where can I buy R12?????? or who can I get it from??????

[DieselBone]

First off, I understand about R12 and how you need to have blah blah blah from the EPA to get the stuff. But where are some of you guys getting it? and some people are saying its getting "cheaper" now than it was. I can get R134a at work for like $7.50 a can. Of couse my wagon still has R12, and still works well. But I have my 76 280C and I want to fix up the system in it and get it working again, and I would LIKE to get R12 in it, but if I can't get it, I'm gonna have to put R134a in it instead. I don't know about people saying how R134a doesn't work worth beans, I know my dads ford truck has R134a and it gets VERY COLD, but then again, its made for R134a so who knows. If anyone wants to sell me R12, I'd be willing to buy.

Thanks guys.

[pwogaman]

Try E-Bay

[Johnhef]

I just converted a 300D last night after replacing its compressor. It blows ice cold, even colder than the R12 system still in my 300CD although it was last charged 2 years ago.

It was very easy to convert! pretty cheap too, almost less total than what the r12 refrigerant will cost you.

[DieselBone]

Originally Posted by Johnhef

I just converted a 300D last night after replacing its compressor. It blows ice cold, even colder than the R12 system still in my 300CD although it was last charged 2 years ago.

It was very easy to convert! pretty cheap too, almost less total than what the r12 refrigerant will cost you.

That seems like what everyone else isn't saying about R134a, but I don't live in texas, so I think I'll be ok.

THanks

[WANT '71 280SEL]

Autozone, $15/can. Of course considering that you have the proper licensing, a 609. So far that is the cheapest that I've heard about. It's worth an extra $30 to stay with the R12. Plus, when switching you have all the flushing to do, etc.

Thanks
David

[braverichard]

I was also told about the low price from Autozone, however the local autozones here only sell them in huge containers for $200 each. However, the EPA has approved the following refrigerants as substitutes for R-12:

HFC-134a (R-134a)
FRIGC (FR-12)
FreeZone/RB-276
Ikon-12
Freeze-12

So you can purchase any one of the above and use it instead of R-12 as far as I know. I need to get the A/C in my new 300SD up and running so I guess I'll be purchasing some freeze-12 soon.

[brabus]

R124a Sucks Ass
Nest Friday the good stuff is going back in

[kmaysob]

autozone sells r-12? where do you all live? i work for autozone and everystore i work at doesnt carry it. they say its too expensive to carry for the amount of people with licenses. the only thing other than 134a that we carry is r-22 and you need a license for that. the only things we carry for r12 vehicles is one hose for filling.maybe it differs from state to state. from what i understand freeze 12 isnt even r12

[braverichard]

Indeed, Freeze 12 isn't R-12 however it is a compatible, legal, direct replacement for R-12 and doesn't contain CFCs which contribute to ozone depletion.

[sokoloff]

Any good AC shop will not touch a car with substitute coolants if you have a problem. It will contmainate their recovery tanks and cost them big bucks. If you have a leak from one of the substuitute/approved coolants, the different components leak out at different rates and then you have no idea what you have in the system. Most folks will be better off in the long run using R12 or R134.

I was skeptical too about Autozone carrying R12 at $15/ can. I assumed that it was something that said "12" on the can like Freeze 12 which will never see the inside of my garage let alone the inside of my AC system.

Len

[braverichard]

I'd never recommend mixing refrigerants. However I'd fully recommend flushing out all of your old R12 (whatever is left in the system) and fully recharging with Freeze 12, that way you have one type of refridgerant in the system.

[Pete Burton]

there's no "direct" replacement for R-12, because by law, anyone servicing your system for consideration is required to install special fittings specific to the refridgerant used. Due to other factors such as oil miscibility and hose porosity, the CHEAPEST option for most people will be to keep R12. Now, you can find it on E-bay, and if you look enough you'll find an auction that doesn't require a 609 cert#. Illegal for anyone to sell it that way, but it still happens occasionally.

Another option is to go to a site like http://www.epatest.com and do it legally. You can download the training document for free, then take the online, open book test for only $15 or $20. Plus, you'll learn quite a bit just by reading the information and feel better knowing more about how your system works and confident that you will be working safely, I know I did. Boy, what a great country we live in, with the choices we have!

[leathermang]

"Direct Replacement" is one of those nonsense terms when used to describe Freeze 12... or any of those other masqueraders....

It applies only in the most narrow and meaningless of definitions in that the Freeze 12 will occupy the internal space where the R12 used to work.

It will not match any of the important parameters for which R12 was designed to be utilized inside your AC system.

We don't have cheap automobiles with cheap AC systems... so being cheap to the point of using the wrong refrigerant is truely penny wise and pound foolish.

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by leathermang

"Direct Replacement" is one of those nonsense terms when used to describe Freeze 12... or any of those other masqueraders....

It applies only in the most narrow and meaningless of definitions in that the Freeze 12 will occupy the internal space where the R12 used to work.

It will not match any of the important parameters for which R12 was designed to be utilized inside your AC system.

We don't have cheap automobiles with cheap AC systems... so being cheap to the point of using the wrong refrigerant is truely penny wise and pound foolish.

Well said...I am hardly an expert on A/C and even I know that.

[Hit Man X]

Originally Posted by Pete Burton

Another option is to go to a site like http://www.epatest.com and do it legally. You can download the training document for free, then take the online, open book test for only $15 or $20. Plus, you'll learn quite a bit just by reading the information and feel better knowing more about how your system works and confident that you will be working safely, I know I did. Boy, what a great country we live in, with the choices we have!

I've read half of the material there, it's actually semi interesting. And for the $20 to not be hassled when purchasing as much R12 as you need, it's WELL worth it.