Re: [Chrysler300] Re:a/c freon

[RAKFAR@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 1/5/2008 11:05:03 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
lmbarrie@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Roger,  while I cannot speak for systems that have been evacuated and then 
recharged  with the R-134, I can speak from experience with a freshly restored 
A/C system  that is initially charged with the R-134. Both Big Yellow and my 
newly  restored ‘69 Charger R/T are doing fine with no ill effects.  The Charger 
has been on the road for 9  months and the A/C has performed  flawlessly


Louis, I hope your luck holds. You may be at an advantage in that (I  
presume) your 300F is not a daily driver, and therefore the air conditioning is  
infrequently used. My experience was with my '69 Road Runner convertible with  
factory air (a rare combo), which a local a/c shop assured me they could convert  
over to R-134. I later learned that this is a common misconception among many 
 a/c shops not overly familiar with old-time systems. They know the oil is  
different, and that new o-rings must be used, and of course a new 
receiver/drier  and a complete flushing, evacuation and refilling with new refrigerant and  
you're good to go (so they think!). I paid somewhere around $350 or so and 
was a  happy camper for about six months (remember, my Road Runner is a daily  
driver, and like you I live in sunny SoCal) until my compressor completely  
seized. In forty years of owning air conditioned cars this had never happened to  
me before, so I was suspicious and did some digging.
 
My best info came from Classic Auto Air (in Tampa, FL, I think). These guys  
sell new retrofit systems, and  also service and restore old systems like  
mine. It was explained to me that using 134 in 1960's a/c systems will burn out  
the compressor, since the various control valves (expansion valves, EPR valve, 
I  forget what all) are designed to work at different temps and pressures 
(R-12)  than found with R-134, and will work after a fashion, but will keep 
running the  compressor to try to achieve the temps and pressures of the R-12 they 
were  designed for. Eventual result: burned out compressor. 
 
To make matters more confusing, some older systems (from the 1980's) which  
were designed for R-12 CAN INDEED be successfully switched over to R-134 (with  
the proper changes of course), though I don't remember what differs about 
these  systems that makes it possible (something in the controller/valving, I 
think).  Apparently this is where lots of shops got the idea that ANY old system 
can be  changed over. 
 
I am still repairing the damage done to my RR a/c. When I am ready, I will  
bite the bullet and pay the price for R-12 (it is still available). And I will  
continue to try to disabuse the unsuspecting of the notion that converting  
1960's cars to modern refrigerants is a good idea.
 
Roger Karlson



**************Start the year off right.  Easy ways to stay in shape.     
http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489


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