A/C: How High Will You Go?

[hyperyaris]

Living in French Louisiana, summer temperatures are getting up toward 100F, with humidity near 100%. I try to not use my air conditioner in my Yaris, and I can go for about two hours before I almost pass out and have to turn it on. For those of you who live in similarly hot climates, how long can you go?

[tjts1]

Duracool (propane/butane mix) works really well in an R134 system. The real plus side is that it functions at much lower peak pressure than R134. On a R134 car charged with duracool, the AC never triggers the high pressure switch which cycles the AC on and off. I simply keep it running for 1 minute until the vent temp drops below 30f (outside air temp in the 90s) then recirculate the cold air in the cabin for 5 minutes. 1 minute on, 5 off, repeat. R134 AC systems are over sized to make up for the inefficiency of the refrigerant. The lower pressure in the system will also reduce the load on the engine when the AC is engaged. Although duracool and R134 can mix, to do it legally you need to have the AC system vacuumed out of the R134. You don't need to torture yourself for FE.

[SVOboy]

I took the a/c out of my car last year,

[gascort]

I won't run the a/c unless my wife and child are in the car, and then only on the highway unless it's 90F or hotter and humid.

My car takes a bigger hit with a/c than with a window and sunroof open unless it's going 70 mph+
I would never run it in my home if I lived alone - my basement never gets over 80F, so I'd just hang out there in the summer. We're fixing it up so my family can do that hopefully by next year.

[theunchosen]

[edit] I removed my AC. Windows only for me. [/edit]

slightly off-topic, sorry if its thread jacking. . .not quite sure

I'm pretty sure duracool is illegal.

In which case I'm pretty certain its illegal to run it on a road car unless it was manufactured before date X.

The EPA outlawed R-12 for use in refrigerant systems in cars(tractors evaded this somehow, go figure) and then a year later outlawed several plug and play replacements(CHC-12B is duracool and its illegal to run it on any street going car produced after 1995.)

That said. . .R-12 and its siblings are much much more effective than 134a(it is not adviseable to swap 12 for 134a, the systems might not mate up right ^_^). I've done who knows how many AC recharges and repairs since summer started like 3 months back and the AC for 134a runs up to 70+PSI cycles on and off every 10-15 seconds(wears the clutch out on the AC and strains your accessory belt) while older cars with r-12 run around 50 psi, it cycles on about once a minute for 10-15 seconds(same with tractors). The air the r-12 systems put out is much colder than 134a. 134a feels cool while 12 can get cold enough to make your fingers turn blue and hurt.

Newer systems on tractors pretty much don't leak R-12 at all until a rock or something ruptures a line or a line comes disconnected. Not true of 134a systems. I've seen a couple of 3 year old chevies, fords, chryslers, nissans, hondas, and Toyotas. Not one of the two dozen farmers that we service their tractors has had a problem and their units are older than 98. . .

And we hear rumors that 134a will be banned and we have to move to ammonia. Which would mean your compressor would have to run a good bit over 100 PSI to achieve the same cooling. The extra amount of fuel needed to power the inferior refrigerants is far more damaging to the planet than the 1 out of ten that needs a recharge because its line ruptured, kind of classic myopia. . .

[PaleMelanesian]

I'm starting on my third summer not using AC. I'm a little bit north and inland from you, so the humidity is a bit lower - 80-90% instead of 100%. 100+ degrees and I'll still not use it.

71 mpg, baby!

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by theunchosen

I'm pretty sure duracool is illegal.

Its only illegal to mix with R134.

USAGE & INSTALLATION

Is DURACOOL12a® a "drop in replacement"?
It is important to understand that there are two types of automobile air conditioning units, those charged with CFC-12 and those charged with R-134a (R-134a is in all automobiles manufactured after 1994, some during 1993). DURACOOL12a® is a drop in replacement for R-134 automobiles, but requires a high and a low side fitting to convert CFC-12 systems.
This is a very inexpensive conversion.

Does the system need to be completely empty?
Although mixing DURACOOL12a® with CFC-12 or R-134a in your A/C system would not damage or harm your system, it is illegal to charge your AC system without first evacuating the refrigerant that is currently in the A/C unit.

Duracool®.com 2004 - Duracool® is The Recognized Leader In Hydrocarbon Refrigerant Technology

Originally Posted by theunchosen

And we hear rumors that 134a will be banned and we have to move to ammonia. Which would mean your compressor would have to run a good bit over 100 PSI to achieve the same cooling. The extra amount of fuel needed to power the inferior refrigerants is far more damaging to the planet than the 1 out of ten that needs a recharge because its line ruptured, kind of classic myopia. . .

Ammonia at 100psi? That scares me a whole lot more than propane at 50psi. What the hell are they thinking?

[theunchosen]

Yes its illegal to use it with 134a as of 1994. as of 1995 its illegal period.

[MetroMPG]

What is this "air conditioning" of which you speak?

None of my cars have even had such a thing.

My A/C is my beaded seat covers. For the few weeks or a month when it's actually hot & humid here, they do the job.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by theunchosen

Yes its illegal to use it with 134a as of 1994. as of 1995 its illegal period.

So why are they still selling it? Is the AC police coming to get you if you use duracool? A lot of people with R12 systems are using this stuff to recharge their systems. R134 conversions are less common but work just as well.