A/C was R12 then R134a - now what Hychill 30.

[Vettech]

Many moons ago, like about 25 years worth, whilst looking to rebuild a faulty Car A/C, I was impressed by what was then called ER12, a much better drop in for the old R12 refrigerent gas which most cars used. Refrigerent 12 or R12 or Freon were  Du Pont companies product and patented worldwide.
At the time R134a had been introduced to remove R12 for enviromental reasons, in Europe the virtues of ER12 were exaulted, but was not a DuPont product so was given bad press and I believe banned in the US since it is made from Butane and Pentane. (NSW followed suit like a lap dog).

Now R134a is going the same way - it too is no good for the world. My 90 is giving troubles with it's A/C, now because 90's used the newer barrier hoses, its easy to change the ports, and thus change to R134a.

But some research shows:
1. The NSW ban on ER12 was been rescinded.
2. The cost of R134a is ridiculous.
3. You need a license  for R134a - (ummm - but I still have a contact.)
But:
1. A new type of ER12 called Hychill 30 made in Oz is now available.
2. No license required, since its virtually BBQ gas.
3. They have a suitable Oil and Solvent flush to suit
4. Much cheaper.
5. I can get it from Bursons.
6. You use less (30% less).
7. Operates at lower pressures,  temperatures, reduced load on compressor, engine, hoses, condensor etc

So why upgrade to R134a which you know is being phased out, and Hychill 30 is better all round. Good question.

Well very soon I'll find out, I'll try to get some Monday. Then the fun will begin.
(I knew that set of compound A/C gauges and manifold would come in handy)
Now  all I have to do is find the Vacuum pump.

[Scott]

I did a bit of reading on Hychill.  A lot of air con guys say it's crap and will burn out the compressor, but the guys using it in old R12 cars for decades seem to have zero issues...  Sounds like a lot of scare campaigning going around.  It was banned due to being a flammable hydrocarbon that may leak and catch fire in a crash.  There's zero evidence of this actually happening it seems, plus the R134 + oil is flammable anyway...

[Vettech]

Correct Scott. and people sitting in the back seat of a Sydney Cab seem to forget about the 50, 60 or so litres of LPG right behind there back.

The amount of refrigerant actually in side the fire wall would be a small portion of the total 300˜400gms  in the system.
R12 and R134a systems can run several pounds, it was nothing back in the day to pop into Kmart and pick up a 1pound tin of R12 for a couple of bucks.

These were aerasol type tins that were either top or side punctured, what gas did not go into the system ALWAYS ended up leaking away.
 
People also forget that R12 when sprayed thru a naked flame produces one of the WW1 trench gases - Phosgene - very deadly.

On Compressor failure - I'd hazard a guess that the reason for conversion to Hychill or even to R134a was because of internal issues that were never cleaned and flushed out at the time of conversion - or Rec'dryers not replaced etc etc.

I'm stymied at the moment - Bursons the major outlet in Syd had a rush prior to Xmas and are out of stock. In the meantime I'll vac the system  and or check for leaks.

 

[Scott]

Hychill also had a factory fire late last year that may have slowed supply.  All back and running now apparently.

[Vettech]

Correct Scott, the fire destroyed the aerosol size can production line. Back running now I tink.

Was looking for a 4.5kg gas bottle with UV dyetell, none avail, but Bursons now had some of the 425gm aerosol cans (no dyetell).

Bit the bullit, bought a can - @425gms it represents approx a third of the R12 charge, umm exactly enough for now.

Now where is that Edwards HiVac vacuum pump, 1000 tiles and 20 chooks later I found it.

But allas it is very low on Pump Oil. Bugger. Im not prepared to destroy the pump, so we will wait a little longer.

Hopefully I'll have oil tomorrow, the 90's system sucked down, maybe hold over nite, then re-gas on Wednesday.

Now only time will tell. And yes I have not drained, flushed, or replaced anything, not even the Accumulater.
It will be interesting.......

[MY081]

20 CHOOKS ??????????????

[bfit]

20 CHOOKS ??????????????

apparently AC is specified in chook power for the output ratings .
This came about  during the American civil war when horses were scarce.

you know that old song

Well, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
 And they ran through the bushes where the chook  couldn't go
Bfit

[gtc]

20 CHOOKS ??????????????

See what happens when you egg them on?

[bfit]

Eggonomics an important environmental tool
Bfit
 

[gtc]

I shelled out for a lecture called 'Free Range Eggonomics' by Al Bumen. I thought it was a complete yolk. Strictly for the birds.

[Vettech]

Ahhhh people with time on their hands.

You know in life there are certain sights , sounds and smells that allways stay with you.

The indicator in petrol that gives it colour and smell.

The odorant in towngas, gives it smell.
 
Transmission fluid colour and smell

And now today after  cleaning out my Vacpump, flushing, re-oiling, the smell of that oil comes rushing back.
I managed to get it everywhere, washing does not get rid of  the smell,  OMG I'd forgotten how much I hate it.

Any way by 8pm I had the 90 evaced -30" of mercury, gauges look good, tomorrow we will see.

[Rusty nuts]

no need to get into a foul mood or to get your feathers ruffled ,over this we have got plenty of choocks to pluck.

[Vettech]

I'm not interested in all this tom foolery etc etc.


I'm now NOT happy................

[bfit]

that's being a some what   poultry
Bfit

[Vettech]

Well  evacuated the system to -30" mercury, held vac over nite.

Wacked in 1/2 a can of gas.

System started running, cool vent air, but was cycling very quickly, so put in more gas, system then shut down.

Switch off, look for cause, no power to  comp clutch.

With engine on,  A/C on, hot wired it, clutch & cycling switch & hi press switch all OK.

But no 12volts coming from the A/C Clutch Relay, in fact I cant even find the relay ????

So! Currently I have two (2) issues. (For now!).
1. System short cycling, could be low gas, but since it is sucking down into neg values, it's most likely a blockage, Orific tube 1st suspect.
2. No Power, need to find the relay and fix this first.

To fix, clean, replace the orific tube requires opening the system, loss of gas, re-vac the system etc etc....

DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHERE A/C RELAY IS  .?

[bfit]

They say follow the money .
In this case follow the cable from the clutch , one! would think it would go to the relay  if you power up the clutch end  and follow the live wire you should come to the relay sooner or later.

Now you being an ex telecommunication engineerical  person I would think you may have a tone generator that just may help find the elusive relay.

Bfit

[Vettech]

Now here I was saying what a good Engineer you are, I may have to always include the word Mechanical.

We dont want 12volts going the wrong way, cause somewhere in there is the ECM.

However an Oscilator, sorry tone generator, in the form of an "F Set"  now that is worth some thought. The special detector and reciever can pick up the in-audible tone inside the loom, doors, walls floors. Ummmm magic.

Oh! I can see it - over the other sidè of the garage, over the 87, past the boxes of 3000 tile, over the 78 where the killer chooks roost, ummm where are the mice hiding, seems tobe less of them since we got the new cat.....

Na - this is all too much for me, I think I'll go peel some spuds for tea before the Boss gets home.
   are

[bfit]

There is a reason I have most of the wiring out of my C3 dash . something to do with a brown wire being  plugged into a black wire at night in the dark.

Turn ignition on, and then brown wire is now live to earth  interesting results.
first there is a sensual pollution, ( a smell ) then there is  visual pollution ,( smoke ) then  some audible pollution ( Noise )
then there is a decision, turn the f'er off, then there is the lets redo the wiring scenario. 
Bfit

[MY081]

KILLER  CHOOKS !!!!!!!!!!

[bfit]

KILLER  CHOOKS !!!!!!!!!!

Pluck m