PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

vstech · #**289** 11-03-2012, 08:55 PM

wow. that's a good point you guys. especially if you can get the sanden and the kit for the price of a good R4 (200) Thayer is a good member to ask about the R4 lifetime. I put his in about 3 years ago... I gotta agree, the R4 is junk in any system not designed for the refrigerant installed. R4s last decades in properly designed systems. my 87 astro van had great a/c up until the day I crushed it last year... the 92 pickup I had had a solid original compressor, running R12. my brother has an 89 astro van that was converted to 134 in 2004 and it's running strong... my 92 2500 was running fine on it's original R4... the original R4 in my 94 pickup appears intact, but I've yet to get the truck running, so take that with a grain of salt... it however is a factory 134 vehicle, so likely the condenser is designed to shed additional heat...
my point is, a PROPERLY installed R4 should last 10 years. properly installed, means total system flush, proper oil distribution and new dryer and expansion valve, with a cleaned condenser, and the condenser should be cleaned every 2 years or so of driving... NOBODY is doing that... ask ANYBODY who has had a/c work done by me how their condenser looks when I am done... they will ALL admit it's better than it looked when NEW! I CLEAN them things!!!