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Tue Apr 02, 2024 6:34 pm

I'm in WA state and R134A refrigerant is not avaiable. Can I evacuate my system to remove any of the existing refrigerant and use R123YE instead of R134A?

Thanks

Tue Apr 02, 2024 7:15 pm

RicMcK wrote: I'm in WA state and R134A refrigerant is not avaiable. Can I evacuate my system to remove any of the existing refrigerant and use R123YE instead of R134A?

Thanks

Is that a state law? What happens if you put it in your Amazon cart? Does it error out when you check out?

Tue Apr 02, 2024 7:21 pm

Are we assuming there is actually anything left in the system?

If DIY, you can drain whatever & refill with whatever you want.

(PS: I have no idea what R123YE is…I’m a RedTek/EnviroSafe guy.)

:oops:

- Dave

Tue Apr 02, 2024 7:31 pm

MarkWard wrote: RicMcK wrote: I'm in WA state and R134A refrigerant is not avaiable. Can I evacuate my system to remove any of the existing refrigerant and use R123YE instead of R134A?

Thanks

Is that a state law? What happens if you put it in your Amazon cart? Does it error out when you check out?

Yes. I just tried and it came up with two big red boxes saying: "Not deliverable to this address" (in WA state). This isn't too unusual for online stores because there are any number of products that can't be shipped to any number of states. so systems are in place to prevent it.

Tue Apr 02, 2024 7:48 pm

Dave. What type of Redtek should I put in? And how many cans will I need?

Tue Apr 02, 2024 7:48 pm

https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=173-443-040

Tue Apr 02, 2024 8:02 pm

It's 1234YF and it's WAYYYY more expensive than anything else out there.

Tue Apr 02, 2024 8:21 pm

Yes 1234YF is pricy😕. Does anyone know what type of Redtek to use and how many cans to fill an empty system?

I don't know the age of my compressor is, but it sounds OK
Do I need to add oil to it? Change the oil? I'm asking newbe questions, because I've never messed with car A/C systems. 🤔

Tue Apr 02, 2024 11:31 pm

I have been denied 40 watt reflector light bulbs shipped to California. I use them as basking lamps for my two 52 year old pet turtles which I have owned for 52 years. Some laws just plain suck.

Wed Apr 03, 2024 1:28 am

RicMcK wrote: Dave. What type of Redtek should I put in? And how many cans will I need?
Sorry to say, there is much to read here on the forum…more than is reasonable.

Sixty pages here alone, but a few great summaries right on page 1:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

8)

- Dave

Wed Apr 03, 2024 4:01 am

zerotofifty wrote: I have been denied 40 watt reflector light bulbs shipped to California. I use them as basking lamps for my two 52 year old pet turtles which I have owned for 52 years. Some laws just plain suck.

Ah ha!

Another boot legging opportunity.

How many do you need?

Wed Apr 03, 2024 7:21 am

Dave thanks for the links and info. I have some rading to do.

I also found these video's.

https://youtu.be/GWVq3GPSwWM?si=PXVgq1ANUCeEu6q4

https://youtu.be/0jqcGBlogts?si=HZfQ5lb0PGIVETOO

https://youtu.be/0Ehs_qmbhPw?si=Y1OC4FelsdcXy8gd

Wed Apr 03, 2024 9:44 am

did you try a normal parts store? Napa? Car Quest? AutoZone?

I find it hard to believe you can't get it in small quantities

FWIW a 30 pound cylinder will make your ass pucker and eyes water as the price is insane.

R1234 is no joke...fucking propane with the stink removed

Wed Apr 03, 2024 10:39 am

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: did you try a normal parts store? Napa? Car Quest? AutoZone?

I find it hard to believe you can't get it in small quantities

FWIW a 30 pound cylinder will make your ass pucker and eyes water as the price is insane.

R1234 is no joke...fucking propane with the stink removed

All refrigerant has been removed from parts stores here in Washington state. Refrigerant can only be sold to technicians certified under the Section 608 or Section 609 technician certification programs. I looked at getting RedTek or Enviro-safe but even those could not be shipped to Washington.

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70A.60.080&pdf=true

https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70A.60

Wed Apr 03, 2024 11:13 am

It only costs $20 to get Section 609 certified and the test is open book.

https://www.escogroup.org/training/epa609.aspx

If you work on your own MVAC, no reason not to get it.

Wed Apr 03, 2024 12:13 pm

608/9 certs are only for buying large quantities, like 30 pounders

or at least it was that way. wow, that's fucked up.

I have my cert so no big deal but wow, what a pain in the ass

Wed Apr 03, 2024 12:45 pm

Hey Rick:

Bring your greenbacks up to British Columbia for a little day trip. Go to any of the many LORDCO auto parts stores up here and buy some cans of RedTek at CAD $10 per can. There is no magic to this stuff - - it's a mix of hydrocarbons, mainly butane, but it is a responsible company with good quality control. It's not Kletus Koolant.

The correct quantity for a Vanagon AC system is 3 cans. Don't waste time or money on the other products RedTek sells like "stop leak" and Red Tek with dye. You might flub some of the installation and waste some RedTek or even get some slow leakage, so grab extra while visiting up here in the Great White North.

DO find out what oil was in your system and add some of the same oil before evacuating the system and filling with Red Tek. One or two fluid ounces should do for an oil top up. If you end up flushing your system, and have to replace the compressor oil, then follow the recommendations on the compressor for the TYPE of oil. Mineral oil is used with R-12 refrigerant. PAG oil is used for R134A refrigerant. The viscosity of PAG oil to use depends on your compressor, which usuaully will have a label on it. Note that RedTek refrigerant is different from the Dupont refrigerants as it will work with mineral oils or PAG oils.

If you are wondering what Ester oils are used for, they were just a stop-gap used back when R134A first came out and techs wanted to "convert" systems to R-134A because R-12 was becoming unavailable, expensive or otherwise restricted. Ester oil allowed use of R134A without doing a full system flush to remove all the mineral oil from the OEM maker of the vehicle. So, don't bother trying to use ester oil.

The amount of PAG oil or mineral oil to install in a freshly-flushed AC system with no oil remaining is 8 fluid ounces.

Wed Apr 03, 2024 12:56 pm

ehh

may want to be real fuckin careful crossing the border

https://apnews.com/article/hydrofluorocarbons-gree...d0602bf05d

Wed Apr 03, 2024 2:08 pm

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: ehh

may want to be real fuckin careful crossing the border

https://apnews.com/article/hydrofluorocarbons-gree...d0602bf05d

That is great, california will have no ozone hole in its atmosphere, keep all that bad stuff in Mexico where it wont effect California's atmosphere. Only Mexico will have an ozone hole!

Duh.

Wed Apr 03, 2024 2:10 pm

Just run propane and isobutane, which is pretty much what RedTek is as well as all the other R12 replacements. A few days ago I resurrected a long dead Eurovan A/C with R134a, but then again I bought canisters a few years ago. When I run out, I'll just switch over to propane and isobutane