Which lasts longer... R12 or 134a...

[Paulson]

Obviously, they're both refrigerants used w/the compressor to create that a/c effect in your vehicle...

But the question, which lasts longer and works more effectively?

I'm asking because my dad has a 88 park avenue, with 218K miles on it, and the air works incredibly well (This with R12). The minute you turn it on, it's boom, right there.

We just recharged our intrepid's a/c with 134a, and the damn thing doesn't work, and it's only been a year since we have had it recharged. There were no leaks when they looked at the system, otherwise I'm sure they would have been more than happy to charge an arm and a leg to fix them.

My blazer's a/c system doesn't work well either, it's 134a, and where it leaked to, I have no idea.

What do you guy's think...

 

[Heisenberg]

In a properly maintained system, they'll both work equally well. The problems you're having are related to the design or maintenance of the cooling system, not the refrigerant itself.

 

[PsychoAndy]

They both probably last the same. However (and this is just a qualitative measuremeny from myself), it seems like new cars with R134a don't cool as well as R12. My dad's 94 Voyager and my friend's 95-ish Neon blow ice cold air, whereas new GM cars such as the 02 Prism and the 03 Vibe seem like their AC is lacking. Any opinions on this?

 

[Paulson]

harrison compressors were awesome, but gm switched to delphi or something like that?

 

[woodie1]

Cars with 134a had to have larger systems to equal the cooling power of R12 in the older cars. Some cars didn't get larger capacity 134a systems and don't cool as well.

 

[Zenmervolt]

All else being equal, R-12 will be superior. R-12 lubricates better and has lower head pressures, plus R-12 is less leak-prone.

A system designed for R-134a, however, should cool on par with a system designed for R-12. R-134a requires a larger compressor and condensor and it requires the ability to handle greater pressures than an R-12 system as well as requiring non-nitrile hoses.

ZV

 

[Paulson]

yeah, I know I had to have my truck's a/c converted from R-12 to 134a... I don't know how that works now as I don't have it anymore, but I know for a fact it didn't work that great.

 

[Nocturnal]

Well my friend owns a 99 Jetta and that thing is R134a and it was HELLA COLD. I own a 93 Civic with no leaks running R12. I just got it refilled almost a year ago. It still runs cold to this day and I use it everyday but, it's not cold as my friends Jetta.