Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Has anyone here regassed their air conditioning with lpg or similar?

I'm looking for a supplier of the necessary hose or fittings so I can make up a hose.
The car aircon guys here only use R134a, my system was originally R12.

would that be even safe ?? even if it would work would the lubricatant in the system be compatable ?

oozuk wrote:would that be even safe ?? even if it would work would the lubricatant in the system be compatable ?

Yeah not a problem.
Oil and LPG get on fine.
As for safety, yes LPG burns, but so does the HCFC gas. The difference is the HCFC gases produce extremely toxic fumes which will kill you, the LPG fumes are CO2 and water, same things we breathe out.

Regarding safety.
LPG got a bad rap years ago when it was used in househould fridges etc. You get a gas leak, the gas pools on the floor in the house and gets accidentally ignited.
Boom.

But in a car I don't see it as an issue. The car is either outside or in a garage that is nowhere near airtight. If half a litre of LPG slowly leaks out it's no worse than lighting a bbq.

HC12 refrigerant is very similar to LPG.

cozzav8 wrote:http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/vi ... pg+air+con

Cheers.

There is a commercailly available R12 replacement made of Propane with fire retardants added, I think it was called HR12.

Joel

Lots of articles on the Web re this type of conversion.

The major problem won't be if you can or can't do it.

But the laws, if LPG is CO2 gas then it'll effect the ozone layer so it'd be ban from being used in AC units.

I'm not a greenie, but that the basic reason why they swapped AC gas in the first place.

Just looking at the Hychill website, says its available from Bursons, so does this mean its a diy conversion - my wifes cars a/c lost the gas when an alloy hose broke after an engine rebuild ?

zagan wrote:The major problem won't be if you can or can't do it.

But the laws, if LPG is CO2 gas then it'll effect the ozone layer so it'd be ban from being used in AC units.

I'm not a greenie, but that the basic reason why they swapped AC gas in the first place.

Sorry mate, but that's all wrong.
R12 is CFC based and an ozone depleter, that's why it has been phased out.
R134a is HCFC, a better version but still an ozone depleting gas.

LPG is not CO2.
CO2 is not an ozone depleting gas, it's a greenhouse gas. If you want to stop emitting that then you'll have to stop breathing and find a way for your body to not decompose.
I am part greenie and the lpg makes far more sense.

PGS 4WD wrote:There is a commercailly available R12 replacement made of Propane with fire retardants added, I think it was called HR12.

Joel

Unfortunately noone in my area is interested in anything but R134a. So DIY is my only option.
I mentioned HC12 and HR12, they got confused, thought I was talking about R12 and kept telling me it's illegal and they won't do it.

Loanrangie wrote:Just looking at the Hychill website, says its available from Bursons, so does this mean its a diy conversion - my wifes cars a/c lost the gas when an alloy hose broke after an engine rebuild ?

Hmm, what form does it come from Burson's in?

I know guys in the US who would just buy refrigerant in pressure cans and directly gas up their AC that way. Australia is a bit more anti-DIY than that. It's a bit annoying really.

Anyway neuralfibre on this forum has done it with LPG, more or less the same deal.

zagan wrote:The major problem won't be if you can or can't do it.

But the laws, if LPG is CO2 gas then it'll effect the ozone layer so it'd be ban from being used in AC units.

I'm not a greenie, but that the basic reason why they swapped AC gas in the first place.

That's just... wow.

I think the gas you are looking for is called HR12 made by a company called HyChill. I work on a minesite out west and we only use that now not R134a it gets heaps cooler and runs lower head pressures.

Diabolic wrote:I think the gas you are looking for is called HR12 made by a company called HyChill. I work on a minesite out west and we only use that now not R134a it gets heaps cooler and runs lower head pressures.

That's the one.
But no luck finding anyone here who stocks it or will fill it. So it's DIY.

easy as to do mate providing you have a vac pump and a set of gauges
all of our trucks used lpg in the ac systems works best with mineral oil (as usd in r12 systems)

cooter wrote:easy as to do mate providing you have a vac pump and a set of gauges
all of our trucks used lpg in the ac systems works best with mineral oil (as usd in r12 systems)

There are a lot of people saying it doesn't need vacuumed out, but I'm sure it'll work better if it is. After all, air doesn't compress to liquid at the pressures my AC system runs at.

My system has been open to the air, so I'm expecting to find a few leaks too.

KiwiBacon wrote:

cooter wrote:easy as to do mate providing you have a vac pump and a set of gauges
all of our trucks used lpg in the ac systems works best with mineral oil (as usd in r12 systems)

There are a lot of people saying it doesn't need vacuumed out, but I'm sure it'll work better if it is. After all, air doesn't compress to liquid at the pressures my AC system runs at.

My system has been open to the air, so I'm expecting to find a few leaks too.

vacc'ing it out also remove's the majority of the moisture in the air which is the killer. the moisture will flog out everything!

there is no point charging the system if you dont vac it out it is soley used to get moisture out of the system.
moisture will freeze and block metering device and the ac will not work


hfc 134a has a very high global warming potential they are phasing this refrigerant out in the next 10 ish years lpg is much more environmentally friendly


please any one doing this dont blow refrigerant off to atmosphere

taspatrol wrote:there is no point charging the system if you dont vac it out it is soley used to get moisture out of the system.
moisture will freeze and block metering device and the ac will not work


hfc 134a has a very high global warming potential they are phasing this refrigerant out in the next 10 ish years lpg is much more environmentally friendly


please any one doing this dont blow refrigerant off to atmosphere

I'm hoping to use the vacuum pump on the back of my alternator to vacuum the system out. A Tee in the line from the lpg bottle to the low-side valve (only has one valve) with a ball valve on it to the vacuum pump.
Use the vacuum pump to suck the system down and find any obvious leaks, then close the valve and start lpg flowing in.

I still need to source the fittings (1/4" female flare with something to depress the valve), ball valve, bbq bottle fitting etc. Also a new compressor drive belt.

Wish me luck.

luck. i think you might need,
I have been told about the diy kit. Can get from repco the whole kit cost about 90-100 bucks thats with a couple of cans of the right stuff.
Then you can buy the cans seperate after that if need be.
Well this is what i have been told buy a mate said his boss bought it to regas a few trucks in the yard