SmashedGlass Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 (edited) Without doing a "full conversion" first? Pressure in my system is present, but too low to trigger my compressor, at least as far as I know. I've read some posts on other forums where people have just topped off an old R12 system with R134a and had zero problems....and just as many screaming "NO DONT DO ITTTTTT!!!" I can go the "ES-12a Conversion Kit" route for the same price as one of those R134a charge cans from Autozone/Advanced/OReilly, but as I'm supposed to start my 1800 mile cross country trek in two weeks getting the ES-12a kit in time may be an issue whereas the R134a can be picked up imeadiately. Edited September 6, 2012 by SmashedGlass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
presslab Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Without any R12 left in the system, the existing mineral oil will not lubricate the compressor and it'll burn up. If you're mostly full with R12 you can top-off with r134a and it will work I guess. If I were you I'd order the ES-12a right now and slam it in there. ES-12a will work with your existing mineral oil and you'll get it in less than a week. Then when you get back you can vent the ES-12a (non ozone depleting), flush your system, replace the dryer, add POE oil, and charge it back up. http://autorefrigerants.com/co00033.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numbchux Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I've done it. My Loyale (while it was still my dad's) got the cheap r134a conversion fittings and recharged with it. The A/C worked great for a week or so until it leaked out again. Wasn't long before I did an EJ swap on that car and ripped out the A/C. I've been running my Celica for 2 years/40k miles though like that. When I bought the car, the system was too low to even engage. I bought the conversion kit from WalMart, hooked it up and filled the system, and it worked immediately. The conversion fitting leaked though. I bought another kit from AutoZone, and that one has held ever since. Put a small can in it this spring to top it off, and it worked great all summer. Not ice cold, but pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
presslab Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 The technical documents on R12 conversion say that the mineral oil used in an R12 system is not miscible with R134a. What that means is that the R134a will not carry the mineral oil through the system to lubricate the compressor. Whatever R12 left in the system will need to do this. A somewhat less crappy way to convert to R134a it is to add more PAG oil on top of the mineral oil. This works, and the mineral oil just hangs around, coating the insides of the condenser and evaporator. This reduces the cooling, but at least the compressor has good oil. If you didn't evac the system and change the dryer the moisture will mix with the PAG oil and form acid to rot the system out from the inside, but this will take a while. It seems to me like false economy to do something that could damage the pricey A/C components, when a better solution is not really any more expensive. But in the colder areas of the country A/C is really not used often, so I guess I can understand not caring so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmashedGlass Posted September 7, 2012 Author Share Posted September 7, 2012 Yeah, I've dealt with it this summer in Colorado but haven't had to spend extended periods in the car just short trips. The move in two weeks is down to central Florida, and I'm dreading not having air once I get down into Texas and then on across the seaboard..... There will be a cat along for the ride as well, I'm actually more concerned for her; I've done three tours of 120F+ summers, but she has alot of fur Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newgen85brat Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 I did it on an 89 Toyota Camry. It worked great for years until one day when I had some left over refrigerant in a can, I thought I would "top off" the ol girl. Well, I must have over pressurized it because the compressor slowed down and the gave up. Be careful and watch your gauges. I was just wanting a little colder a/c and was too cheap to waste about 4 bucks worth of 134. Cost me considerable more to replace the compressor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txakura Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 It seems to me like false economy to do something that could damage the pricey A/C components, when a better solution is not really any more expensive. and that is why I hope it rots my bosses Mercedes A/C I won't take a chance with an ea82, but he knew better and put it in his car because he didn't want to be bothered by anyone else's opnion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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