OilHammer

I was at the dealership yesterday to have the a/c looked at, and they wanted some $350 to do it...I said no. They never mentioned converting it to R134A, but maybe that's why the number was so high.

I dropped by the local generic shop this morning, and he said they barely had any R12 left, and then that was it. I had never heard that....I thought my home air conditioner was still serviced by R12 and they made no mention of that being an issue.

So, anybody know for sure if it's true that when it's gone it's gone? At least a got a fresh charge, but the stuff is so much nicer than R134, I hate to not be able to find it again when it needs another shot down the road.

stockhatch

iTrader: (12)

You can still source R12, there is plenty of old stock floating around. Your home AC is probably R22 or 410A.

FutureSC

iTrader: (1)

Try ebay out. There's plenty being sold on there. As the years go on though the prices will get higher since R12 has been out of production since 1999.

gtsfire

iTrader: (4)

I believe you have to be licensed to by R12. I miss the good ole days of buying R12 for $1.98 a can at Walmart.

stockhatch

iTrader: (12)

Yes, you need an EPA certification to buy it. It takes all of 30 minutes and like $20 to get certified on the Internet.

markstoys

At the swap meet you don't. There were two guys a few weeks ago who had big (15 or 20 pound) bottles--one was asking $200, the other $150. There were also a couple of other guys who had the small (1 pound??) cans.

stockhatch

iTrader: (12)

Okay, to buy it LEGALLY you have to be certified.

OilHammer

That's what I recall as well from talking with a friend in the home hvac biz. I found that my home compressor needed a top off every season, and for what I was paying the service techs, it made sense to get the license and do it myself. Now I find myself in a different part of the country where we use evap coolers and it became a non-issue until this car. Now that I think of it, I need to check the LX450 and see if it's still the old school freon or not. It's been cooling great for 3yrs, so I never paid attention to it.

rws

Have you seen the alternative freon, Freeze 12?

They uses to be a website but its gone. www.freeze12.com
You can buy it here:

I haven't used it, but reports say it works, you don't need to be certified, just knowledgeable and installing into a AC system that is nominal and near death.

Related: http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/...ad.php?t=70308

dawizone

iTrader: (5)

Why not just convert it????? 15$ for the R134 adapters and another $30 for a new dryer vacuum the system and add 80% of the expected R12 volume.... Compressor, Condensor all work fine with R134 dont let Lexus fool you

carsmypnis

iTrader: (1)

i would just empty it, get a low side adaptor put in 134, done it at least 100 time woks perfect, no need to change anything. used to work for a used car dealership that sold a lot of classics

addisonblc

iTrader: (4)

The old stuff has larger particles than r134a. If you use the new In an old sytem it will leak down. Granted it'll take it a little while so I'm not talkin over night but you'll def notice the cycles it goes through everytime when you recharge the system.
Somebody earlier stated the correct method. Replace the dryer and ports and recharg the system. Also make sure that your either using something infused with mineral oils or putting them I'm yourself or the compressor will crap out on you

addisonblc

iTrader: (4)

Speakin of which theres a thread about it right here.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=646321

Now that said and done. Op to answer your question yes you can still get a hold of r12 but it's out dated therefore not made anymore. The reason it costs so much to get it done at a shop now is because of this fact. 134a and new more Eco friendly stuff is readily available. But all in all you have to have a license to purchase r12.

SC400DAVE

Or you can do it the right way and have it last for years:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/per...400-300-a.html

addisonblc

iTrader: (4)

What he said lol