R-12 and FR-12

[Plantman]

I recently took delivery of 6 cans of R-12 for my 300SD to convert back from 134. I will be doing the job tommorow hopefully.

I bought 6 just to have some extra. I know it needs 3lbs.

A couple of interesting things:

1. I received cans from one brand(CRC) which was dated in 1999.
The other from Dupont dated in 1992, which leads me to believe that either some people have stockpiles of this stuff, it is, or has been made after the ban, or some people are illegally importing from Mexico, etc... and selling it in the states.

2. I purchased them on ebay with a new 609 license which was a joke to get. I could not find it locally(with the 609) so I had no choice but to go on ebay.

Well actually, I went to a local ac supply house which had something I never heard of, FR-12 which was "supposedly" a drop in replacement for R-12.

3. Larry Bible has often made the point about the r-12 being one of the least expensive elements to repairing an r-12 system and he could not be more correct. If you can get a 609, the cost of refilling your properly repaired, leak free R-12 system is about $60.00. My point is, if you are going to do it, do it right and keep your R-12 system R-12.

Any thoughts?

BTW, thanks to all of the contributors and moderators for all the valuable info.