DeTomaso Mailing List: April 1997, Message #64
     



From: firanzi@erols.com (Jim Firanzi)

Subject: R-12 Refrigerant Replacement

Date: Tue, 08 Apr 97 19:51:06 GMT



I copied this from the porschefans list (ok, no snide comments about my

loyalties... I'm still firmly a Pantera lover.)  Does anyone have experience

with FR-12 as a replacement for the (banned and) hideously expensive R-12?



Jim Firanzi



>To: 924-944@porschefans.com

>From: Ben Charvet <bcharvet@palmnet.net>

>Subject: R-134 Conversions

>

>I have a 1979 924 that I am just finishing a restoration on.  I was wondering

>If anyone has any experience converting an older Porsche to R-134 refrigerant?

>I'm just wondering if the seals in the older compressors are compatible.

>TIA

>

>Ben Charvet, Mims, Fl

>Ben Charvet

>Mims, Fl

>bcharvet@palmnet.net



Absolutely not!  The R-134 refrigerant has a different boiling point, uses

different lubricants, and generally requires an entirely different design

than R-12.  Reports I've read indicate that attempting to install R-134

into an R-12 system without modification could result in an explosion,

compressor seizure, or generally causing you grief.  And aftermarket

conversions to R-134 are VERY expensive.  The problem with R-12 that

someone, somewhere (probably a bureaucrat looking for a crusade) decided

that R-12 was causing the ozone to decay (which, last time I checked, not

even top scientists could agree on), so they got Uncle Sam to ban it.

Uncle Sam has enough arm-twisting ability with the rest of the world to get

them to go along as well.



That said, there is a product out there which is supposed to be 100%

compatible with R-12 systems yet doesn't fall under the taxes and other

political problems that R-12 does.  It's being sold by Pennzoil, so it

shouldn't be one of these sham products that come and go in the night.

They're selling it as FR-12 and if you visit Pennzoil's web site

(www.pennzoil.com), you can get more info.  Stephen Magown

<magown@digimag.net> has tried the stuff and told me the following last

October:



>FR-12 actually works and it's cheap too. I bought a 30 lb. cylinder last

>summer for about $150. I ordered it one day then on the next an 18

>wheeler with Pennzoil written on the side  pulled up and delivered it. I

>don't know why they haven't advertised that much, but I'm pleased with

>their product. You don't have to change any fittings they're just doing

>that to make money, all you have to do is to screw in a fitting off of  a

>R-12 cylinder and you can use regular R-12 equipment. I found that ought

>after I bought $200 worth of fittings. Hope I was helpful if you have

>anymore questions e-mail me.

>

>Stephen Magown



You might write him to see if he's had any problems or reservations since

then.  Or maybe he could comment to the whole group?



Matt Warner



=====

Mechanical Engineer

Macintosh Believer

PGP Key Available at http://www.netcom.com/~mwarner1