Date:         Tue, 01 Apr 1997 22:01:41 -0800
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         GARTH WOOLSTENHULME <gwoolstenhulme@HiDesert.com>
Subject:      Re: A/C freon R-134A upgrade...

Harry Yates wrote:
> 
> HI Everyone.  Yesterday, when I was at my local dealer, I found out
> about the R-12 to R-134A freon upgrade kit that VW will be making
> available ... even for the Vanagon.
> 
> The kit consists of the followiing (all prices in CDN $$$)
> 
> freon (R-134A)  $75
> labour (3 hours @ $79/hr)  $237
> adapter kit  approx. $175
> 
> The adapter kit will consist of a new receiver/dryer and various new
> seals that have to be changed at every hose joint, etc.  VW  hasn't
> set the price yet, but my dealer has just trained 3 mechanics to do
> this conversion work, and hopes to make this available by
> the end of May/97.
> 
> Now, he did warn me by saying that R-134A is no where near as
> efficient as R-12 systems in cooling.  Can anyone vouch for that?
> 
> Harry.
> 
> Harry Yates, Langley, British Columbia Canada
> '90 Syncro Westfalia   WWW - http://syncro.cr.bcit.bc.ca/hyates
> '87 Golf Diesel        email:  hyates@bcit.bc.ca
> '91 Miata (Millie)


I was also thinking of also converting to R-134A,but after talking to an
owner of an auto A/C repair shop I decided not to do it.  He said that
the conversions were going very well, but that R-134A was not as
efficient and that new R-134A systems from the factory use bigger
compressors and larger condensors in front of the radiator to provide
the same amount of 'cool' as compared to R-12 systems.  He was not sure
if the large interior of the Vanagon would be cooled enough with R-134A.
We do live in the desert of So. Cal. where 110 degrees in the summer is
normal. The price for R-134A was also the same as R12 last summer.  So
the only benefit is to the ozone layer.  IMHO not much of an 'upgrade'.

Garth