134a Refrigerant

OK, perhaps the eco-nazis have done us in again. In the NE yesterday I tried to get some R134a ..... and NO ONE in western NJ, Eastern Penna. or Delaware has any ...... ??????? I can get it online from Florida .... at about 400% above the 'normal' price. I know the manufacturer, duPont, has had problems in production and legal - as they are appraently having GREAT legal problems with all their Fluorine based products. The production problems started last year but duPont advised that all would be 'remedied' by December 2004.

Any suggestions; or, should I just bite the bullet and find some bootleg R12 and switch back?

Reply to
Rich Hampel
Loading thread data ...

thats really strange to hear. Also, du pont is not the only one who makes

134a, just a perticular brand of 134a. Try a wholesale refrigeration shop or sales house. Or try Schucks or Napa online, and you could probably order it and have it sent to your house. I know here in washington state, I can walk into the parts store (did the other day) and they have shelves full of 134a....
Reply to
Robb S via CarKB.com

by the way, R-12 right now is going for about $900.00 a pound, so I don't think you want to go back to that.

Reply to
Robb S via CarKB.com

I buy refrigerants exclusively from refrigeration houses, and there

134A is in no shortage.
Reply to
calcerise

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

you were exaggerating to make a point, right?

Reply to
Nathan W. Collier

Not at all. Refrigerant R-12 in the usa, Washington state anyways, is going around roughly $800-$900 us dollars per pound. It's the number 1 smuggled item across the mexican border besides drugs I am told by people in the industry.

Reply to
Robb S via CarKB.com

I still have a small retail can of R-12 laying around my garage somewhere. I'm holding onto it until I can donate it to a museum...

Reply to
Robb S via CarKB.com

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

L.W. ("ßill") Hughes III did pass the time by typing:

It's the cows and all that methane. ;) ..or usenet and the same..

Reply to
DougW

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

lol....we should talk sometime. ;-)

Reply to
Nathan W. Collier

i havent bought any in awhile but its nowhere near $900 a pound. besides, it just doesnt make any sense to buy 12 when you have so many other choices, and many are superior to 12 at a fraction of the cost. 414b ("hot shot") is a perfect example, as is 416a. i would even run 502 before spending the money for 12.

Reply to
Nathan W. Collier

im not saying that what you say isnt true, but its ridiculous considering the many available alternatives. for those that are still running 12 systems, even hot shot has a lower boiling point than 12 (cools better than

12). youd be amazed at what you can do with propane. :-)
Reply to
Nathan W. Collier

Reply to
Robb S via CarKB.com

now thats a little better. i think i paid around $600 for the last 30 pound tank i bought. if you were paying $900 per pound i could only wonder how i could get in on it. :-)

Reply to
Nathan W. Collier

Shoot a little propane in the system and enjoy -

Reply to
Chuck

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

It's not perfect but it'll work. IIRC, the oil in a R12 system is correct for propane too.. It's been a while since I looked into it.. Oh, I remember, I think- the vapor pressure is too high, adding 30% isobutane brings it right into line. I've heard that isobutane can be found as high-altitude campstove gas.

If you were to do it, which I believe is a federal crime, I think it would be better to use the small bottles for torches/lanterns as I don't think they have the stinky chemical in them.. that will contaminate the oil and shorten the life of the system.

Propane is a direct replacement for R22- virtually identical pressure curves and, again, the oil is compatible.

Anhydrous ammonia is another candidate. I am unaware of legal complications with anhydrous, as with all things bragging without proper learning is contraindicated.

Reply to
JohnM

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.