r134 or r12 which to do?
 

Well I bought a reman. a/c compressor plan on getting a reciver and drier to switch out as well. I origanally planned on keeping r12 but after thinking more and more about it all thats left to change to convert would be the fittings and a flush which would be as costly as a fill up of r12.
what are your thoughts on this issue?

yes r12 uses Mineral oil from my understanding thats why I would flush the system

The r12 does cool better, but you can buy the r134 at Wal-Mart or some place and put it in yourself.

The r12 does cool better, but you can buy the r134 at Wal-Mart or some place and put it in yourself.
Tim

By the way, what does freeze 12 mean? Is that something else you can use or what?

It's supposedly a replacement for R-12, but I've heard bad things about it...don't remember the details, but I wouldn't use it.

I would go with R-12 if you can afford it...otherwise stick with R-134. I plan to do an R-134 conversion on my truck, solely 'cause I can't afford the R-12... :(

Even if you could afford the r12, you would still go with it? Even though it cools better, it is still nice that you can buy the r134 and put it in yourself. I think the r134 is like $5-$10/pound at Wal-Mart and such places. If the r12 cools your car VERY well, then I would switch to the r134, but if it doesn't cool that well, then the r134 would be even worse, so then I would stick with the r12. It all depends on how good your A/C works.
Tim

You will not be happy with the performance of R134a in Deltona, Florida. And there's no reason you can't buy R12 and put it in yourself. For $15 you can take the online, open book test at imaca.org. Then you can go down to Advance/Discount auto parts with your certificate and buy R12. I bought 4 cans a couple months ago for $18.00 a can. Since then I've been told the price has gone down further, to something like $15. So there's no need to even bother with conversion.

Switch to the R134...cooling is very good and it was enough to get me sick for a week cause its so cold. I converted it in the 126 and they changed the receiver/drier and some other stuff which I dont know anything about too much. Not sure what oil they put in but I know its the original compressor being used.

Thanks Rick Miley
I now have my certification for r12 and r22 :D
The 533 uses the same compressor that the 500 did but the 533 has a blower motor which well no other way to say it sucks (normal german 80s a/c)
I'm buying a leak detector and some cans of r12 for a fridge at my dad's resturant and my car.
I just have to get some gauges and read some mannuals on the proper ways to charge (more than was required for the test)
I think i will check for leaks and then if there are non top off my system just to get through summer
thanks to all

my mechanic uses freeze - he says no comebacks ever and no conversion required because the lubricant is compatible with freon systems.

Benzman,

It's pretty tough to participate in your survey without knowing model and year of the car.

Have a great day,

84 533i BMW as in the sig