Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 16:31:21 -0700
Reply-To: Michael Diehr <md03@XOCHI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Diehr <md03@XOCHI.COM>
Subject: Re: My R134a experience
In-Reply-To: <44D22A29.5000004@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Is a compressor failure generally a trip-ending experience?
Or can you just turn off the AC and keep going?
On Aug 3, 2006, at 9:54 AM, John Rodgers wrote:
> NOt by personal experience, but by a lot of reading, the head pressure
> on a 134a conversion is much greater that that of R12. There, form my
> reading, expect your compressor to fail a lot sooner that might
> otherwise occur. If you stay with the R134a, when the death of your
> compressor occurs, replace it with one that is made to operate with
> R134a - if you can find one that fits a WBX engine.
>
> I have had this dilema myself, as I am getting ready to rebuild my
> system using a stock compressor. I have decided to stick with the R12,
> or at least one of the R12 look-alikes - Duracool or some other. To
> use
> a refigerant that is not R12 nor R134a, you must first have your rig
> converted to R134a, then change it to the new R12 substitute. You must
> go through the R134a stage to get to a Duracool system or other like
> setup. And the system must be thoroughly flushed between changes.
>
> I think I saw somewhere that if you go for a duracool or like
> refrigerant, the goal is to wind up with a R134a valve and a R12
> valve.
> So you would have at the start 2 - R12 valves, next you would have two
> R134a valves, then when you are done, and install th Duracool, you are
> supposed wind up with both the R134a and the R12 valves. Not sure for
> why though.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver.
>
> Michael Diehr wrote:
>> My 85 westy has a slow leak (as many do) and so about 3 years after
>> my last R12 chargeup, I decided to go for a R134a conversion. The
>> shop (Harris Radiator near San Diego) did a great job, and even
>> offered me a guarantee, offering to change back to R12 if I wasn't
>> happy with it.
>>
>> Performance-wise, it's decent and I think livable. Not ice-cold, but
>> quite cool, and I like the idea of not leaking freon, so I think I'll
>> stick with it.
>>
>> The only problem that I've noticed is that when running the AC at
>> high engine rpm (3000 ish) the compressor is making a "hum" sound.
>> Loud enough to be heard over engine & road noise on the freeway. I
>> can't remember if it made that sound while running on R12, since it's
>> been a while, but I don't think so.
>>
>> Is it possible that R134 is putting more stress on my compressor and
>> hence the noise? If so, is this the sound of progress or incipient
>> failure?
>>
>>
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