can blow snowflakes out lol

 

[CheeseHelmet]

the refrigerant might freeze? dam...thats crazy. so what kind of machine do you use to refill the system then? it has its own machine?
I would say go for it, and post up how it is

It doesn't need it's own machine, you use the regular R-134a charging equipment. The procedure would be something like this:

1. Evacuate system by pulling large vacuum
2. Release most of the vacuum
3. Charge with R-12a

The refrigerant is apparently much more tolerant to moisture than R-134a so releasing the vacuum shouldn't have that much of an effect.

I have R-134a in my car, just did a evacuate and recharge at school, and i swear it can blow snowflakes out lol

I don't want snowflakes, I want ICICLES!

So I guess I'll give it a shot.