Proper/responsible way to drain auto AC system?
 

Hi -

I am working on an FJ55 that has been sitting for close to 15 yrs. - trying to bring it back to life. It has an AC system that I'd like to remove, which is something I've never messed with before. I'm assuming there might be a proper "responsible" way to drain whatever is left in the system - isn't the stuff in there pretty bad?

I thought I'd ask before I started unhooking lines and draining whatever's left (if anything) into a bucket to either dump in the gravel behind by house or down the drain. . .

Just curious,

Thanks,
Tom

You're supposed to vacuum it into a recovery tank, which requires specialized tools. Odds are the freon leaked out years ago, I wouldn't mess with it. Just tear it out.

In Idaho? You'll scare the sheep.

On a 74, the freon is deader than Jimmy Hoffa.

you capture it and recycle

Just vent it. I'm fine with more global warming - its down in the 30s here! Get to changin that!

ozone

Spin off a safety cap and depress the schrader valve with your thumbnail and see if there is any pressure there. Don't get it in the eye ( the refrigerant).
As was said before, it is probably flatter than piss on a pancake but make sure before ripping into it.
If (that is a big IF) there is refrigerant, the right thing to do is to pull it out ( the refrigerant) with a recovery unit for disposal.

Yeah - a bigger ozone hole will help (CFCs) but what'll REALLY help is more greenhouse gasses - take those cats off and rev em up boys! I might go down to pep boys tomorrow and buy a few cans of r134 to use as target practice off the back porch. I want to see palm trees sprouting up in the next three years! Let's all do our part!

As a real bonus if we can get the sea levels up about 15-20' l'll be happy as that'll get the coast a heck of a lot closer to me (Im a few miles inland currently). That'll help my property values. More HCFCs fo' me pleeze!

Whatever you do, don't be breathing the stuff.