Can I use BG Frigi Quiet with R12?
 

I bought BG Frigi Quiet a few days ago planning on using it when I converted my 85 380SE to R134. I have completely flushed the system out (with the evaporator in place,......through the lines at the expansion valve) and will be replacing the compressor, drier and expansion valve (drier last just prior to vacuuming the system down).

In the past few days, I have received a number or emails from the mercedes list stating that I would be better off to stay with R12,..particularly since I live in Texas.

So, I am considering either R12, or the Freeze 12 that I already have.

The Frigi Quiet compressor oil says that it is fully compatible with all types of A/C compressr oils, but,.......that it should only be used to top off R12 systems,...........NOT as the exclusive lubricant. Has anyone tried this as the exclusive lubricant in an R12 System? Any idea why BG says it should NOT be used as the only lubricant in an R12 System?

Brian in Austin

def. stay with r12 if you can; R12 requires mineral oil; i never heard of BG frigi quiet. if you can't get r12 you might want to try envirosafe refrigerant; i had better results with it than the freeze 12 in my 420 sel. i also ran propane for a while but then switched to the envirosafe because the propane alone froze up the system a lot

Call B G in the A.M.
 

Brian,
"They" maintain a staffed technical expert line in CONUS.

About 5 years ago I bought into the hype of BG Frigi Quiet lubricant and went to seek out. My local parts supplier had a bunch of 2 ounce BG Frigi Quiet II bottles on the shelf. He said nobody has even touched those bottles since he put them there a while ago and decided to give all of them to me.

The label on those 2 oz bottles does not say any thing of it not to be used as an exclusive lubricant with R12. I installed a full 8 oz on my R12 system with a sub 100 dollar rebuilt R4 compressor. It was until a couple of years later that I saw that warning on the Internet. Needless to say my R12 system is still working very well and the rebuilt R4 compressor is still alive. I might be the exception.





.

the thing is, BG is a lube enhancer not a full on lubricant... it's designed to assist mineral oil or replace PAG oil... I'd personally not bother with it, pure mineral oil will work fine in a fresh R12 system.
in addition to wanting Specific R12 NOT F12 or 134 in Texas, I'd recommend a full cleaning and fin straightening and a CHEMICAL cleaning of the condenser coil, also a cleaning of the evaporator, and verify the aux fan/fans are working perfectly.

Yep. What VSTECH said. Don't even mess with it- Put in whatever the OE spec stuff is (probably mineral oil) and use enviro-safe stuff charged to the factory spec (should be around 30 PSI at 1500 RPM or so)

Enviro-safe works like a champ-, and doesn't react to moisture like the other stuff does. I use it in my 89 Silverado (goes below 42 degrees) and my 96 C36 (which will hold 46 degrees at the vents with 100 degrees outside) and the W123 will get it next week.

Not to mention it's the cheapest refrigerant out of the three.

rjp