Vintage add on A/C

[chief]

Plenty of people want r12, I looked for some when the roof air on my vintage coach was low,could only find r12 "replacement/alternative" for r12 systems.
I Wanted to convert it to 134a but didn't ,Changing the system oil was not easily done, if even possible.

Oh, Even 134a containers can be useful

[joelsplace]

I am not sure where you learned only NOS R12 is sold here, not true now (maybe when R12 was first banned, but that was overturned). Last I heard most R12 came in from Mexico (legally) and the requirement for a technician's license to buy at a retailer here is just to make sure you are educated on how to capture and dispose of R12 to a recycler. You can go online and pass a test to get the license to buy. Not unreasonable.

No retailers I buy refrigerants from have R12. Post a link where new R12 is for sale. I've searched extensively and haven't seen any for decades. License isn't a problem.

[66vairguy]

I am not sure where you learned only NOS R12 is sold here, not true now (maybe when R12 was first banned, but that was overturned). Last I heard most R12 came in from Mexico (legally) and the requirement for a technician's license to buy at a retailer here is just to make sure you are educated on how to capture and dispose of R12 to a recycler. You can go online and pass a test to get the license to buy. Not unreasonable.

No retailers I buy refrigerants from have R12. Post a link where new R12 is for sale. I've searched extensively and haven't seen any for decades. License isn't a problem.

I didn't say it WAS sold here now, I said it is NOT illegal to sell it here and years ago it was allowed to be imported mainly from Mexico (after it was first banned to only "what was in stock" here). As the EPA learned, there is so little demand for R12 once it was phased out of new equipment that there is no need to ban it. This is also their logic for not banning R134a for sale, just phase it out in new A/C equipment. In the future as it will eventually not be used. So then we will be upgrading again, not me I won't be here by then

At this time R1234yf is said to be compatible for R134a replacement "with minor adjustments" - hmmmm. That said I haven't gotten into reading a lot about it. I do know the lubricant must be changed as R1234yf is considered "reactive" so a "special" lubricant is required to protect system components.

As I've mentioned ---- most A/C shops no longer service R12 because of the cost of keeping up R12 equipment with no demand for R12 repairs. Nothing to do with a ban, just basic economics at work.

[joelsplace]

"I am not sure where you learned only NOS R12 is sold here, not true now"
" If you don't plan to sell the car, then no problem with R12. Easy to buy if you have a technicians license."

[66vairguy]

Joel, not sure why you can't find R12 at you suppliers, maybe they don't carry it due to no demand.

A quick search found numerous instances of R12 for sale online.

Here is a link as of April 23, 2025 about "Where Can I buy R12" in the U.S.A.

https://applianceupdate.com/where-can-i ... frigerant/


This supplier in Arizona and Texas sells 5 Lb canisters https://abilityrefrigerants.com/product ... 280e56e20d

[67monza]

I ordered r22 for home hvac from https://royalrefrigerants.com/ in march and received the cylinder in a timely manner. Just a reference there for a source. I don't know if they have r12 or substitutes.

I charged a car's R12 system with 152a, works great.

[azdave]

I charged a car's R12 system with 152a, works great.

If been using R152a (Dust-off spray) for quite a few years in several older R12 or R134 vehicles. I only have one vehicle still using the propane/butane blend. I do my own A/C work if you haven't guessed.

[joelsplace]

Joel, not sure why you can't find R12 at you suppliers, maybe they don't carry it due to no demand.

A quick search found numerous instances of R12 for sale online.

Here is a link as of April 23, 2025 about "Where Can I buy R12" in the U.S.A.

https://applianceupdate.com/where-can-i ... frigerant/


This supplier in Arizona and Texas sells 5 Lb canisters https://abilityrefrigerants.com/product ... 280e56e20d

That first link looks like something AI generated. You are correct the second link does list it for only $100/lb.