R134A Worth it?
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
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1987 300E, 1995 C280
R134A Worth it?
R134a.. i heard only bad things.. but its turning into summer soon here in cali, and my ac doesn't want to blow cold anymore :/ nobody has any r-12, and i can't even find freeze 12 anywhere.. what are my options?
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: OC SoCal
1989 300E
I converted to R134 in my 89 300 a couple of years ago, and aside from not fixing the original leak first time around I have had no issues with it. The auto climate control works and lowers the blower motor speed when it reaches temp and usually cools off the car pretty well (my windows are tinted pretty dark though). I will say, do it the right way and replace the dryer and seals and vacuum it down for the 24 hours if you do switch cuz you can grenade the compressor if you run it the wrong way (as my poor brother inlaw did)
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 977
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From: San Jose
300TE / 300E / 300CE
Keep looking, some shops perfer to convert (so they can get more business from you) but there are others that will find some R12. You can find it on Craigslist but you need a permit to buy it. R12 is more efficient in the older cars and should last longer in your system than the cheaper 134a. The good thing about 134a if the conversion was done properly is you can buy DIY refill kits. There are DIY conversion kits but I wouldn't risk damaging the system or handling the oil/gas.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Jul 2009
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1987 300E, 1995 C280
i did find a couple people selling some r12 on craigs, and i went to my friends shop today.. he did give me a couple cans of this "johnsen's Freeze12" it says its an replacement for r12.. i looked it up but i hear its not as good as r12.. but he recommended that if i do want to keep going r12, i evacuate the whole system then refill it rather than just adding in more.. so i found the freon.. but the evacuation machine is necessary if i want to refill the r12 than right?
also ps2cho im in socal, so if you do know any shops shoot me a pm
also ps2cho im in socal, so if you do know any shops shoot me a pm
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Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 176
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From: So. Cal.
97R129-01W163-94E320-93500E
If you are willing to use Freeze12 as substitute to R12, which is not as good, why not just convert to 134a? I think, the extra cost of maintaining/servicing R12 system and difficulty of locating shops to work on it, does not justify R12's few degrees advantage over 134a.
Last edited by edcarls; May 9, 2010 at 01:10 AM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 696
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From: Motor City
95 E320 Cabriolet, 108K
Agreed. Freeze 12 is 80% R-134a and 20% HCFC-142b. So you're basically using r134 with Freeze 12 in the system. The HCFC-142b is added simply to carry the mineral oil through the system for those that don't want to do a proper conversion. For starters, a proper conversion would flush out the old lubricant and use a r134-compatible lubricant.
