Shran
Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
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V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Truck of Month
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2008
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- Location
- Rapid City SD
- Engine Type
- V8
- Engine Size
- 5.0
At this point I would not even bother trying to find R12 unless I had a vehicle with functioning system that I trusted. It is just too expensive to mess with anymore... R134a is cheap.
I also would be super hesitant to use HC-12a because of how flammable it is. I may have told this story before but my buddy worked in a shop that charged a bus AC unit with propane and it leaked out overnight and blew up the shop when a piece of equipment turned on. I also know for a fact that there are sniffers that shops use to figure out what an AC system is charged with, if they detect propane they will not touch it.
Our AC systems only contain maybe 2-3lbs of refrigerant but that's 2-3 little green propane tanks worth... plenty to do enough damage when it leaks out inside your garage. Better safe than sorry on that one.
I also would be super hesitant to use HC-12a because of how flammable it is. I may have told this story before but my buddy worked in a shop that charged a bus AC unit with propane and it leaked out overnight and blew up the shop when a piece of equipment turned on. I also know for a fact that there are sniffers that shops use to figure out what an AC system is charged with, if they detect propane they will not touch it.
Our AC systems only contain maybe 2-3lbs of refrigerant but that's 2-3 little green propane tanks worth... plenty to do enough damage when it leaks out inside your garage. Better safe than sorry on that one.