A side note------R134A

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67Dart273

67Dart273

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This spring I've already used a fair amount of R134A

The Dakota which I sold was bought in "unknown" condition, and turned out to have a substantial leak........couple --3 lbs right there troubleshooting and "let's try it."

Had to top off the much hated blue Olds, didn't use much last year, so used 2 1lb cans there

I'll be using more if and when I get the Chineseoationized evap into the WWIII, and will have to recharge/ troubleshoot the Mini Whale (Dakota) if THAT ever gets done

And if the Dart ever goes together, there's a brand new system waiting for it!!

And the neighbor's kid................

The point is these parts stores RIP YOU OFF. I think O'Really? is charging nearly 10 bucks a pound.

SO THE PUNCHLINE is my new work partner told me "North 40" had some in stock and I ran right up there and scored a 30lb keg for 108 bucks!!!
 
Mike 340 said:
The more you buy, the cheaper it is.
Mike.
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Yeh.......I know......problem around here if finding ANYONE who stocks "more." We have a local appliance parts place, who has it, he claimed "I need a license" By the way I used to do HVACR service in a "previous life."
 
Find an ad from your local Wal Mart. O'Reilly will match it. I do it everyday.

67Dart273 said:
This spring I've already used a fair amount of R134A

The Dakota which I sold was bought in "unknown" condition, and turned out to have a substantial leak........couple --3 lbs right there troubleshooting and "let's try it."

Had to top off the much hated blue Olds, didn't use much last year, so used 2 1lb cans there

I'll be using more if and when I get the Chineseoationized evap into the WWIII, and will have to recharge/ troubleshoot the Mini Whale (Dakota) if THAT ever gets done

And if the Dart ever goes together, there's a brand new system waiting for it!!

And the neighbor's kid................

The point is these parts stores RIP YOU OFF. I think O'Really? is charging nearly 10 bucks a pound.

SO THE PUNCHLINE is my new work partner told me "North 40" had some in stock and I ran right up there and scored a 30lb keg for 108 bucks!!!
Click to expand...
 
I didnt realize licencing was required in the U.S. up here in manitoba its required to have a mopia certificate (manitoba ozone pretection and information act)
Which is ridiculous as r134a is a non ozone depleting substance.

Almost all the auto supply houses can source r134 as the parts manufacturers (everco,four seasons,etc) show the products in the catalogue. Reality is, if they dont have 30lb'ers on the shelf, will you pay 5x as much for what they do stock? No brainer if it's 95 degrees outside.
Sorry if it was a rant. I use the red tek substitute on my junk, everybody else gets what my a/c guy uses.
 
leaky system, just use friggin propane (its R290 or 'CARE 40') out of the Coleman camp bottles. I can tell you it works. I put in the max the R134 guage says is safe for ambiant air temp and the darn thing runs as cool as a cucumber. So what if it all leaks out in 4 months, the bottle was 5 bucks, and you only used half! "The use of R290 is increasing due to its low environmental impact and excellent thermodynamic performance. It is non-toxic with zero ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) and very low GWP (Global Warming Potential)"...I grafted an old propane torch head into an A/C manifold supply line and screwed a bottle on . Sure its flammable, (...Such substitution is widely prohibited or discouraged in motor vehicle air conditioning systems, on the grounds that using flammable hydrocarbons in systems originally designed to carry non-flammable refrigerant presents a significant risk of fire or explosion.
Vendors and advocates of hydrocarbon refrigerants argue against such bans on the grounds that there have been very few such incidents relative to the number of vehicle air conditioning systems filled with hydrocarbons...) but so is gasoline under 55 psi. If I want to run R134 again, Ill find that damn leak before I go spending $12 on a LITTLE CAN with a $10 deposit ($22!!!) F that.
 
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Yup,propane. Dont want that in passenger compartment. Pfffft!
As mentioned gasoline under pressure and an extra 20 gallons in the back. Compared to 2lbs of propane? Big deal.
 
No license is required for R134A. For 12 and 22 and so on, yes.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Find an ad from your local Wal Mart. O'Reilly will match it. I do it everyday.
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Hi, Rob. I actually bought some 1 lb from Wally. I think they were still over 6 bucks so they were STILL more expensive than "North 40" at 30lb, and the Wally 30 lb internet price seems to be 118, so that's still more as well.
 
Put whatever you want in your car, but do everyone else a favor, if it's anything but 12 or 134a, and empty the system completely if you sell the thing !!
 
Besides the flammable aspect of alot of the "alternative" refrigerants to an unsuspecting repair tech/ new owner, they can damage an expensive AC recovery machine, sometimes beyond repair. We went through this problem big time during 134a to 12 changeover. Had to buy very expensive refrigerant identifiers to try to save machines. Didn't really think this problem still existed !! I get 134a for $4.99 a 12oz can. Most later model systems hold around 2lbs. or so. Being a shop owner is probably why I made comment. Pertains mostly to guys everyday vehicles, I guess.
 
The tech that is doing mobile ac work around here has no issues with the substitues,anything he recovers is treated as contaminated. Yesterday was unbearable, so glad i had working a/c....
 
65wgn440 said:
Besides the flammable aspect of alot of the "alternative" refrigerants to an unsuspecting repair tech/ new owner, they can damage an expensive AC recovery machine, sometimes beyond repair. We went through this problem big time during 134a to 12 changeover. Had to buy very expensive refrigerant identifiers to try to save machines. Didn't really think this problem still existed !! I get 134a for $4.99 a 12oz can. Most later model systems hold around 2lbs. or so. Being a shop owner is probably why I made comment. Pertains mostly to guys everyday vehicles, I guess.
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I went through the same thing. Still go through it. You wouldn't believe the stuff people put in their car A/C's down here. Not just DIYer's , either. Guys that work on other then auto A/C, and charge up their buddys car with "something" other then R-134a.
 
The AC in my old tool truck had leaks. I would buy a keg every couple years. $100 or so at Sams. My Swinger has R12 and I have scored a few cans from a old friend that saved a few.
 
i dont know why there's such a price swing on 134 around the country. guess its location. was at sams in gulfport ms. four hours ago, and a 30 lb. jug was 89.81. wonder if having several chemical plants down here would effect price ?
 
Can you imagine what a 30 pound keg of R12 would cost?
Do they still produce and use R12 in Mexico?
 
GeorgeH said:
propane , accident, kaboom. No,no,no! LOL
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JUST what I need (NOT!!) in a car crash, hanging upside down with sparking battery cables.................a leaking explosively flammable gas
 
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