Okay, so my dad and I are about to replace the A/C Compressor, drier, and expansion valve, so I started looking into refrigerants we could charge it with when we're through. This car has been converted to R-134A, and before anyone says anything, we have no plans to convert back. R-12 is simply too expensive, plus we use R-134A in the other three cars.
That said, I was wondering about using Duracool or Freeze-12. Does anyone have a measured and checked temperature at the vents for either of these?
Would they work in the system as it was converted? My understanding is that the conversion would involve new hoses and fittings that would be basically the same but would hold the smaller particles of R-134A, as well as a new expansion valve.

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1984 300DT turbo 138k mi

Still hauling me to school and back.

Handy Site:
http://www.dieselgiant.com/

Ive done allot of R134 conversions and dont worry about changing hoses and such not needed the old R12 oil coats and seals the lines so no worries, just make sure you use ester oil not pag the ester will mix with the 12 oil the pag will make a nice mess inside your lines. I havent ever used the other products you mentioned I would just stick with 134 Ive never seen a problem with the temp difference they say there is its so small who cares

I see you also are from Texas. So........
I have one car with Freeze-12 {wagon} and one car with R-12 {240}
Currently, they both get down to the 40-41 degree point, which is great!
However, last summer, when the temp is over 95 degrees, which it is every day during the summer, I couldn't get vent temps much below 50 degrees with the Freeze-12. I didn't have the 240 last summer, so I will know more about that in a few months.....
I don't notice much difference between Freeze-12 and R-134A. High side pressure wasn't much different, and it is in the mid 200's, even creeping higher when temps above 100 degrees!!

And, BTW, if you would use the search function, there is enough info to be reading for 2-3 days solid. Take it all in, then you decide...

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Here's the MSDS on Freeze 12 showing it's 70-90% R134a and 10-25% 142b (to carry oil). No wonder Freeze 12 behaves like 134a; It IS 134a (essentially)

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The Golden Rule

1984 300SD (bought new, sold it in 1988, bought it back 13 yrs. later)

What I would like to hear is alternative refrigerants other than R-12, 134A and Freeze-12.
Has anyone used anything else?

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

(\__/)
(='.'=) This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into your
(")_(") signature to help him gain world domination

There's Duracool and Envirosafe, still waiting for someone with one of those to pipe in.

Anyway, this might be a problem:

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1984 300DT turbo 138k mi

Still hauling me to school and back.

Handy Site:
http://www.dieselgiant.com/

So the R-134 conversion involved what?
I know my dad converted it before now, when he was driving it to work every day... Just not sure what that involved.

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1984 300DT turbo 138k mi

Still hauling me to school and back.

Handy Site:
http://www.dieselgiant.com/

My understanding, from reading here:http://www.ackits.com/ is that 134a conversions on some vehicles do not produce very good results. (They have a very good forum on AC questions.) They recommend retro-fitting to a parallel-flow conderser for better cooling. I've seen this mentioned by many AC gurus on this forum but have not read of someone that has changed to one of these condensers and reported their results. In Texas, R134a systems are marginal at best.

(What a p.i.a., this greenhouse gas idea is a lot of politics and very little science.)

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Sam

84 300SD 350K+ miles ( Blue Belle )

I have changed mine out to this exact condenser. It been about 95 degrees here and it has performed great with Freeze-12. I've been consitantly getting 40 degrees (at idle and normal driving) to sometimes 38 degrees (on highway speeds). I would definitely recommend a change of condensor if you are going to use anything other than R12.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

I might be doing the same soon. I noticed you changed the hose as well, was the old one bad or was that recommended for Freeze-12 conversions?

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1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

As long as R-12 is still readily available, it's a no-brainer I'll just stick with R-12.

No, The Parallel Condensor that I purchased from ackits.com is a universal type. Because of the position the stock hoses will not reach the condensor. So I had them made and they were probably 5 inches longer longer then the original. Also the fittings are smaller on the original condensor. The old one is a number 10, the new fitting needs a number 8.

You can use the existing hoses for Freeze-12. But I would definitely recommend changing out the condensor if you are going to use anything other then R12.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

The AC actually still works with R12 on my '81 240D, but I'm considering reviving the AC on my '82 240D, which hasn't worked since the PO's teenager wrecked the condenser during a fender-bender. I have a new, sealed, receiver/drier and the R4 compressor still turns easily and smoothly. Since my condenser is bad anyway, and R12 is practically unavailible in my area, I'm considering an R134a conversion.
What was the cost of your condenser and hoses? Do you have the model or part number of the parallel-flow condenser you used? Or at least the size of your new condenser? Thanks.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

several on this forum have reported good results with the parallel condenser installed. and SOME have reported good cooling with NEW everything and totally flushed lines. Me? I'll stick with 12
John

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 560SL convertible
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
2005 Dodge Sprinter 2500 158"WB
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

i have been using the hydrocarbon based refigerants in several of my cars now for several years with success.i recommend them as a lowcost effective alternative providing you are not breaking any local statutes

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michael cole 1980 300SD gone now but not forgotten,87tdt,90 300te 4matic 95 e320 wagon