HVAC Feedback appreciated -

Unfortunately, R410a is with us and we can't do much about it. But any system designed to use it "should" be designed to put up with the pressure, valves, O rings, etc.

I'm convinced stuff like this has much more to do with end of patent life for Dupont than it does protecting the environment.

And who knows? It took a LONG time to figure out that R-12, 22, etc were allegedly bad for the environment, in another 40 years (I won't be here) we may find that 410a is WORSE

The thing one must realize is that there's LOTS of chemicals that can act as a refrigerant, including WATER. You've all heard of ammonia. Years ago, sulfer dioxide and methyl chloride were also used. All were VERY toxic and dangerous.

Propane and CO2 could be used, but both have problems, high operating pressures, and in the case of propane, ker freeking balooey.

Refrigerants must mix with available oils, must not corrode or otherwise react with internal system components, and of course it's pretty damn handy if they are not explosive, toxic, harm the environment in some way, or promote things like cancer, or be flammable.

But even the R12-22 type cfc/hcfc refrigerants can be very dangerous. Let's say you were trapped in a fairly minor wreck, help on the way, with a minor fire. The older R-12 in your cars had two dangers. ONE, the oil in the refrigerant burns even though the refrigerant does not, but WORSE, running such refrigerants as R-12 through a fire produces deadly phosgene gas, right out of WWII. It wil seriously kill ya - dead.

I just don't know how we possibly lived "back then." I grew up in a home with no AC, none of the schools I ever attended had AC, and I never had a car with AC until I bought the 70 RR which had "hang on AC". And since then, I've had a NUMBER of vehicles without AC, including the 67

BRING BACK THE VENTS I say!!!!