Australian 1995 TS Magna 2.6 EFI Manual Sedan - What A/C Gas?

[Billy22Bob]

I'm reading on this forum possibly R12 but is there some way to confirm (without going to the shop). Anything obvious or visible...labels?
and then...
b) If it is R12 - I read in another thread that there is an ER12 which doesn't require any/much conversion....can someone comment?

If I'm up for a conversion don't think I'll bother I only use it for <1000km per year.

[magna buff]

1995 magna doesnt have the old gas like the first gens

not sure where the ER12 comes from

R12 mix with R134a is suitable ... to ask for a regas ... max $200

if you know the air con has some cooling going for it and just no cold enough

ring around for quotes


link about the R12 gas

R-12 A/C systems can be converted by simply recovering any refrigerant that is still in the system, adding POE oil (which is compatible with both types of refrigerant), and recharging to 85 to 90% capacity with R-134a.

source
https://www.aa1car.com/library/retrofit.htm


some businesses will say
well there may be a leak somewhere or compressor worn out
that leaves the end fix price open ..for them to retire on

dont get ripped off if someone want to replace the whole system or condenser
TX valve ..what ever
before putting a pressure guage on your car system to see what pressure is still has

if conversion is required or offered to you at a good price

max work needed maybe

evac current gas with vacuum pump into storage for safe disposal

replace the dryer (cylinder with sight glass)
and replace the small o ring on the pipes if needed
refill system with gas and oil
check for leaks and correct system pressure

again ring around for quotes

[Billy22Bob]

1. I thought R12 (freon) was the old gas - so not sure what you mean by "1995 magna doesn't have the old gas like the first gens"
If it doesnt have the old gas - doesnt it have the R134a?

2. Your mention of
"replace the small o ring on the pipes if needed"
Q - which o rings - many or few/couple? DIY?

3. I Can't believe they charge $200 for a "recharge only" when it was like $55 only 20 years ago. PS 3.5%CPI and your money doubles every 20years.

4. The post re ER12 comes from here

I have a vac pump and gear from my home split system install - any use?

Was checking out online canisters and looking at a DIY operation. I don't think there is much gas in the system left. Interior dash vent gets maybe 1-2degC cooler than ambient after 5 mins (measured with my laser thermom). So minimal environmental risk - just "legaslative" issues....of course not in any way condoned by this BBS.

[magna buff]

late 2016 my regas was quoted at $150 > cost me $ 100

2016 I was told the price of one cylinder of the air con gas has gone up alot

sales pitch for the change to the r134a
was yes r134a gas is less efficient then R22 but more 0 zone friendly

sounds like you have the gear to do the job

go for it... nothing to loose by trying even if there is a leak

use the type gas the supplier is willing to sell to you
most likely the r134a

if re-gassing ..you .
add the oil and gas to specs
the neo ,light will show up any leaks

a diy regas ,,,you shouldnt need to undo anything with an 0 ring
its only when you undo the joints that have 0 rings you need to replace them



.................................................. ..............................
just me
.I thought you needed an a/c license /permit to buy the air con gas from the supplier

The post re ER12 comes from here ..@2007

..thats BCX7 being BXC7 ...

https://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/sh...600#post740600

I found this discussion about that gas here
sourced from a performance car forum @2003
https://www.performanceforums.com/for...-67161827.html

ER12 is the gas that you can put into an old system in place of R12. It is actually just propane gas (literally LPG) but is somewhat more pure and much much more expensive than it should be (given that it is just propane which is worth about $1.50/kg retail as LPG and about 20 times that much as ER12).

ER12 has almost exactly the same pressure temperature curves as R12 and so is a really good replacement for R12. I use it.

The other newer refrigerants like R134a and R22 and so on do not work well in older air-con systems designed for R12, because they have different pressure/temperature curves and usually end up needing a bigger condensor to recover some efficiency lost in the conversion (which almost no-one is willing to pay for).

[MadMax]

I had my failing A/C in my TP topped up locally years ago, with HyChill.
Worked extremely well. Lots of cold air, compressor struggled less.

First gens came from the factory with R12, second gens and younger cars have 134a in them from factory.

R134a is the preferred gas due to commercial concerns (DuPont monopoly?) but there are a whole range of hydrocarbon gases suitable. (Ammonia was used as a refrigerant in the ice making factories when people bought lumps of ice off the back of a truck for their domestic ice chests, pre electric refrigerators.)

HyChill and I assume ER12 if it is propane, are flammable gasses and frowned upon as in an accident they can catch fire. But R134a isn't harmless either, in a car fire.

[Billy22Bob]

It would appear the Hychill is Propane(R290) /Isobutane (R600) mix.

I found an R134a label on the car.

[ac1176]

Had my 94 TS regassed a couple of years ago with R134a. $150 that others are mentioning sounds about right. Makes a helluva difference (didn't realise how ineffective my AC was until it was topped up).

Ask them to do a leak test too to make sure it's not going to prematurely leak out.