I need to change my a/c compressor. And would like to change refrigerants at the same time.
I am in the Los Angeles area, and 134A is almost as bad as just opening the window when it's 105 dgress outside...Here in l.a., 134 is not a "real' option. It is more of a "joke' than anything.

My fatherinlaw has been in the a/c bus for his lifetime, and will do what I ask.
I was going to go with "hot shot" (I think the name is 414b), which is about 10 degrees cooler than R12, and fully compatibe with R12 systems.....EXCEPT I found a website claiming that hot shot would slowly break down the R12 type oil (not that I believe everything I see or read). I believe it was a competitors website, though.

I guess there are NOW some NON-regulated refrigerants out there (because they do not harm yada yada yada, and are supposedly inert and will not mess up any type of oil. and the epa can't come asking any questions until they make up some new ones that will apply). I think the one I was looking at was called "autocool HC 12a or something like that". I think. or EV12 or something. It appears to be as cold as "hot shot".

DOES ANYBODY HAVE AN OPINION ON THIS???
I love my 93 accord with 70K miles and want to keep it cool. If I can't keep it cool it will be for sale very shortly.

ALSO, WHERE THE HELL IS THE SIGHT GLASS ON IT????? Believe it or not, I cannot find the sight glass, and am beginning to think someone changed the system before I bought the car (It was 1 year old when I bought it).

Any advice would REALLY BE HELPFUL.
Thanx,
puke@sprintmail.com

 

Honestly I would just keep it R12.... that's what it was designed for, that's what will work best. When you start putting stuff in that it wasn't designed for, you end up with higher head pressures and blown compressor shaft seals, not to mention reduced performance. I had tried 134a at first, which works just fine when it's cooler outside, but as soon as it gets hot.... forget it. Now all I use is R12 for both of my 3rd gens. On a bright sunny humid south Florida day (about 96*, feels like 105) and the air coming out of my vents is a nice crisp 40 degrees.... and that's with the blower on HI! (and a junkyard compressor too!) Once it cools off outside a little (~80-85) it'll get down to 34 degrees on HI. It's a little more expensive, but well worth it. I get my R12 off ebay for not all too expensive.... you just have to have a EPA sect. 609 license to buy it, like you do anywhere. Cost me about $25 for the R12 to fill mine up.

Just my $0.02....

 

Thanx a million. I was under the impression (here in Los Angeles they even regulated R12 LONG BEFORE the rest of the country did) and they would liike you to think the whole world can't even get it. (Truth is, if you have time to go to the mexican border, they will vac and recharge for about 10 bucks....with alll the r12 you can shake a stick at.).

I have decided to DO R12 once again. I hope my father in law can get me some. He said he could get a 30 pound container, but right now my honda is the only car I have left that is of the R12 generation. So that would be a bit of a waste of money...I don't anticipate having to do the a/c 15 times before the car dies... So I'll have to go for the cans. I hope I can find some,...now that summer is upon us.

By the way, WHEREIS THE SIGHT GLASS....I STILL CAN"T FIND IT.