After the horrible winter we Chicagoans just endured, we deserve a long, beautiful summer.
Unfortunately, with those summer temps comes humidity. No one minds; however, we just crank up the AC in our cars and we are good to go.
Until one day you notice that your AC isn’t really cutting it. You can’t keep the interior of your car under 85 or, worse still, there is no AC at all.
Trying to get someone to check out the air conditioning system on your car in the height of summer is like trying to get a plumber on Christmas eve; difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.
You can avoid all that by having your AC inspected now before the worst of the summer heat has hit us.
Oh yes, and have you heard about the new air conditioning refrigerant that cars made after 2017 are equipped with?
A lot is going on in the world of air conditioning. Let’s keep a cool head and read more about our beloved air conditioning systems.
New Technology- New Refrigerant
The original refrigerant in air conditioning systems was called R-12. It came out in 1935, but over the decades, the demands for a more environmentally friendly alternative became too loud to ignore.
In 1992, R-134A was introduced and while it’s been the standard automotive refrigerant for just shy of 30 years, there is a newcomer on the market that works in a similar manner but is much lower in its global warming potential.
The old R-134A has a global warming potential of 1,430 while the new R1234YF has a global warming potential of just 1.
Here’s a big shoutout to DuPont and Honeywell who developed this greener refrigerant.
How Will R-1234YF Affect You?
If you still own a vehicle that is currently using R-12 or R-134a, there’s no need to worry. Here’s what you can do:
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Vehicles that are using R-12 are eligible for a retrofit to the R-134a refrigerant systems.
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If your vehicle is using R-134a, you can still use it, R-134a is still being produced, but expect that, over time, it will become harder and harder to find as newer vehicles (2017 and later) will be using the R-1234yf.
While the new R-1234yf is super-efficient and has a lower leak potential, this means that newer vehicles don’t need to have their air conditioning serviced as often. Suggested service intervals for this new refrigerant are 3 years or 60,000 miles.
However, the refrigerant is more expensive and more complicated to maintain, takes longer to service, and is more expensive to repair.
Another interesting thing to note is that all automotive repair stations will require service machines that meet these new SAE air conditioning standards. This means that you can expect price increases if your vehicle uses the new R-1234yf refrigerant.
FAQs
Q: Can I mix R-134a and R-1234yf?
A: No, mixing should not be done and in some areas, it might even be illegal.
Q: Is the oil used in an AC system different if you are using R-1234yf?
A: Yes. The systems do not require as much oil or refrigerant, but the old oil used for R-134a systems will not work in the newer systems.
Q: Can I replace the R-1234yf refrigerant and use R-134a?
A: No, the air conditioning systems that use R-1234yf are not the same so you cannot mix refrigerant types or use the old R-134a in the new systems.
Q: How much more will it cost me to recharge with the new R-1234yf?
A: It will vary tremendously from state to state, but you can expect the average cost to be about $250.
Q: Can I recharge the vehicle myself with this new refrigerant?
A: No, not really. While they do sell small cans of R-1234yf, you need the proper system to use this new air conditioning refrigerant. Also, you have to have what’s called a 609 certification to handle and purchase both R-134A and R-1234yf refrigerants.
The Pros and Cons of R-1234yf
Like everything else in life, there is always some give and take to anything. While many people don’t like change, the fact is that R-1234yf isn’t going away and it is quickly going to become the norm.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this new refrigerant.
Pros
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More efficient and environmentally friendly
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The service equipment will not allow a recharge if leaks are found
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The service equipment will also not allow the recovery of contaminated refrigerant
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You can recharge within a ½ ounce of the vehicle’s specifications
Cons
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The material is slightly flammable, so storing it requires some attention to detail
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The refrigerant is expensive, currently costing as much as $98 per pound, compared to R-134a, which is about $7 a pound. But the cost should go down as more R-1234yf is produced over time.
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More complicated to maintain, although vehicles don’t need service as often
The Bottom Line
Mechanics and shops that will service these newer systems will need new training and new equipment to do so properly.
At My Mechanic, we have technicians with certification, training, and we have the new machines that are required to service your vehicle’s AC system.
Whether you are using the old R-12, the newer R-134a, or if your car, truck, or SUV is using the new R-1234yf, the pros at My Mechanic have the tools and the training to service the air conditioning on your vehicle.
Call us if you have any questions or if you need more information. We are always here to help out customers, old and new.
We are kicking off the spring/summer season with a free inspection of the air conditioning system in your vehicle. Call us for all details, but don’t wait too long! This is a limited-time offer.
Keep your cool this summer and have your air conditioning inspected and serviced now, rather than later!
