A/C question R12 or 134a ??

[Sqrlnts]

So I just purchased a used AC compressor for my hatch. Question is do they still charge up cars with R12? Is it pricey? Would it be more cost effective to have it converted to R134a? Does this require a new compressor?
Thanks chaps!

[93mustank]

I just bought the r134a conversion kit from walmart. Comes with the new fittings. Run one bottle through and flush out. Then fill back up.

[Sqrlnts]

Cool, so the 134a you put back in came from the little self fill service bottles you can buy anywhere? Did you have to do anything special for the oring seals, oil wise? How does it cool compared to R12?

[93mustank]

Yup anywhere....I just got the whole kit. Came with three bottles and the fittings. Nothing special with the rings. Have not filled mine up yet. Doing some finishing touches on my car. Have done it on other mustangs. Blows colder.

[Sqrlnts]

Does it not require that you evacuate the system at some point?

[93mustank]

Not that I know of. i just let the r12 into sweet mother earths air. Put one bottle of r134a in. released it out. then filled the system back up.

[4Jenna]

r12 blows cooler, 134 is less efficient


my notch was already converted to 134 when I got it.

[Sqrlnts]

r12 blows cooler, 134 is less efficient


my notch was already converted to 134 when I got it.

That is what I heard as well. My old vert was converted before I bought it and it didn't seem to cool as well as my other mustang which was R12.

[fazm]

r12 works much better.

and yes you can convert to r134a that way, but its a bandaid and will only cause problems in your future (compressors going to shit) since you cant get all the r12 out by just opening the system. when r12 and r134a are combined they can make pressures very erratic, causing systems to go to shit.

just my 2 cents.

[Lucafu1]

yup what the other guys said. r12 is better, but cost more.

please dont let it out into the air, thats really bad. go get your system evacuated and then flush it out. i would replace o-rings and expansion tube and dont forget compressor oil. you should also replace the dryer when you open the system but you can get away with it sometimes.