R12 substitute other than Duracool for AC

[mikepellegrini]

I know it's kinda late in the season for AC questions but I'm, looking ahead to next year.

I've been using Duracool R12a substitute for years - since about 2006 - with no complaints. I went to order some for next summer (just in case) and found that apparently Duracool no longer sells direct to the US anymore. Instead, they've franchised their sales to http://www.idealcoolantsolutions.com/index.htm which is great, except this guy raised the price almost double from what it was. And, he's only selling 2 can kits that also include a tap and conversion fittings - neither of which I needed. So I called the guy to ask about single cans, minus the taps and conversion fittings. He told me he didn't have any single cans and that he would rip apart a couple kits and sell me 4 cans, but it'd still be the same price. So I told him he was a ripoff and to get sexually satisfied (in somewhat different language).

I found this as a replacement: FrostyCool R12A? It's $6.69/can vs $29.00/2 cans for Duracool (Duracool used to be $9/can). According to the charts on both websites, one 6 OZ can of either product is the equivalent of 15 OZ of R134.

Duracool is propane based; not sure what if any additives are included. I assume FrostyCool is basically the same. Looking at the FrostyCool website, I see the chill oil they sell is actually Duracool's product. Plus they have other Duracool refrigerant for sale there.

So I'm guessing FrostyCool R12 is just a drop in replacement for Duracool R12A. Or maybe just rebranded Duracool?

Anyone used FrostyCool R12?

[djnolan]

it sounds like good stuff. Not sure what the charge volume would be.

Have you read up on:

https://www.choicerefrigerants.com/choice-r420a

and

https://www.refrigerantdepot.com/product/frigc-fr-12/

[colingreene]

Just buy R12 on Craigslist.

[mikepellegrini]

Both of those look like good bets. But I've been using Duracool successfully since 2006, so if the FrostyCool stuff is basically the same (the charts show it's the same weight in R134 equivalents) I'd like to stay with that. With a completely evacuated system, the charge is about two 6 Oz cans, plus one can of oil.

Right nowin my 83NA, with a 75F ambient temp, I'm getting vent temps in the 20's. The car is black, so having working AC is really important to me.

My son's 951 has a leak we have to trace and fix. So by next summer we'll likely need a couple more cans.

I didn't know you could buy R12 on Craigslist! I looked; yeah, there's lots of it for sale. Wish I'd known that in 2006!

Both cars are set up for Duracool, so in the interest of simplicity, I prefer to stick with that, and if FrostyCool is a direct equivalent, that'd be easiest. I was just hoping to find someone who'd already used it. But if not, I'll give it a whirl. It's cheap.

[culture]

didn't know you could get r12 on craigslist.

still tracking down a leak in my system, but i've been using compressed air...like "dust away" for your keyboard from office depot. saw on youtube that it has the same properties as r12, looked it up and it does. hard to believe, but it's been working fine.

when i find the leak, i'll try genuine r12 if i can find some.