Any brand of R12 recommended?

[bdlefferts]

Can anyone recommend a brand of R12 or recommend a type to stay away from?
I'm looking to buy some recharge cans and there are all different companies: DuPont, Chargette, National, Igloo...
I just wasn't sure who are the respected brands and who are the "shady" ones. Or maybe they're all the same. Any suggestions?

[Mike Richards]

Any brand sold in legitimate U. S. auto parts stores is fine.

Be leary of Internet sellers. Many of these people are selling cans marked as R-12 in R-134A cans. Alot of these crooks live in and ship their "goods" from U.S cities along the Mexican border. Their product of course is put together in Mexico. Essentially all they are doing is painting R-134a cans with R-12 on the can.

It's easy to spot this. The top of an R-12 can is very different from an R-134A can. If you're not familiar, look at the top of an R-134A can next time you're in an auto parts store. If someone sells you
a can of "R-12" and the top is identical to an R-134A can, you got screwed.

[Meza]

Guess what. I just found out from your post that I was a victim for those fake R12 cans. I bought 4 cans on ebay for about $84 and they are exactly what you described; white cans with R12 in red and the back has prints in spanish. The top of the can looks exactly like the R134a cans. The A/C in my BMW was working like a charm two summers ago. Last summer It wasn't cooling enough. I checked the charge (DIY-I am cetified for all A/C systems). It was low. I got the cans after 1.5 months and the S.O.B left me a negative feedback (the only one) when I asked for my money. I added 2 cans but my system wasn't cool like it was that summer. I took the car to a my friend's shop and he evacuated the system. I took the drier out and it was rusted. Got a new one and took the condenser and evaporator out. Flushed the whole system and then decided to get a new compressor (maybe it's week). I got one for $125 on ebay. When I tried to put it up, I found that the mounting points are different from the one I have. I had to leave the old one in the car. Put a new expansion valve, high pressure switch, and fresh oil and used the same Mexican cans and still not cool enough toped with a real R12 can. I checked every single electronic A/C part and they were all fine.
I said F*%K it, and sweated my ass off all last summer. Now I know what I have in my lines.
Thank you.
Man I am mad at that guy and I will report him to ebay.

R12 is R12. It's not like motor oil or some other fluid that has different additive packages. It is dichlorodifluoromethane with no additives.

Good luck,

[abe g]

I have 6 cans of American R-12 for sale $70 for lot of 6 plus freight,if interested E-mail me at aggreen4@yahoo.com. Regards, abe g.