Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

R12 134A R4 seal questions


  Email This Post



LarryP
New User

Feb 17, 2019, 10:40 AM

Post #1 of 9 (1831 views)
R12 134A R4 seal questions Sign In

I put a used R4 on my 93 Silverado it was off a 93 also, and I assume it had been on R12. I flushed it and the system, replaced the accumullator (the hoses are only a couple of years old) and charged it with 134A. I worked great--as well as it ever did, if not better. After maybe two months, it suddenly started just barely cooling, so I added a can and it went back tp working great-for maybe a week, then it was low again. Bottom line I added 134 several times and each time it lasted about half as long. Found the shaft seal leaking and just put a new comp on, charged it with 134 and all is great. I was wondering if the pag oil ruined the seal and caused the leak. I am getting another 93 with an R4 that has been sitting for several years and is empty. It does not appear to have ever been converted. I have not leak checked it yet, but the clutch is not oily. I am just concerend about converting it to 134A and having the seal start leaking. Any advice?


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Feb 17, 2019, 3:13 PM

Post #2 of 9 (1816 views)
Re: R12 134A R4 seal questions Sign In

I'm in shock - anything with an R-4 is still working at all now! OK you've got the luck I can't believe you are getting away with this. Probably no life-long history of how many of what has already been done and if OE much of anything left if not clearly marked it's fine just try hard not to overcharge it nor undercharge with it forced to run/compress.
A used anything for a compressor is a WILD risk never mind this one known lousy new. Remans even stunk.
Now I don't understand your question it's been 134a since forever why are you worried now? Dump any oil out of this "years old" and used compressor if anything comes out and add some. Try just spinning it before wasting any time then really spin thru oil well till clear.
134a isn't going to wreck the seal at this point if it's bad it's bad.
I'm still in shock this works at all. Check the "O" tube about now just a guess is behind FR directional lens but think I'd take the condenser out to do it at the risk if OE possible still wrecking condenser just from trying.


You're call I just want your luck this just doesn't happen without disasters very often.


Hit back if any more questions I'll try but this has to have so many unknowns now looking much up isn't going to help??


T



LarryP
New User

Feb 17, 2019, 5:22 PM

Post #3 of 9 (1806 views)
Re: R12 134A R4 seal questions Sign In

Thanks for the reply. The truck I am getting is a 93--the last year for R12 from the factory. It sitll has the factory shrader valves, so i assume it was always R12. I know some of the older hoses would leak when used on 134, as well as the older O rings. I know the seal has some O rings too, and I wondered if they would be compatible with 134 and PAG oil. thanks!

In Reply To


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Feb 17, 2019, 5:28 PM

Post #4 of 9 (1801 views)
Re: R12 134A R4 seal questions Sign In

Why are you assuming the compressor is the cause of the leak in the first place?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



LarryP
New User

Feb 17, 2019, 5:38 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1796 views)
Re: R12 134A R4 seal questions Sign In

I am not. I said in the first post that the clutch hub has no oil on it. the cap is missing off the low side shrader valve, and it has been sitting for several years. Obviously the first thing I am going to do is pressurize it and leak check the system. If nothing is leaking, I would like to convert it to 134. That is why I was asking abou
t the seal, and if the old seal is compatable with 134. I have no idea how old the compressor is, but it is not the original. the truck is 25 years old.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Feb 17, 2019, 8:12 PM

Post #6 of 9 (1782 views)
Re: R12 134A R4 seal questions Sign In

R134 or pag will have no detrimental effect on the seals or rubber however R134 has smaller molecules and will find leaks easier.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



LarryP
New User

Feb 17, 2019, 8:52 PM

Post #7 of 9 (1777 views)
Re: R12 134A R4 seal questions Sign In

OK Thanks! I was just worried because of the seal going bad in the
R4 on my other truck. Kind of getting ahead of myself here anyway. Planning on getting the truck tomorrow and checking out the system before I go any farther anyway. BTW, what is your opinion on replacing the seal on an R4 --worth the trouble? and does it seem to stay fixed for a reasonable amount of time? Besides the one off my other truck, my friend has at least one also that is good except for the seal leaking.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Feb 17, 2019, 8:55 PM

Post #8 of 9 (1773 views)
Re: R12 134A R4 seal questions Sign In

That R4 is at least 20 years old. If the seal goes bad, that would be the reason. Seals go bad with age.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Feb 18, 2019, 1:44 AM

Post #9 of 9 (1762 views)
Re: R12 134A R4 seal questions Sign In

Just FYI: Calendar year, day one 1993 NATO compliant countries ceased production of new R-12. That was the Dupont patented product called Freon 12 with a capitol "F" lower case later meant any "refrigerant." Vehicles named model year '93 could be either even same models. All sold to at least USA and Canada were clearly marked stickers on parts more info on where it complied to where on door jams, under hoods, inside glove boxes and more.
A VIN # really should archive what that vehicle was when new to the day it was made and where. That info is usually correct what gets lost is how original the vehicle is if used a lot not sure anymore unless owner's archived it.


One more FYI: Anything that seals liquid or vapor on a turning shaft of any kind will be a hurdle to prevent leaking over both time and assorted temperatures,


Tom






  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap