O/T - When was R134 mandated for A/C? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

JoetheMobster · 07-23-2004, 03:43 PM

I was curious if you knew when R134 was required on new vehicles etc. Did it start for the 1992 models or.....

I'm not sure if Canada and the US are the same, but I would imagine so.

I'm in the market for a minivan as my car is slowly getting too small, and unfortunetly I can't use the truck to transport my baby....yet! (Still in a rear facing car seat for a while yet) When looking for a vehicle, I don't want to get stuck with an R12 vehicle, and be stuck with a massive bill for a retrofit!

Any help would be great!

Old Dave · 07-23-2004, 04:48 PM

I believe it was 1994 when it was mandatory for OEM's.

72C203503ONTHETREE · 07-23-2004, 05:18 PM

Mid 90's was the cut off date, 93 up Camaros and some other GM's used R134. A lot of Euro cars also switched about that time. You can switch the freon to R134 for not a lot of money but it may not work as well as the R12, some systems dont make enough pressure to get the full use of the R134. The 79 Toyota truck and the 90 Mustang LX 5.0 worked great on R134 though. I now have an 88 Fifth Avenue with a 318 that still has R12 and is working decent, but if it goes I will try converting it to R134 after changing hoses and drier since the current hoses are seeping. R134 uses smaller molecules(which is why it isnt as effective as R12, its less dense) which will leak out even faster that R12.

JoetheMobster · 07-23-2004, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the info guys!! I think I'm going to keep my search to '94 and above.

*dtlilly* · 07-24-2004, 01:10 AM

Yeah, Dupont really pulled a fast one. Their patent was going to run out on R-12 (thus competitors could move in on the market). Dupont spent millions sponsoring their own "research" to prove R-12 was dangerous to the environment. Yeah righ, R-12 molecules are heavier than ambient air, so how did the freon damage the ozone that is in the stratousphere? I doesn't. But when your company makes the stuff, and also holds the patent to the new and "improved" R-134. Hmmmm, I smell a marketing campaign

So Dupont spend millions more on re-election campaigns of our elected officials and a public mis-information campaign. Suddenly R-12 is outlawed, and R-134 is approved as a cooling alternative. Viola, a new patent is secure and a market leader. You are now able to continue your regularily schedualed life.

JoetheMobster · 07-24-2004, 11:02 AM

Damn! That would seem kind of fishy! I never knew that Dupont had a patent on the stuff. Talk about having it made huh!

07-23-2004, 03:43 PM	#1
JoetheMobster Listening since '86 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 1,799	O/T - When was R134 mandated for A/C? I was curious if you knew when R134 was required on new vehicles etc. Did it start for the 1992 models or..... I'm not sure if Canada and the US are the same, but I would imagine so. I'm in the market for a minivan as my car is slowly getting too small, and unfortunetly I can't use the truck to transport my baby....yet! (Still in a rear facing car seat for a while yet) When looking for a vehicle, I don't want to get stuck with an R12 vehicle, and be stuck with a massive bill for a retrofit! Any help would be great! __________________ 2007 Saturn Aura - hey it WAS a GM product

07-23-2004, 04:48 PM	#2
Old Dave Is a bullfrog waterproof? Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: OLATHE, KANSAS Posts: 1,130	I believe it was 1994 when it was mandatory for OEM's. __________________ "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." Ben Franklin __________________ 1970 Chevy shortbed 2002 Harley Custom Chopper (Long sucker) 1998 K2500 5.7L 5-speed Longbed 1st two are My son's toys...they just live in my garage! 1997 GMC K1500 Suburban 1993 S-10 Blazer 4D (youngest son's daily driver) 2000 Dodge Ram 4WD Ext. Cab (5.9L) Wife is a late year 1951

07-23-2004, 05:18 PM	#3
72C203503ONTHETREE Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Grant, Alabama Posts: 504	Mid 90's was the cut off date, 93 up Camaros and some other GM's used R134. A lot of Euro cars also switched about that time. You can switch the freon to R134 for not a lot of money but it may not work as well as the R12, some systems dont make enough pressure to get the full use of the R134. The 79 Toyota truck and the 90 Mustang LX 5.0 worked great on R134 though. I now have an 88 Fifth Avenue with a 318 that still has R12 and is working decent, but if it goes I will try converting it to R134 after changing hoses and drier since the current hoses are seeping. R134 uses smaller molecules(which is why it isnt as effective as R12, its less dense) which will leak out even faster that R12. __________________ 72 Chevy C20, SOLD (Dang it.) 09 Challanger RT six speed in all black. 74 Datsun 710 wagon, all 1.8 liters of screaming Datsun power. 73 C10 long bed, 350/350 combo, nice shape.

07-23-2004, 11:49 PM	#4
JoetheMobster Listening since '86 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 1,799	Thanks for the info guys!! I think I'm going to keep my search to '94 and above. __________________ 2007 Saturn Aura - hey it WAS a GM product

07-24-2004, 11:02 AM	#6
JoetheMobster Listening since '86 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 1,799	Damn! That would seem kind of fishy! I never knew that Dupont had a patent on the stuff. Talk about having it made huh! __________________ 2007 Saturn Aura - hey it WAS a GM product

07-24-2004, 01:10 AM	#5
dtlilly Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shadow of Lambeau Field Posts: 5,597	Yeah, Dupont really pulled a fast one. Their patent was going to run out on R-12 (thus competitors could move in on the market). Dupont spent millions sponsoring their own "research" to prove R-12 was dangerous to the environment. Yeah righ, R-12 molecules are heavier than ambient air, so how did the freon damage the ozone that is in the stratousphere? I doesn't. But when your company makes the stuff, and also holds the patent to the new and "improved" R-134. Hmmmm, I smell a marketing campaign So Dupont spend millions more on re-election campaigns of our elected officials and a public mis-information campaign. Suddenly R-12 is outlawed, and R-134 is approved as a cooling alternative. Viola, a new patent is secure and a market leader. You are now able to continue your regularily schedualed life.



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