Date:         Mon, 27 Sep 2021 19:55:26 -0700
Reply-To:     Jonathan Pullen <jonathanpullen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jonathan Pullen <jonathanpullen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Air Conditioning
In-Reply-To:  <CACvdLxNT0ZUhRYNYDJ1mzkPDqb+ygvoH9OPcono_sC7dGXouCQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

I once took an automotive air conditioning class at Saddleback Community
College, and the professor told us a story which he had witnessed
firsthand, of the failure of a AC system that had been refilled with
propane. The problem with propane is it is heavier than air and thusly will
'pool' at the lowest points of a container (like a car) that it is released
in. When the hapless individual who had done this got in the car and
started it, the resulting explosion rendered him temporarily deaf and
damaged his hearing for life.

It is acceptable to use propane as a cheap-out substitute for dye to test
for leaks in a system - outdoors, or with all the doors open. It is not an
acceptable replacement for refrigerant in any enclosed space. Duster is
*much* safer than propane in that it is lighter than air, but I would still
advise just buying the real refrigerant. You have to ask yourself whether
the risk is worth it. I do know people who have used duster as a
refrigerant with no unfortunate incidents. I don't know anyone who
understands the risk who would do so with propane except in a system that
was entirely outdoors.


On Mon, Sep 27, 2021 at 4:02 PM David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
wrote:

> This list, during my 13 year tenure, has been remarkably free of rancor.
> But anyone who has been around list serves and social media knows that
> insult and dispute are common.  Just let it run off your back without
> responding.  They'll get tired of it.
>
> On Mon, Sep 27, 2021 at 3:47 PM Chris S <szpejankowski@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I’ve been on this list over 20 years and have not seen insults thrown
> like
> > this in a long time, but I have seen more than a few discussions about
> > refrigerants.
> >
> > I will chalk the rudeness up to a tough 1.5 years of COVID crisis.
> >
> > Chris - rolling in Syncro with R134 AC blowing cold or the Propex blowing
> > hot.
> >
> > Wysłane z iPhone'a
> >
> > > Wiadomość napisana przez Gene P <olgreywoof@gmail.com> w dniu 9/27/21,
> > o godz. 17:29:
> > >
> > > This has been an interesting exchange of viewpoints between a chemist
> > and someone who “stumbled across a discussion about molecule size of
> > various refrigerants”.  Ain’t the age of the ‘information superhighway’ a
> > wonderful thing?  We can just jump out there in the middle of the cyber
> > road for a few minutes and know stuff without having to bother with
> > ‘education’.
> > >
> > >
> > > From: Chris S
> > > Sent: Monday, September 27, 2021 2:04 PM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Re: Air Conditioning
> > >
> > > They burn up from leaking fuel lines. You should check yours.
> > > And relax.
> > >
> > > Chris.
> > >
> > >> Wiadomość napisana przez Steve Bonde <seb007@live.com> w dniu
> 9/27/21,
> > o godz. 10:52:
> > >> Wow!!!
> > >> If this stupidity is the norm for this group, please remove me from
> > this list!
> > >> Propane isn’t being compressed and uncompressed within a system of the
> > vehicle. It simply flows and is contained in a DOT approved container.
> > >
> > >> No wonder so many Vanagons burn up.
> >
>