Freeze 12

[Carlos Schopenhauer]

My AC was not cooling well, and my mechanic topped it with one can of Freeze 12, witch only solved the problem momentarly. Now I am being told by a AC shop that my AC is contaminated, and they need to evacuate / flush it and add 4 lbs of R12 (USD 300 !), add the dye and proceed to determine were the leak is. All my fittings are for R 12, so I am assuming the car originally had R 12.

My 92 535i has 130,000 mi, and had compressor/drier/expansion valve replaced by a BMW local dealer at 40,000 mi. in 1996 (I live in Houston – very hot and humid). I checked the label in the compressor : Seiko Seikei – R 134 compatible !

The question is this Freeze 12. To save money, could I convert it 100% freeze 12 ? Recharge the system, add the dye, and proceed to find the leak ? I have read much about the problems this Freeze 12 is causing AC shops (contaminating their recovery systems), but will it work properly in my car.

The other alternative is to do a R 134 conversion (drain and fill compressor + change drier fittings, etc) and save on the long run on the lower cost R 134, but have a hotter car interior.

I am planning to keep the car for another 6 months. Thanks in advance for advice.

[Kalevera]

http://www.koalamotorsport.com/tech/misc/ac.htm

Another six months?!?!?!!!

I'm speechless...

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

I am looking at the same thing too.

I plan to convert to R134. My system has a leak and will need a few parts replaced.
So, since i will need to replace the dryer/receiver anyway. I might as well go all the way and convert.

The shop in may area will evacuate and test for leaks with nitrogen and a dye, then after I replace the leaky parts they will test it, evacute and charge with gas, oil and more dye.

I did this a while back on my wifes car and it cost me $360.00 in parts and $80.00 at the shop. still running frosty!

[winfred]

at the moment r134 is almost as expensive as r12 and i have yet to discover the reason, the reports i am getting is it's unlikely to drop in price back to being reasonable. i guess they figure that 134 has been around 11 years now people have forgotten r12 (we have a 240 volvo at the shop now that we are going to convert back to r12, 90 and older 240s really suck on 134 and now price aint the issue it was) the big problem with most of the blended freon replacments is they use incompatable with flexable line freons like r22 (what your house probably uses) that normally run in soldered metal lines, the molucules of some are small enough that they pass through even barrier hoses resulting in a diluted blend, r22 works great while it's in there, just not for long, the other problem with blends is those of us with recycling machines also have identifiers and will do nothing but dump/flush and fill with clean freon a contaminated system. another fun one is getto shops will use propane as freon

[Kalevera]

Yeah, Brett told me that he picked up ~ 100 pounds of R134 at the local Costco recently, at a price that was better than whatever the market is floating at these days. It's practically more economical for me to refill my system as R12 than to change it...But seeing as how it hasn't been pressurized in a LONG time, I'd be replacing all of the components anyways -- it almost makes more sense to just pull the A/C out of the car :)

[ryan roopnarine]

about a year ago in may (may 2004), i took my canadian uncle who was in town (florida) to a discount auto parts having a "grand re-opening sale", where he purchased 2 cans of discount auto parts r134a for $5 ( i also got a bosch wiper for the e34 for $7). i went to the same discount last weekend to get a can of 134 for my mother's 1999 ford taurus....the discount brand was $10.22, the DuPont was 10.69, the leakdetector can was an ungodly amount. the cheapest autozone had their housebrand for was $12.99, which the manager said unfortunately was the "market price". autozone also suddenly stopped keeping the r134, freeze 12 and such in front of the counter. i wonder why they would have to do such a thing in florida, with our wonderfully nasty-hot weather :D

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

I bet it is real easy to find the leaks...

especially if it is the exchanger

Crispy Critters

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Stoped by the A/C shop this morning to get the system tested out, since it is flat.

I was planning on having to replace the drier, maybe the condenser, a line or two and some O-rings. But I got a call a few hours later "can't find a leak, so we filled it up with gas, oil and dye".

The owner said that it still may have a very slow leak, and it will show up much later when the dye comes out.....that's when it will start getting expensive! But unitil then....it's frosty

[motuman]

I found this guy was great to do business with -

http://stores.ebay.com/frosty-freeze-a-c-products-company_R-134a-Products_W0QQcolZ2QQdirZ1QQftidZ2QQtZkm

He even sent me a needed adapter for free after I purchased a recharge kit from him. One of the better e-bay merchants I have come across, for sure.

No affiliation, just thought I'd pass it on.

[632 Regal]

look up refrigerant 409a...for R-12 applications it's interesting. did a few, worked good.

[70383roadrunner]

at the moment r134 is almost as expensive as r12 and i have yet to discover the reason, the reports i am getting is it's unlikely to drop in price back to being reasonable. i guess they figure that 134 has been around 11 years now people have forgotten r12 (we have a 240 volvo at the shop now that we are going to convert back to r12, 90 and older 240s really suck on 134 and now price aint the issue it was) the big problem with most of the blended freon replacments is they use incompatable with flexable line freons like r22 (what your house probably uses) that normally run in soldered metal lines, the molucules of some are small enough that they pass through even barrier hoses resulting in a diluted blend, r22 works great while it's in there, just not for long, the other problem with blends is those of us with recycling machines also have identifiers and will do nothing but dump/flush and fill with clean freon a contaminated system. another fun one is getto shops will use propane as freon

I usually buy my R134 at Wal Mart under $5 a can. Don't know hwere you are buying your R134 but it must have been mispriced where you bought it.

[callen]

Carlos:

I too live in Steamy Houston...work downtown. I converted both my 535im and 735il to 134. Both work well. I'd suggest going to BMW dealer..or get from BMA, Bmw's converstion kit..it comes with both fittings, pressure switch and receiver dryer...dump out compressor (not really that hard) evacuate (rented vacume pump for free from Autozone) and recharge...If you want to do this and want more details don't hesitate sending me a PM. The whole job will cost maybe $200.00 then your done..if low top off with R134 that you can purchase yourself.

Callen

[callen]

honeywell stopped producing R134 and then just by coincident Dupont had an "incedent" at one of their plants...prices should start coming back down......info from buyer at work.

[JonE]

Dang, just bought a can today for the wife's mini van, cost, over $12!

[grave77]

propane works fine ... the only thing is that its dangerous if there was a leak in the system especially at the engines compartment the car will be on fire or even blow. but I was wondering how expensive the gas recharge is at ur place !! filling gas in Dubai is for 16 USD ... I recharge the system every year! actually I was looking for the best freon for my car that can cool better than the original ... I dont know what's in. I think it's r12. but does the r134 cool better in hot climate? 120F ?