<all><AC>Heat making me think...

[RangeR BoB <samurai@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

With all of the comments so far on A/C systems (thanks to all ofr the
tips, I am learning a lot!) I thought maybe we could get some factual
info out on all of the types of refrigerants out there.

	R-12	Old reliable standard, Ozone eater, not made in (some of) the
Western countries any more to preserve the environment.  Works when it
works, expensive to buy new, generally recycled when removed from car.

	R-134	

	Possible Advantages:  New, less damaging to Ozone, but still a threat,
from what I have heard.  

	Possible Disadvantages:  Requires new oils in your compressor for
lubrication.  Can cause problems with older compressors and seals, blown
O-Rings, etc.  Reduced capacity for cooling of the FLUID (note I say
nothing about how cold your CAR gets, it it true that R-134 has les
thermal ability than R-12).  Expensive to convert compressor in worst
case, could just mean new valves and inject some new oil in simplest
case.

	"Alternative" coolants.  

	Everything from Propane to Ammonia will work as a refrigerant.  Ammonia
has many advantages thermally, but smells REAL bad when you get a leak
(and toxic)  Various Hydrocarbon mixes (propane/butane and heavier)

	Possible Advantages:  Cheap!  No incompatibility with R-12 compressor
oils.

	Possible Disadvantages:  fear of explosion causes many shops to shy
away from it, requires new valves so that you can't refill it with R-12
(or get it reclaimed accidentally and contaminate a tank of R-12.

	So, what thoughts are out there?  Anecdotes like "I have R-134 and it
will still freeze my knuckles off of the wheel" have been put out, but
how about hard facts, like real costs, real life stories and any real
problems.  Comments like "I heard once..." need not apply, but good,
factual anecdotes will inform us all.

	Thanks, and please, please, lets keep this civil.  No flames,  I won't
be baited, so don't try.

	Thanks for the space,
- -- 

 RangeR
   BoB
 Hembrook
 
 '89 BMW 750iL                   	"Sputnik"	92k
 '89 Suzuki Samurai 4x4          	"Sammy"   	94k
 '88 Kawasaki ZX-10					28k

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