Improving the AC system's efficiency

[pete c]

The above video talks about using CO2.

How efficent is it?

I suspect not very. Otherwise, everyone would use it.

[Taylor95]

I think the chance of a front end collision causing refrigerant to catch fire is pretty minimal. I am sure that most people that frequent this forum are much more safe than the average driver. And for those that own a Jeep or a truck, there are nice steel aftermarket bumpers that are available that will really minimize any front end damage in a collision.

[jeff5may]

Originally Posted by pete c

The above video talks about using CO2.

How efficent is it?

I suspect not very. Otherwise, everyone would use it.

CO2 isn't a bad refrigerant gas, but the problem is that it has a whole lot more pressure inside the system. Where a typical auto AC system might reach 300 or so PSI, a carbon dioxide system operates above 1000 psi. It can't be done with an existing system as a retrofit, new components must be installed that can hold up to the very high pressure.

[Taylor95]

Is the R134a replacement stuff still working good?

[EcoCivic]

Originally Posted by Taylor95

Is the R134a replacement stuff still working good?

Yes it is. I don't think this car's AC system has ever worked this well! I haven't needed to use the AC very much this year, but it still works great. When I have time, I might try to optimize the charge amount by adding a little refrigerant at a time until performance decreases then removing a little though.

Also, since this refrigerant is a blend, it must be slowly added as a liquid (can upside down) so it doesn't fractionate. Similarly, refrigerant also needs to be removed as a liquid if the system is overcharged. So if you overcharge and you need to remove refrigerant, you would release the refrigerant from the high pressure port with the AC running.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by EcoCivic

I have. I read about an incident where there was a front end collision with a newer Mercedes, a refrigerant like ruptured, refrigerant and oil sprayed on the exhaust, and the car burned to the ground. I wish I could find that link. However, I did find this video where a car actually burns down due to flammable refrigerant:

I'd like to point out that this flammable gas (1234yf) is used in approximately 50% of new cars on the road today.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/which...-eric-sugarman

If refrigerant fires were a big concern I think we'd be hearing more of it.

[Taylor95]

So what tools do you actually use to put this different refrigerant in?

[oldtamiyaphile]

You need the proper equipment to recover the old (highly toxic) gas and oil, and then the proper pressure gauge set up to work out the correct charge (since it will be different to OEM specs).

The outlay will exceed getting it done professionally.

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

Originally Posted by EcoCivic

I don't think it is that much of a risk either, but I am not going to say that everyone should start using it and that there is no risk at all either because that's not the case at all. According to the article above, a guy apparently almost lost his car because of a fire due to the use of this refrigerant.

you know they have under the hood fire suppression system that are fairly cheap

[LeanBurn]

Doesn't the constant cycling on/off cause accelerated wear on the compressor and its clutch?