Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2013 04:08:19 +0000
Reply-To: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon AC - Experience with RedTek
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-- I sent the reply below, but it came out unreadable for some reason
Stephen -
Thanks for the link. Lots of good, if conflicting, advice in that thread.
Looks like my best bet is to buy the RedTek kit with the low-side gauge, another can for a total of three, and a can of leak stop. My friendly neighborhood mechanic will salvage the R-12 out of the system and pull a vacuum.
I'm a bit confused about adding oil after evacuating, but I'm sure my mechanic can top me up if it's needed before I add the RedTek.
As my current leak is so slow, (2-3 years before I get bubbles in the sight glass) and we have looked at the logical spots already, I am not excited about the effort involved in tearing into the evaporator or replacing hoses. As RedTek is relatively inexpensive it seems to make more sense to top off as needed. We'll see how it goes down the road.
- Mike
Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, Idaho
mike_l_f@hotmail.com
You can't see a thought, you can't measure, weigh, nor taste it - but thoughts are the most real things in the Galaxy.
- Richard Baslim
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2013 13:20:25 -0700
From: bike2vcu@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Vanagon AC - Experience with RedTek
To: mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
There's a lengthy (34 pages so far) on this very topic on thesamba.com;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=292488
Stephen
From: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Friday, August 2, 2013 1:03 PM
Subject: Vanagon AC - Experience with RedTek
I have a very slow leak in my '87 Westy AC system, and have been topping it off with R-12 in every 2-3 years for awhile at increasing cost. Mine is cooling now, but has a lot of bubbles in the sight glass, so it's time.
I'm not interested in moving to R-134 so have been shopping for alternatives. RedTek is not supported in the US but is used in Canada and around the world so I'm not concerned by the scare stories about hydrocarbon refrigerants, but I am curious about how it has worked out for other Vanagon users.
The archives have brought up a few notes, but nothing recent so I thought I would ask people who are currently using RedTek what their experience has been, or if you tried using RedTek and weren't satisfied.
I would also like to know from users whether they replaced the dryer or not before converting.
I have a note out to Terry asking for some details about his experience, but he must be busy, so - anyone else who has used the stuff have details about how they installed it, how well it cools, leaks, other considerations?
