I have a 85' F350 w/460. My air conditioner is not working. I once heard freon is illegal, and now they only use the R-134a coolant. I think i may need a new compressor, or just needs to be recharged (today was the first hot day, didnt investigate yet). My question is:

Can I get my system fixed/charged with freon, or do I have to convert everything over to a newer R134a system?

 

Look on eBay for freon (R12) and Craigslist and the like, but it's not available retail (except to a few licensed, certified & specialized people who work on, for example, industrial HVAC systems).

 

Thank you!

 

It doesn't take much to get the license to buy the stuff. However, the cost of purchasing it doesn't justify not converting it. The conversion will cost about $15. You need different oil in the compressor and a different expansion tube. Then $30 bucks worth of R 134 A. R 12 can be $100 per can.

 

I was just researching converting over. I always thought that r134a was also a lubricant for the compressor. But now I'm reading if I convert over, I need oil for my compressor. Is this like regular oil & Do I put the oil directly into the compressor? And the expansion tube, do you have a part #, or what model should I order for?

 

IIRC A/C refrigerant oil is a mineral oil, like Baby Oil. I don't remember how much goes in, though.

I recommend also adding some dye so leaks can be found easier.

 

They have kits at Walmart and the parts store. The conversion kits have the freon and the oil already in the can. These conversion kits use "ester oil" since it's compatible with the old oil the r12 used. The old r12 oil stays in the system but does not do anything, since it won't mix with the 134a.

The other oil that is used with 134a is PAG oil. Many systems that came from the factory with 134a refrigerant used PAG oil, so those systems need to use that type of oil. You can't use PAG oil with a conversion unless you clean the old r12 system out and get all the old oil out. The PAG is not compatible with the old r12 oil.

You will also hear stories of people changing O-rings and hoses. New hoses need to be special barrier type hoses for the 134a. Old r12 hoses are not barrier hoses, but it has been found that a hose or o-ring that has been exposed to the r12 for a long time, becomes "seasoned" and will hold up to the 134a.

Bottom line, you need the conversion kit and a vacuum pump. You can get a vacuum pump cheap from Harbor Freight. Read up on how to do it and you will be successful. If your compressor has a small leak like mine, you can put a can of 134a in it each spring and be good for the whole summer. You can run it like that a long time till the leak gets worse. Then it's time for a compressor.

 

As Dave suggested, convert it to 134a. I converted mine last summer and it works like a charm. I did however replace the dryer as is recommended also. I also replaced several o-rings one of which was put in wrong from the factory and that turned out to be the source of my having to put freon in the beast. It is also against Ebay's rules to purchase Freon 12 over Ebay. I found out the hard way I was going to sell a case of R12 on there and did I get a nasty email from them. I ended up selling it on Craig's List. I also put a can of the dye in my system which you use a black light at night to find a major leak. It does not work to good on a small leak. I bought my vacuum pump from Harbor Freight as you will have to pump the system down when you make the conversion.