Anyone used this to fix air conditioning?

[BCMikeMR2]

So my 1991 MR2 appears to have lost the refrigerant and as it uses the older R12, I can no longer get it refilled with R12..not legal here any more. Has anyone tried RED TEK substitute? RED TEK 12a refrigerant, envirosafe freon replacement, red tek hydrocarbon refrigerants, 12a, 22a, 502a or a similar product. A lot cheaper than getting a retrofit kit to use the R134, whihc is about $800. The R12a stuff is about $80 for a refill kit..

[TomsMR2]

i paid less than 50 dollars for my r134a "retrofit". i cant even imagine how you got an 800 dollar figure.

the problem with running anything thats not R134a is that if it leaks out you cant goto the store and buy some more.. for that reason alone i run r134a. if for any reason i need to undo an AC line, i can have my ac back up and running that day without having to stockpile refrigerant.

all the refrigerant replacements work fine, but they'll always have that possibility of fire. they're non flammable when compressed in a system, but mixed with air (like if it leaks in an accident) it becomes an EXPLOSION hazard.

[BCMikeMR2]

the $800 r134 retrofit includes a new compressor and all new seals, a new dryer, the refrigerant and oil, and the labor to replace it all..What did you get for $50..sounds like just the refrigerant was replaced and you were able to use the old compressor, seals etc? Maybe I can do the same thing with the R134a. The RedTek stuff is readily available her so availability would not be an issue

[TomsMR2]

you absolutely dont need a new compressor. i got a 250 piece seal kit for 10 bucks and still have about 240 of them left. i think the drier was 30 bucks. if your ac system has been open for any amount of time, you need a new drier, even if you stick with R12. its just something that kind of should be replaced.

if that redtek stuff is available, give it a shot. most of those alternative refrigerants DO work better, and are less prone to leaking.

[BCMikeMR2]

Thanks, I will let you know how it works..

[Weasy2k]

You can also get a refill kit that uses dexcool a buddy of mine bought the kit for 80 bucks and we vacuumed the system and refilled the R12 system no problem.

[BCMikeMR2]

I thought DexCool was the GM antifreeze that everyone is complaining about. I think you mean DuraCool, which looks like the same product as Red Tek, but a different brand name.

[Weasy2k]

haha yea duracool :P