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Date:         Sat, 3 Apr 2010 21:15:42 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Adding freon
Comments: To: mcneely4@COX.NET
In-Reply-To:  <20100403205426.5C18E.1035284.imail@eastrmwml47>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 08:54 PM 4/3/2010, Dave Mcneely wrote: >What do you guys recommend? If the system needs work, why not >retrofit at the same time? After all, I figure it will leak again >in eventually, and I'd rather it leak R134a than R12. Is there a >reason not to retrofit, other than the belief that many seem to have >(which may be true) that it is not as good a refrigerant?

It's *not* as good a refrigerant as R12 -- systems built for it compensate for this. To convert I believe you'll need to change the receiver-dryer, the hoses and the internal charge of oil.

The major cause of refrigerant leaks in a system like this is the compressor shaft seals, and the best preventive measure is to exercise the system for at least ten minutes a week, hot or cold (the latter instruction is from my Honda Accord manual). This prevents the seals from hardening and losing their compliance.

Personally I'd recommend sticking with the R12 (and replacing the compressor seals). The loss over say ten years amounts to a few aerosol-cans worth of Freon propellant, which we used to spray around perfectly freely at the least excuse.

Yours, David


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