Anyone using Freeze 12?

[Wakko]

I did a search and only found one reference to it on here.  I'm fashioning my '78 Fury as a daily driver and need to repair the A/C.  I'm not a huge fan of 134 and had considered trying Freeze 12.  Anyone know anything about it?  I was planning on replacing my A/C hoses during the swap but so far haven't been able to locate new ones.

[Plumcrazy]

R12 is still available and the price has come down over the last several years.  I still use it in my cars.

[Wakko]

How much is it a can?  I hate to use it to diagnose any A/C leaks in the car and waste it. 

[Plumcrazy]

How much is it a can?  I hate to use it to diagnose any A/C leaks in the car and waste it. 

R12 is no longer sold to the general public so you would not be able to buy it.

The most common sources of leaks on the older cars were the condenser and the hoses.  When R12 leaks out some of the oil comes with it.  Look for signs of dirt sticking to that oil on the hoses and condenser.   If everything looks good have a shop refill the system with R12 and add some tracer dye.   After running the system for a short time they can look over the system with an ultraviolet light for signs leaks.

If it's leaking they can then reclaim the R12 until you fix the leak.

[Todd Wilson]

How much is it a can?  I hate to use it to diagnose any A/C leaks in the car and waste it. 

R12 is no longer sold to the general public so you would not be able to buy it.

The most common sources of leaks on the older cars were the condenser and the hoses.  When R12 leaks out some of the oil comes with it.  Look for signs of dirt sticking to that oil on the hoses and condenser.   If everything looks good have a shop refill the system with R12 and add some tracer dye.   After running the system for a short time they can look over the system with an ultraviolet light for signs leaks.

If it's leaking they can then reclaim the R12 until you fix the leak.

Wouldnt it be cheaper to just have the shop vacuum down and check for leaks that way so WakMan dont have to spend $$$$$ on R12 to find a leak and then have them suck it back out into a can for disposal.

My friend is an AC guy and we recently charged my Honda Preludes AC with a new product called HotShot.   It works like a champ and is dirt cheap compared to R12.  Its molecule structure is the same size so it leaks consistantly if there is a leak. R12 has different sized molecules of different chemicals and you have a small leak you can loose certain parts of the R12 requiring an entire emptying of the system to refill and be right. With the Hotshot if its low you just put some more in it. Its not a propane based product so there no risk of fire. YOu got to be careful of some of those aftermarket "freons" as they can be flamable!

R12 can't be bought by the general public. And prices may have went down but it still an'nt cheap!

Todd

[bandit67]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I was told that Hotshot , and there are others, is a blend of refrigerants and that if your system leaks down you can  "add some" one time.......but if it happenins again you have to purge all of it and replace it all. Was told that the lighter elements of the blend is what would leak first. But , it does a pretty good job of cooling.....anybody know if this is correct......J

[Wakko]

The A/C system in the '78 Fury appears to be original.  There's positive pressure so I know there's no gross leak but there is also no evidence of the telltale oil leaks.    I would think the evaporator would be more susceptible to "wearing out" than the condensor, no?

I have all the tools to do the A/C vacuum and recharge, but I don't have a reclaimer...so if I charge the system (no matter with what) and it leaks, it's bye bye.  I was going to replace the hoses if I can find them (so far, no luck!) and go for broke with the Freeze 12, if I can find it. 

[Plumcrazy]

The A/C system in the '78 Fury appears to be original.  There's positive pressure so I know there's no gross leak but there is also no evidence of the telltale oil leaks.    I would think the evaporator would be more susceptible to "wearing out" than the condenser, no?

I don't think I've ever replaced an evaporator in a Chrysler R12 system.   On the other hand Chrysler R134 evaporators are horrible. 
I really doubt the evaporator is leaking.

I don't know anything about Freeze12 but over the years there have been several alternatives to R12 that just didn't work out. 

[Todd Wilson]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I was told that Hotshot , and there are others, is a blend of refrigerants and that if your system leaks down you can  "add some" one time.......but if it happenins again you have to purge all of it and replace it all. Was told that the lighter elements of the blend is what would leak first. But , it does a pretty good job of cooling.....anybody know if this is correct......J

Read my message again. Hot shot is all the same molecule  while the old R12 is a blend with different sized molecules.


Todd

[Wakko]

I don't think I've ever replaced an evaporator in a Chrysler R12 system.   On the other hand Chrysler R134 evaporators are horrible. 
I really doubt the evaporator is leaking.

I'm used to them going bad on all of my GM cars...are the Mopars better made?

[Plumcrazy]

I don't think I've ever replaced an evaporator in a Chrysler R12 system.   On the other hand Chrysler R134 evaporators are horrible. 
I really doubt the evaporator is leaking.

I'm used to them going bad on all of my GM cars...are the Mopars better made?

Until Chrysler switched over to R134, I can't remember ever replacing an evaporator.