Re: DuraCool & Exploding BMW A/C Systems

[Henri Baccouche <henrib@xxxxxxxxx>]

I appreciate the debate.

Richard Welty in an earlier post:

"apparently, the loudest single lobby for 134a was the after market HVAC

industry; they saw more money to be made from complete 134a replacement
systems than in repairing/recharging R-12 systems with R-12
alternatives.
they put a lot of lobbying time and energy into killing anything that
competed with 134a."

I suspect this is the true story........

ToMoyer@domain.elided wrote:

>   R-134a refrigerant is a hydrocarbon refrigerant just as DuraCool
> is.  R-12, R-134a and DuraCool are ALL flammable. DuraCool is probably
> no more environmentally safe than R-134a, but it certainly isn't
> CHEAPER than R-134a, at $40.00 for a quick re-charge kit you can buy a
> lot of cans of R-134a at your local WalMart or other store.

It should be very cheap since it's basically a mix of propane and
methane.....and very much less
toxic than 134a.......There is no comparison with toxicity........A
whiff of "propane" is harmless compared to the "Cancer" warnings on
134a.......Think about 134a leaking into the closed passenger
compartment everyday and breathing it in because R12 hoses will
constantly seep the smaller 134a molecules.

> Not all things that read "good" are good.  Ask your service tech if he
> will put DuraCool in your A/C system if you provide it and see what
> his reaction is.  And since you USE so much less DuraCool verses
> either R-12 or R-134a, to keep the system pressure down near normal,
> what will happen if someone unknowingly OVERFILLS a system?

I also happen to be a meticulous mechanic......with particular interest
in AC.
Correct Pressures are very important in AC work.
There is  always risk in doing things wrong........
I won't debate the actions of idiots.

> I'm sure it will damage parts.

How? It certainly isn't corrosive like R12 was with  a little moisture.
Furthermore the temperature for Auto ignition is higher than 134a....


> Until I know more about this DuraCool R-12a, I'll stick with R-134a in
> the cars I have converted over from R-12 and when my others need to be
> recharged, I'll convert them over to R-134a as well.  Total cost
> (without labor) is less than $130.00.

Convert your R12 compressor over to 134a.....lemme know how long it
lasts.
134a compressors use much tighter tolerances to handle the lubrication
issues.

I would try this type of product first before I would convert to
134a.......

Enviromentally, 134a is not harmless to the ozone layer. It also does
damage to the ozone layer,
but supposedly less than R12.  This was purpose of the whole faze out of
R12........!?

Regards,
Henri

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