Date:         Tue, 30 May 2000 23:18:35 EDT
Reply-To:     EricJSmall@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Small <EricJSmall@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: R12 vs. R134
Comments: To: jcain@mindspring.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

TIA Wrote:
>>Last year my '85 Westy was converted from Freon to Freeze 12.  How
does that relate to the R12 vs R134 debate.  Is Freeze 12 similar as
R12?
>SNIP<
What's the advice on replacing the compressor?
<<

All,  Im sorry if I came off as an expert on A/C... I am not that.  I just do
a lot of research before I make a move on repairs.  I did not look hard at
product like Freeze 12 as they were very controversial among the true
experts.  Some of the available products (not to necessarily to include
Freeze 12) were even dangerously flammable under certain circumstances.
Aside from the safety issue I had 2 significant concerns with alternative
refrigerant products... First, continued availability of these products in
the long term is a concern because once your system has been converted there
is often no migration option to other refrigerants without a complete system
replacement.  Secondly, in the short term,  general availability of the
alternative refrigerants while on trips through rural America -a favorite
pass time for my family- was a concern.  R-134 is now established by the auto
manufactures and will not likely be replaced for decades.

TIA,  Im not familiar with the properties of Freeze 12 and cannot give any
advise on compressor replacement.... sorry.  Hopefully others on the list can
help.

Best of luck...
Eric