R12 Freon , How do I know its real
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,938
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From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
R12 Freon , How do I know its real
If I were to buy some R12 freon from my 93 LT1, how do I know its real. I may need a can due to an unfortunate gauge issue..
If you have to pm me, please do.
Thnx,
If you have to pm me, please do.
Thnx,
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,206
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From: LeClaire Iowa
A couple of years ago I was given a full big tank of vintage R12. I took it to the local shop that does AC to try to sell and they were not interested, They said they could get it. I sold it to an online company. The rep told me the big market for virgin R12 is NOT old cars. It is old airplanes like DC10's. They have extensive air conditioning systems and they can only use virgin R12. Cars can use reclaimed R12. Dan
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2024
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From: Northridge, CA
R12 is heavier than R134A. If you know how much volume of liquid is in the cylinder and its tare weight you should be able to tell the difference by weighing the cylinder.
Last edited by beermanpete; Jun 4, 2026 at 08:25 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,206
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From: LeClaire Iowa
My first stop would be an AC shop. They have reclaimed R12. Like from old cars, refrigerators and old ac units Its pretty hard to buy legally online. It is easy to buy the R12 knockoffs. I have no idea how these work. Dan
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2017
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From: Dayton, OH
I got this by Googling; One way to test for R12 is to use a refrigerant identifier or a UV dye test kit. These kits contain a dye that, when added to the refrigerant, will fluoresce under UV light if R12 is present.
Instead of R-12 I would buy Enviro-Safe. Works way better. https://www.es-refrigerants.com/?site=dom
Colder and carries more heat than R-12 and runs at lower pressures.
R-290
Instead of R-12 I would buy Enviro-Safe. Works way better. https://www.es-refrigerants.com/?site=dom
Colder and carries more heat than R-12 and runs at lower pressures.
R-290
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,938
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
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From: Stay dangerous my friends
The ZeroR which is called an R134a “replacement” is perfectly compatible with R12 and the mineral oil in the R12 system. I think it’s Butane and Natural Gas combination, and it’s much more efficient than R134a and even R12. The R12 needs an old school shrader valve fitting to fill on the low pressure side. Available on Amazon
Last edited by AZSP33D; Jun 4, 2026 at 11:19 PM.
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Drifting
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From: Stay dangerous my friends
Safety Car
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From: LeClaire Iowa
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
My 86 was converted to 134a and I was able to buy small cans to top up. Now in Canada, you can’t get them any more.
2 years ago, it got a bit low on refrigerant so I decided to vacuum the system and switch to the propane version, which I can buy everywhere here. Nice cold air again and apparently the molecules are larger and harder to escape.
2 years ago, it got a bit low on refrigerant so I decided to vacuum the system and switch to the propane version, which I can buy everywhere here. Nice cold air again and apparently the molecules are larger and harder to escape.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,938
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
My 86 was converted to 134a and I was able to buy small cans to top up. Now in Canada, you can’t get them any more.
2 years ago, it got a bit low on refrigerant so I decided to vacuum the system and switch to the propane version, which I can buy everywhere here. Nice cold air again and apparently the molecules are larger and harder to escape.
2 years ago, it got a bit low on refrigerant so I decided to vacuum the system and switch to the propane version, which I can buy everywhere here. Nice cold air again and apparently the molecules are larger and harder to escape.
Not sure how to do it, care to explain the process.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,324
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
R290 is a refrigerant-grade propane used as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in heat pumps, air conditioners, and commercial refrigeration. It features excellent thermodynamic efficiency and a near-zero Global Warming Potential (GWP) of just 3. [1, 2, 3]
Why R290 Matters
- Eco-Friendly: Replaces older, climate-damaging refrigerants (like R134a and R404a) without destroying the ozone layer.
- High Efficiency: Provides high thermodynamic performance, making heating and cooling systems highly energy-efficient.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,938
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From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
It’s R290, as mentioned in an earlier post. Sold under various brand names.
R290 is a refrigerant-grade propane used as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in heat pumps, air conditioners, and commercial refrigeration. It features excellent thermodynamic efficiency and a near-zero Global Warming Potential (GWP) of just 3. [[url=https://clade-es.com/blog/r290-risks-rewards/]1, 2, 3]
Why R290 Matters
R290 is a refrigerant-grade propane used as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in heat pumps, air conditioners, and commercial refrigeration. It features excellent thermodynamic efficiency and a near-zero Global Warming Potential (GWP) of just 3. [[url=https://clade-es.com/blog/r290-risks-rewards/]1, 2, 3]
Why R290 Matters
- Eco-Friendly: Replaces older, climate-damaging refrigerants (like R134a and R404a) without destroying the ozone layer.
- High Efficiency: Provides high thermodynamic performance, making heating and cooling systems highly energy-efficient.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 9,938
Likes: 38
From: South Carolina
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Code 9 popped today, so, I need R12, to keep cool till I can convert to R134A or Butane R290.
If anyone knows where I can buy stuff I can put directly into the Vette now, please let me know. I leaked for a little with the schrader, so, I imagine one can will be enough? Thoughts.
If anyone knows where I can buy stuff I can put directly into the Vette now, please let me know. I leaked for a little with the schrader, so, I imagine one can will be enough? Thoughts.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,206
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From: LeClaire Iowa
The shops around me have reclaimed R12. See how much they would charge you to put a cans worth in. Might be the same as buying some 40 buck can online. Dan PS: A quick call to a few shops is free.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,324
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
