Surprising source for ATF+4

I was at AutoZone yesterday and they had a few gallon jugs of Zerex G-05 tucked back in the corner. I don't know if it is now chain wide or just my local store.

They also carry Valvoline brand ATF+4

I got a longer refill blade an cut it to fit...

They have it here too for two-bucks less than the dreaded Pep Boys. They get the business next time I need it; I normally buy 4 jugs at a time and don't need to buy again for 2 years.

Cool. Doubtful they sell for less than Wally World though. I'll have a look next time I'm in there.

I think I'll have to do the same. Thought about buying a 26-incher so that I can cut it in half and have both sides done at the same time, but the 'catch' won't be present on one of them. Still thinking about this one.

I wish I know for sure when R-134a will cease production. The $3,000+ I made off the R-12 extinction was nice; wouldn't mind doing it again twofold.

A commercial refrigeration tech friend of mine told me a few months ago that 134a was reformulated a while back. It's now a larger molecule that will actually stay in the system unless you have a real leak. PAG oil and high-density hoses are no longer necessary, either. It's been roughly two years since my '77 Cherokee's converted a/c system (with salvage yard compressor) has had a measurable drop in pressure. The hoses have splices, and the two sections on the evaporator core are original (almost 30 years old). Those 2 1/2 spare cans are still sitting on my closet shelf. :)

Dan

I have had refrigerant in the system in my 1989 Suburban for three and a half years now. I ascribe this to getting fed up with incompetent "air conditioning repair" shops, and replacing all the hoses, compressor, O-rings and refrigerant myself. I don't see how they can "reformulate" the molecule without renaming it, but after working at Microsoft I learned that you don't trust industry or government.

Earle

That must have been a BIG change to no longer require PAG; 134a is extremely corrosive. I wonder if they also lessened the toxicity? Morbidity studies I've seen indicated that a fatal dose can be inhaled within 30 seconds inside a closed automobile should an evap core breach occur. You'd think that the liability from this alone would cause changes.

Yeah, I do the same thing. Replaced the compressor and reciever/drier myself, too. Got the compressor from a well-reputed salvage yard, and got a goody. 'Course, with mine being nearly 15 years old (since last rebuilt), I figured most any I got would have been rebuilt since it was. Love those old upright Yorks-they last forever!

Dan

I hope so, because 134a is what they are using in the new CFC-free asthma inhalers now (that insurance won't cover).

My friend also told me that all eight techs who converted the first Arkansas plant to 134a from R-12 got cancer within a year and a half or so. But I haven't heard of any other such cases, so it could have been caused by something else. I sure hope so.

Dan