So on a 1989 F-150 5.0, will the new refrigerant they sell in the DIY cans work or do I have to take it to a shop to be charged? It's been awhile since I have had to deal with a dead A/C system and can't recall what is safe to use and what is not. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

Before wasting money on any refrigerant you need to determine where the old system is charged to...if any. No sense dumping in expensive refrigerant just to find out there is a huge leak.

A 1989 model would have a R12 A/C system from the factory. Those cans at the auto stores are R134a. They are not interchangeable

Besides...25+ year old hoses are not going to be up to the task of containing the smaller R134a molecules even if they were brand new.

 

You're talking about R134a? If so, it's not just put it in and go. It's not that difficult, do a search "R134a" there are a lot of good threads on how to do it.

 

Ah, that's it. I couldn't remember for the life of me the numbers. And yeah, it wasn't a matter of how as much as what could be used and what couldn't. Can you still get R12 or does it have to come from a shop? Or is it that the systems have to be changed over now R134a?

 

Guess I have should have looked at it before posting! LOL Haven't given it much thought until now, so just went down and checked and there is a label on the accumulator from the shop that this truck was always serviced at that they did the R134a conversion already. So, that answers that. LOL Now to check the fill and find out if there are any leaks. Thanks guys, sorry for not checking before posting, but honestly wasn't expecting to see that on there. LOL

 

You can still get r12. I usually find it on craigslist. But I have since went to r152a. Same properties as r12 and a LOT cheaper because it's just computer duster. Google it up.