Packard Forum Index » General

Of course, I can't say this, it violates the "rules", so a little mouse told you. The non-PC "truth" isn't permitted to be told either these days. Chinese firedrill, cluster, you name it...
Ever since they came up with this global warming potential(GWP)and ozone depleting potential(ODP), the refrigerant game has been thrown into a decades long tail spin. The protocol had all the original and replacement compounds phase out dates and when the time for 134a had come up, "they"* decided 1234yf would be next(they're running out of alternates.) Appears Mercedes did more testing, subsequently, after it was "approved" but known to be slightly flammable but not bad enough to not use in 2013 and later models. The results were it decomposed to TFA trifluoroacetic acid, during spray on a hot engine which caused fire and etched the windshield. (I used to make solutions of TFA for pyrolytic glass coating - no surprise here)
So the "new" compound on the market is 1234ze (isomer) which is non-flammable, but also contains the perfluoro (PF) group that gives great stability. The EPA made everyone eliminate PFOA which was in Teflon for bio accumulation reasons even though no effects were seen. Well, we'll wait and see if they find the ze in people next. Apparently there's some reports of worker health issues with the 134a lubricant as well.
So I wouldn't use any of the modern compounds in a classic, aka in govt as a "clunker". R-12 is/was still being produced by the Chinese, who were somewhat exempt from the protocol the US bides by where it is "banned" but can be used(?). So I'd get me some and store, if I had R-12 A/C in my car. If was converted, I'd stock some 134a or one of the blend substitutes(400's numbers).
* - mostly the producers working with the users and seeking EPA guidance as it never really approves anything but bans stuff. EPA wants everything as safe as water but don't want to you to use water as it would be a "pollutant" then. At least that's one circular logic extension.