I have a 1989 jeep cherokee with an R12 air conditioner that's not working. I have checked the compressor and it working it just has low pressure. I have been looking at fixing the air conditioner as summer will be here soon in Texas.

I have a few choices
1 refill with R12 (cost a fortune)
2 convert to 134a
3 fill will R12a

Is the 134a converting easy to do ? Or got with an R12a I think $100 a can for R12 is a little bit of a rip off.

 

Convert to 134a, after finding out where the leak(s) are.

 

Why not repair the leak(s) and refill the system with (gasp) R-12?

 

System that old, somethings going to happen to let that $100/can stuff get out and ruin the ozone layer for all of us.

 

 

Has anyone used envirosafe ?

 

I started driving my '89 again last spring after it sat for about 5 years, and bought a can of this stuff and it worked for me. I don't think it's as cold as the old R12 used to be but it definitely works.

 

Envirosafe was the ticket for my '90 XJ. Nice and cold.

 

Worked here also.

 

I've also used Envirosafe (and the similar Duracool) in several vehicles and it works great. Unlike R134 conversions you don't lose any cooling efficiency. Another benefit is no oil compatibility problems, you can continue to use the old-school refrigerant oil.

The main issue to be aware of is that the stuff is flammable so don't smoke while working with it!

 

Fly in the ointment:
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/envir...n-refrigerants

 

I have plenty on hand and will continue to use it, nothwithstanding what the feds want. The reality is that hydrocarbon refrigerants have an excellent safety record worldwide for decades, you have to do some really stupid stuff to to make it otherwise. Every test I've seen that purports to show them to be "dangerous" has been rigged.

The only people being protected by the DOJ action are the huge chemical companies such as Dupont.

There are other brands available such as Duracool, or you could mix your own, it's just a mix of propane and isobutane.

 

Got my cases also.