Just a FYI. I am a profesional A/C tech. I will only use R-12 or R-134a in an auto/truck A/C system.

In most juristictions (not all), propane/butane refrigerants are illegal to install (not sell ). By US EPA rules, it is not permitted to use R-12a to retrofit R-12 systems. It is however permitted to replace R-134a, with R-12a. This is due to the way the laws are written. They only pertain to retrofit of R-12 systems, there is no regulation, that pertains to changing a R-134a system. Technickly, you can change a R-12 system to R-134a (legally), then change the R-134a to R-12a, and not be illegal, because there are no regulations, about doing this.

_________________
Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

For the life of me, I cannot see why he did this. That vehicle is a factory R-134a vehicle. R-134a is less expensive then R-12a. If the compressor should fail the manufacturer will not warentee the compressor, if they notice anything, other then R-134a or R-12 was used as a refrigerant.

_________________
Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Hogeeze, not again with the hydrocarbon refrigerants. They are not safe, and they are not legal. The fuel system of a car is designed and intended to store, transport, and handle a flammable substance. The A/C system is not. Period, end of discussion.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Real r12 is all over ebay. You can pick up three or four cans just about any day for around $21.00 - $24.00 a can including shipping. Just get at least three or four at a time. Most ask for certification or a statement of intent to resell, which is a very short email or message attached to the payment.

Nothing will work as well in an r12 system. If the system needs quite a bit under the hood in the way of repairs, I would look at updating the condenser and hoses and switching to r134.

I just changed out everything under the hood in our Dart for use with r134. It works great and cost about what it would have to put it back together for r12 anyway, which I thought about doing. I charged it with r134 that had $2.49 price tags on it that I stocked up on one fall about five years ago.

Any of these systems will work for years without needing repairs if they are put in real working order. I suspect people looking for cheap and easy alternatives just want to keep adding refridgerant to a leaking system.

I have plenty of propane. I use it in my grill, crab cooker, camping gear and as fuel for my generator. I would never consider charging an AC system with it.