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Date:         Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:26:59 -0700
Reply-To:     David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: found some freon 12 should I recharge old AC
Comments: To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net>
In-Reply-To:  <01c101d61222$2b91ece0$82b5c6a0$@hiwaay.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

All true, I guess. However, it would be unethical to add R12 to a system with ANY leaks. R12 has been outlawed for new equipment for a good environmental reason. And it might be that what is a "slow leak," what is an "excessive leak"? Who knows, and who wants to make that determination? mcneely

On Mon, Apr 13, 2020 at 11:02 PM Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net> wrote:

> Your mechanic lied to you, or at least he misquoted federal law. You are > allowed to add Freon to a system with slow leaks, you are not allowed to > add Freon to a system with excessive leaks. But repair the leaks and you > are allowed to add Freon again, even R12. > > Thanks, Tom Hargrave > www.kegkits.com – Electric Brewery Info > www.towercooler.com – Beer Tower Cooler > http://goo.gl/niRzVw - My Amazon Store > www.brew-control.com – Electric Brewery Marketing and Direct Sales > http://www.hackpilot.com/roadkill/ - A little twisted humor > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf > Of Richard Koerner > Sent: Monday, April 13, 2020 10:12 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: found some freon 12 should I recharge old AC > > (I tried sending this before...nothing happened...might be useful for > someone. So am trying to send again. Will NOT be offended if of no use > for anyone.) > > > I wanted to fix my 85 Vanagon A/C after doing the Subie 2.2 conversion. > Conversion came with a Subaru A/C compressor; my converter had to get a > couple new lines made. Re-filled system with R-12. Excellent!....for > about 2 months...doh. So there is this local San Diego A/C shop who knows > Vanagons; took it to him. Using "sniffer" thing, discovered many leaks; > most were O-rings, easily fixable and they did so. However....there was > still one small leak coming out of Evaporator (on an 85 Tintop it's a big > monster contraption hanging down from ceiling behind front seats). To fix > that would be like $2000....and super brittle plastic housings. By Federal > Law, he could not add R-12 to a system that had been determined to have > leaks. So the decision was made....convert to R-134A. > > All was good for about 9 months. But, slowly weaker performance. I asked > my guy about that Stop-Leak product available for R-134A. He said, Yes it > might work, or help at least. Here is the Big Thing though: once you have > that Stop-Leak stuff in your system, it opens a whole can of worms. If you > ever need your system evacuated, it will RUIN a shop's equipment. So > nobody will work on it, and you are on your own forevermore. > > > I considered all my options....and decided to try the Stop-Leak. Worked > very well, like magic. Still a tiny leak from somewhere. So now the > situation is: every year around June 1 or so, I hook up my gauge set, and > add a can or so of R-134A to the appropriate High and Low Side pressures. > It generally lasts all summer and fall. Over winter and spring, I never > need A/C of course. But then come June 1, I repeat the cycle. > > > Not sure if the wisest approach and decision-making.....but so far so good. > Rich > San Diego > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2016.0.7924 / Virus Database: 4793/15886 - Release Date: 08/14/18 > Internal Virus Database is out of date. >


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