Air-conditioning - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

05-01-2002, 07:41

I just rang up an air-conditioning place to ask how much it could cost to convert my gas to CFC-free gas and they said around $160. That is costing me a fortune, does anyone know how I could do it cheaply?

I heard that R13A gas is crap on this discussion forum... which other gas is better???

Troutman · 05-01-2002, 09:24

I believe R134a has a few advantages over R12 as well as the obvious environmental benefits, like being cheaper, more widely available, and likely to be available for a long time to come. I ended up paying $160 for the conversion, but had been quoted something like $800 by some guy previously.

I hear it can be done dirt cheap if you are a DIY person.

05-01-2002, 09:53

Mine cost me $380... i had the new reciever/dryer, Thermo valve and new compressor seals. The wanker didnt even tighten the seal bolts and i had to take it back 2 weeks later for a recharge!

Brent

XplodEd EA · 05-01-2002, 12:05

Most of the auto-elecs I've done work experience with charged between $180-$220 to convert the gas. The last place I was at said they'd do it for me for $160 (which is cost price apparantly) cos I was worken there.

Ed

EA90 · 05-01-2002, 16:27

Ilsauto

There is only one advantage that R134a has over R12, that R12 is a cfc based gas so is illegal and R134a aint.

Troutman · 05-01-2002, 16:37

I have heard mixed reports about whether it is illegal. I thought I would have been informed if it was illegal.

Another thing to remember is that R134a is less powerful. But I'm glad I did the conversion all the same.

EA90 · 05-01-2002, 17:06

I asked my dad who is a fully qualified Refrigertion mechanic he said all CFC gases are illegal including R12 so if you had a leak in your R12 system you could be charged for air pollution. R134a is less powerful but is more efficent in removing heat from the air as well as being cheaper and having less envirometal side effects.

Troutman · 05-01-2002, 17:16

Thanks for confirming that. I think it's good that it is illegal - but wasn't sure.

CATman · 05-01-2002, 17:28

sorry but i dissagree, my dad also does car aircon systems, and, it is only illegal if u let the gas go into the air, if u vac it down it isn't, i work for a pannel shop, we get all our R12 systems vacced down and then put R 12 back into, but R134A we just let out. BTW u can't buy R12 anymore from places, so u can only get it from places that have got a large stock of it from prvevious yrs, it was like 3 yrs ago they stoped makin R12..

EA90 · 05-01-2002, 17:30

You must Vac the system down for R12 and you can only buy R12 if you have a CFC license. Anyway as i said CFC gases are illegal.