AC R12 Replacement

[Oregonjam]

Fact or Myth:
Some one asked me the other day if they could use R406a in an R12 system. Below is one note I found on line. I have heard this before but believe it to be a myth.

"AutoFrost" is also known as R406a and it is made up of three different components, 55% R22, 41% R142b and 4% Isobutane (a hydro carbon that is very flammable). It should not really be used in a car system without upgrading the hoses because R22 in not compatable with hoses on cars designed for R12 and they will degrade with time and react with the R22 in AutoFrost. This is not a problem with EC12a like knock offs.
From http://www.allpar.com/eek/ac.html

[Stingr69]

You can stillget R12 so just bite the bullet and get you some. The blends are more trouble than they are worth. You will not be able to top off the system if it leaks and finding a servce company that will have the refrigerant on hand and the tools for the job will be problematic.

Bottom line - do a full conversion or buy a case of R12 and hand it to a qualified technician.

-Mark.

[Oregonjam]

I definitely will be using R12 but have heard of people using others with out modifications. I have never heard any official reports that $)^ or any other will work in these systems. I am posting more for a warning than anythng else. This is not the first time I have heard this mentioned.