Retro R12 AC Recharge (Part 1)

Let's start bringing the AC systems for the 1987 Porsche Carrera 911 and the 1985 Chevrolet Camaro California IROC back to coolness with a revival of the R12 refrigeration systems. This is the first part of many in starting with the testing of the systems to hold vacuum and overview.
We're learning how to service air conditioning systems and reviving the original systems that we're factory installed in these cars. We bought a manifold A/C line set with gauges and a vacuum pump to draw down the system correctly as professionals do. We also use the factory service manuals and spend a lot of time understanding the concepts of working with freon and a A/C automative system.

[@topher8634]

Car AC systems will leak at the compressor shaft seal especially from lack of use. The rotating seal relies on circulating oil with the refrigerant to keep the system tight.

[@RABBITMotorworks]

Yep agree 👍

[@topher8634]

Those old R4 compressors on the Chevy are known to leak around the case to body o rings. They use 2 giant o-rings to seal them. Leaks are often caused by improper torquing of the mounting bolts.

[@austinhorton1]

I'm in ontario canada and r12 is the lowest priced refrigerant. About $25 for a tall can

[@filter4now]

There's very little uses for it anymore. I used to have a car that used it - now I have no use. As far as how cold it gets - R600a is extremely good at cooling as well as R290. The only problem you can see on the movie "Fight Club" when he first calls Marla. I think the only use for it besides cars is for some niche HVAC systems and fire control for the navy submarines.

[@filter4now]

Laws regarding certification vary from state to state so I am not responsible for anything that anyone chooses to do. I will just tell you that dichlorodifluoromethane (aka "refrigerant 12") was used in just about everything prior to the montreal protocol of 1987. First off - don't do what most MVAC shops do and just top off the refrigerant without fixing the root problem (WHY do they do this when it's sometimes a 5 cent o-ring?) If you find vintage cans of air horn refills or gas dusters manufactured prior to 1992 - it likely is R12. Look for the words: dichlorodifluoromethane or "Contains a Chlorofluorocarbon". By all means for sake of our environment - use these to charge your sealed air conditioner system - recovering any with proper recovery equpment. That or sell them to a distributor - DON'T throw these in the landfill! R12 not only depletes the ozone - it has a Global Warming Potential of 8500 times that of CO2 (which is equivalent to driving approximately 20,000 miles in CO2 for climate change. It has an atmospheric half life of 100 years. For that reason - why throw these away rather than use them and recover them? Why is R12 more efficient at cooling than R134a? I've held a can of each in each hand. The 134a gets colder faster... the 12 gets colder slower and steadier. Perhaps this is why it transfers more heat

[@topher8634]

All that BS came about as deregulation of refrigerants happened. When Dupont wasn't gonna be the chief supplier of refrigerants, all of a sudden it's destroying the environment. R12 was used as a propellant in everything prior to this. More bureaucratic BS.

[@petrolo72]

“Global warming/climate change” is a hoax.

[@RABBITMotorworks]

It’s great refrigerant… I used to work with a guy that would cool beers with a can back in the 80s lol 😂

[@topher8634]

@@filter4now hospitals would blast liquid r12 on medical instruments to sterilize them prior to all the bureaucratic government BS that claims it destroys the upper atmosphere. I don't believe it and never will. It was never a problem until it was deregulated and anybody could manufacture it. That was duponts way of stopping it.

[@oldskool1979]

You have to make sure you have the correct capacity charge spec and use mineral oil not PAG Oil !

[@RABBITMotorworks]

This is correct do not put the PAG oil for 134a in a R12 system or big problems!

[@retrofitter]

R152a found in air dusters are cheap and an excellent substitute for r12

[@filter4now]

The only trouble with R152a is that it isn't miscable (or will not circulate) mineral oil which was used with hc, cfc, and hcfc refrigerants and require a flush. Air dusters as well as air horn gas refills from the 1970s and 1980s - including Falcon "Dust Off" brand "Dust Off II" - are dichlorodifluoromethane sold for refrigeration as - Refrigerant 12. Not BS - check the back of the can. Also says "Contains a chlorofluorocarbon..." Some are R22 so make sure R12 is the only ingredient. I am for the protection of the environment - but this also means disposing of the remaining R12 in the proper manner. What better way than putting it in a closed system for recovery later?

[@danielpetrov8450]

Hello, I have a 1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse G1. Could you tell me what type of high pressure adapter it is. For low pressure it is 1/4", but for high pressure it is a different kind. Thanks!

[@RABBITMotorworks]

I found it on Amazon and applications vary

[@topher8634]

It's probably ⅛, like on 80s and early 90s GMs

[@itzpat215]

How can I go about on my 93 civic? It still has r12 ac in it but hasnt been done until the one time I charged it with just one can and it blew cool air and not cold but the compressor ran until the freon leaked after a couple of hours. The high side port is the issue i was having because I couldnt connect the hose from my manifold gauge. I charged on the low side also.

[@RABBITMotorworks]

sounds like a pretty good leak, you don't want to connect to the high size to charge

[@Disiplyn]

What manifold set did you buy because my 90 Supra has r12 ports and the quick couplers from the set i bought on Amazon didn't fit. I know this video is old but I'm just desperate at this point

[@Disiplyn]

Nvm. I vacuumed my system and there's no leaks. I'm gonna try r12a now.

[@RABBITMotorworks]

I bought it on Amazon and was also R12 friendly. Says not available thou :( -- Orion Motor Tech AC Gauges, Fits R134A R12 R22 and R502 Refrigerants,..

[@Disiplyn]

@@RABBITMotorworks Yea. I bought that and had to retrofit my valves to r134a. Now I'm just waiting for some cans of r12a to recharge

[@jetset4me1]

I have an 86 Caddy with R12. What adapters did you use? Amazon? I bought the OMT manifold gauges on Amazon that work on R12 and R134A. Thx.

[@dylanm9948]

Um um um and the um. Um the um shrader valve um um so anyway um um

[@RABBITMotorworks]

Um, yeah bro 😎 it’s a KZbin channel and learning as I go… thanks for watching!

[@Drew206619]

What’s the argument about r12 vrs r134a The enthalpy curve ?

[@RABBITMotorworks]

I think so, it’s a more efficient Freon if I recall over R134a

[@topher8634]

It is. It moves more heat per same quantity of 134. It also uses mineral oil which is a better lubricant. And compression ratios are smaller.