How many cans of r12 to refill my system

Discussion in 'The Big Chill' started by BIZDAKING, Jun 18, 2015.

  1. BIZDAKING

    BIZDAKING Member

    Just wondering how many cans of r12 it would take to completely refill a 455 buick centurion ?
     
  2. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    About 4 lbs
     
  3. BIZDAKING

    BIZDAKING Member

    Ok and thank you!
     
  4. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    Which may or may not be 4 cans.
    :Do No:
     
  5. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Right...read the can before you assume it is a 1lb shot. :laugh:
     
  6. blyons79

    blyons79 Well-Known Member

    Is there a way to pressure test the system before adding Freon?
     
  7. snucks

    snucks Well-Known Member

    *****STOP******

    do not fill the system up before making sure every O ring has been changed and there are no leaks and NO just because the system doesn't show leaks after having a vacuum pulled on it does it mean everything is perfectly fine. I have actually had the o ring on the high side port on the compressor blow out twice because the backing plate holding the hoses to the compressor was bent out of shape. This was something that the shop should have noticed right away but they did not say a word to me. So lets do the math.

    4 pounds r12 = 120 bucks
    shop time to vacuum and refill system. 110 bucks

    I did this twice before I said F all this noise and did everything myself using "envirosafe" refrigerant I bought on Amazon for 55 bucks shipped. It came with 12 cans and is enough to fill my system nearly 4 times in case you run into issues.

    So what you could do is put your system all together then charge it with one can and then check for leaks and if there are nbd you are only out about 5 bucks worth of stuff knowwhatimean?
     
  8. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    Not! Do not add 1 oz of refrigerant to the system until you know for sure there is no leaks. Its very doubtful the EPA will catch you venting freon but its a good environmentally friendly practice not to. If you dont have the equip and knowledge to do it, take it to a guy or have a buddy in the HVAC field help you. Pressure test with N02 (Nitrogen) to 100 PSI. let it sit for an hour if not more , if no leaks,then evac and recharge.
     
  9. BIZDAKING

    BIZDAKING Member

    Thanks for all the info guys!!
     
  10. snucks

    snucks Well-Known Member


    I told him to use the "envirosafe" stuff which can be vented. Venting R12 is an EPA no no but the stuff I specifically told him to use is not.

    brb
    ima go to wal mart and pick me up some nitrogen.
     
  11. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    There is no environmentally friendly refrigerant. If he was close Id do it for him for free.
     
  12. snucks

    snucks Well-Known Member

    if you have ever used canned air to clean your keyboard then you have probably already vented r134.

    I'm about as green as a guy can get in this hobby. Having a father that is Navajo will do that..

    This is mini snucks and my dad at Rock bound pass in desolation wilderness.

    [​IMG]


    The envirosafe stuff is a mix of propane butane n some other stuff like dye and fresh pine scent. It requires no special tools or even pulling a vacuum on the system before charging. Its also pretty darn inexpensive.



    inbf comments about the dangers of using propane in the ac system.

    The line the compression union is coupling split and exploded during the engine fire I had last year. It threw out fire like a freaking flame thrower. It melted the coating on the ac box deformed and moved the hood to cowl weatherstripping and melted off all of the paint on the vents on the hood itself. R12 + mineral oil + pressure + spark= flame on. When it happened it came out like dragons breath with enough heat to singe the hair off my arms from about 6ft away.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Briz

    Briz Founders Club Member

    I guess 20+ years exp and holding a federal EPA licences and a state certified contractors licences isn't all its cracked up to be. Good luck with your A/C system.
     
  14. snucks

    snucks Well-Known Member

    I don't mean to sound like I'm attacking you or your profession at all. In fact all things being equal I would prefer you to work on my ac system than me LOL! It for sure would have saved me at least 400 bucks in work done by the only shop that handles R12 in my town.

    For a long time I looked at a cars AC system as a bit of wonder and magic and I was flat out too scared to do any of my own work on it then one day I just cracked open the chassis manual and said screw this I am going to do this myself. My system has been blowing cold ever since. I would have preferred to have the line that split open brazed over instead of using the compression union but the way I have it figured the next time I need to have the system opened will probably be when the compressor takes a dump on me so worst case scenario is I am only out the 3 bucks I paid for it.

    regarding the gas duster thing

    check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_duster


    specifically [h=3]Off Label Uses[edit][/h]Many gas dusters contain HFC-134a (tetrafluoroethane), which is widely used as a propellant and refrigerant. HFC-134a sold for those purposes is often sold at a much higher unit price, which has led to the practice of using gas dusters as a less expensive source of HFCs for those purposes. Adapters have been built for such purposes, though in most cases, use of such adapters will void the warranty on the equipment they are used with. One example of this practice is the case of airsoftgas guns, which use HFC-134a as the compressed gas. Several vendors sell "duster adapters" for use with airsoft guns, though it is necessary to add a lubricant when using gas dusters to power airsoft guns.
     
  15. BIZDAKING

    BIZDAKING Member

    briz I wish I was closer to you and I would bring it to you!! again guys thanks for all the info!
     

Share This Page