| Author | Message | ||
     Vladimir Ivanovich Kirillov Grand Master Username: soviet Post Number: 463 Registered: 2-2013 |
Greeting Jetsetters and merchant bankers - have any of you had anything to do with Hi Chill Air Conditioning gas which I understand to be a replacement for R134A and for which you do not need a licence to buy or install? | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 604 Registered: 4-2009 |
Eat your heart out Vlad - I have a full 10kg cylinder of R134a at home and it only costs me $100 to buy every time I need another. No licence no nothing..... | ||
| Carl Heydon Frequent User Username: car Post Number: 89 Registered: 2-2004 |
We use Hychill in one of our old Hiluxs and seems fine. Doesn't seem as cold at idle as 134a and not a patch on r12 | ||
| Vladimir Ivanovich Kirillov Grand Master Username: soviet Post Number: 464 Registered: 2-2013 |
It a very naughty thing to use R12 Carl but I do know of a chap whose brother has an entire warehouse full of it stored in a major city. However, another source of R12 is the local tip. Up here I have found freezers dumped full of R12. Mind you if you got caught with using it I am sure the fine would be perhaps eyewatering. Nice to know UAE didn't play follow the leader with the R12 versus R134A. I am still confused as to whether R12 was worse or better than R134A for the Ozone layer. A friend of mine who is a mad Vietnam vet suggested using LPG with a retardant. I told him there was no way I would risk lpg in an ac when it comes inside the car. One leak followed by one spark and all your problems would be over ! Kaboomski !!! | ||
| Carl Heydon Frequent User Username: car Post Number: 90 Registered: 2-2004 |
I wouldn't refill with R12 but the systems I know that are still running it are great. I thought hychill was primarily propane. I believe most of the taxis in Victoria use similar. | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 607 Registered: 4-2009 |
Funny that we seem to think that R12 is a good gas. I personally think that R12 is not as good as R134a. If the system is totally clean and has no residue of R12 or its oil - then using R134a works as well (if not better) than R12. Not all R134a gas bottles give you the same performance. If you buy rubbish R134a yes it will be crap - so stick to good quality R134a and it should be fine. | ||
| Jan Forrest Grand Master Username: got_one Post Number: 929 Registered: 1-2008 |
It's my understanding that propane is used in air con systems in many countries in preference to the 'usual suspects'. So what if there's a bit of a leak? It's not as if a car's air con system is going to contain much gas. Also the vast bulk of it would most likely have become too diluted with the air to actually go ... BOOM! I've not tried it myself as I don't have the required connectors, but when my Dodge comes back from the garage I'm tempted to try it as it's leaking v e r y s l o w l y and at £30+ per recharge ... | ||
| Carl Jones Experienced User Username: carl888 Post Number: 29 Registered: 4-2013 |
In Australia it's called HyChill. https://hychill.com.au/ I use it in all my pre 134a vehicles with resounding success. Note, you MUST change the oil with the first charge if your car has been converted to 134a. If your car was supplied new with 134a, continue using that refrigerant. Apart from operating in older systems at a lower pressure than 134a, it just stays in the system longer. Added to that is its increased efficiency. In my 1976 308 GTB, the air exiting went from 8 degrees at the vents to 2. You'll note a 134a vs R12 system is designed quite differently. Note the differences with parallel and serpentine condensers for example: http://www.techchoiceparts.com/condenser | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 1026 Registered: 5-2015 |
The main concern with LPG in AC is an evaporator leak inside the car. The evaporator box has a drain at its lowest point which will allow leaks to drain. The mixture has to be 3 to 10% LPG to air. For an explosion. LPG runs at a lower pressure thus less stress on the system. I think that LPG is a safe refrigerant especially considering I have yet to see True report of an explosion. For an explosion we need a sequence of events which have to happen altogether. evaporator leaking while shopping for 2 hours. Owner comes back LPG has now gone no explosion. Evaporators generally last years. It's entirely up to the owner. |
