Another AC question

[SparkandFire]

Question...
...is this Duracool (HC-12) along the same lines as Freeze-12?

Freeze-12 is a blend of a number of other HFC refrigerants (such as R134a) that has a vapor pressure somewhat close to R12.

HC-12 is a blend of flammable hydrocarbons (hence the HC designation) namely butane and propane.

They are actually using HC12 in industrial chillers that once used R12, BUT it is not legal for use in automotive applications due to the flamability of it (or, more likely, because it is a simple drop in refrigerant that has no ozone depletion potential and does not require system conversion to use)

http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/snap/refrigerants/hc-12a.html

 

[franklin2]

Can you elaborate on that particular point, do you mean something permanent aside from the existing vacuum pump on the engine?

The vacuum pump is an external one that evacuates the system. You need to do some more research on the web on how the A/C system works, and what the procedure is to get it working with the new gas. There should be plenty of info on the web where you can read up on it. It's not hard to do, but you do need to get up to speed on how it works before you mess with it.

 

[plywood]

Yeah, I have a rough idea but I guess I'm getting farther down the list of to dos as I haven't been paying much attention to this subject yet.

I may have damaged the ?condenser? since when I was doing the heads and sort of set the compressor off to the side, I think the twisting action did something because I heard a hissing if you know what I mean and narrowed it down to the connection from the compressor to the condenser or vice versa but at the condenser.

 

[RLDSL]

Yeah, I have a rough idea but I guess I'm getting farther down the list of to dos as I haven't been paying much attention to this subject yet.

I may have damaged the ?condenser? since when I was doing the heads and sort of set the compressor off to the side, I think the twisting action did something because I heard a hissing if you know what I mean and narrowed it down to the connection from the compressor to the condenser or vice versa but at the condenser.

You most likely just popped the oring. If you twist the hose it's very common to loose the seal. No big deal to replace. I doubt that you damaged the condenser

 

[dave186]

Could have killed the rubber hose. I had one swell up and burst on me when I was swapping core supports. I tried to get away without touching the AC system but ended up getting new hoses and swapping condensers as well.

 

[plywood]

It's been a year and a half to two years since it happened and it was a spot I couldn't see well and, well, my memory sucks sometimes, but If I had to say, I thought it was right where the metal part of the line attaches to the condenser as if it had split just a little.

If I remember I'll look tonight when it's dark with a flashlight, that'll be the only way to see in there.

 

[franklin2]

It's been a year and a half to two years since it happened and it was a spot I couldn't see well and, well, my memory sucks sometimes, but If I had to say, I thought it was right where the metal part of the line attaches to the condenser as if it had split just a little.

If I remember I'll look tonight when it's dark with a flashlight, that'll be the only way to see in there.

Usually a refrigerent leak will be oily, so look for dust and dirt that may have stuck to a oily place on the line. If the oil didn't come from the engine, most likely it's a refrigerant leak.

 

[65sixbanger]

I am going to read this thread because my AC has never worked

Justin, you will eventually get used to it, I havent ever had AC in my four year of driving

 

[junior20762003]

what part of texas you located at if you dont mind me askin

it hasnt warmed up down here where im at too much yet but ive been hearing this summer where gonna be sizzling like beacon:***:

but the weather last year was

 

[plywood]

If you mean the OP he is an Oregonian like myself, were not used to it, anything over 70 in the winter is friggin hot.

 

[FordGuy100]

what part of texas you located at if you dont mind me askin

it hasnt warmed up down here where im at too much yet but ive been hearing this summer where gonna be sizzling like beacon:***:

but the weather last year was

Tyler, Texas. Humid and hot, I can stand 100* but not the dang 100% humidity that goes with it

 

[RLDSL]

Tyler, Texas. Humid and hot, I can stand 100* but not the dang 100% humidity that goes with it

That's why you're going to need some of those little extras on there. This area is just plain rough on air conditioning. I bet youve noticed already that just about everyone has serious window tinting on their vehicles around there. It's not just a fashion statement.It's survival, not to mention your upholstery wouldn't last 2 seasons without it.( I used to hate driving a big truck in Dallas in traffic jams, all window tint, no leg shows

 

[65sixbanger]

Amen on the window tint

 

[snicklas]

Tyler, Texas. Humid and hot, I can stand 100* but not the dang 100% humidity that goes with it

Justin, Kinda sounds like the MidWest also. I remember when you guys had the "heat wave" in the Pacific Northwest last year, and the weather that was "killing" you guys out there is a normal summer day in most of the country......

I do agree..... got to have a good A/C..... the HVAC in the building I work in has a mind of its own..... some days it is down right cold in here, and some days it is miserable..... on the bad days, it is nice to crank the A/C up on the way home, Max AC High Fan, and your glasses fog over when you get out of the vehicle...... that is the A/C that I like..... hang meat from the rear view mirror.......

 

[FordGuy100]

Well I need to do the tinting as well, I agree. Wonder what that is gonna cost...

I do like the idea of the fan though, seems like a good idea to me. Probably just pull one at a pick and pull and then fab it up and instal, seems like a good idea to me.

I would like it like a meat locker, that would be best