Actually, that is not true. All the auto recyclers are required to recover
the freon. the real intent is that the R-12 is not "Intentionally" released
to the atmosphere. Most house AC's and refrigerator contain ounces of
refrigerant and most of that was R-22. Cars hold pounds of R-12 which is the
most damaging. As for the government regs, an independent person may get
away with a lot, but any reputable scrap yard won't take the chance. The
fines can start at $10,000.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Tarheel
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 5:48 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: AC Freon

Hogwash!!!!!

What do you think happens to the freon in all the old a/c units in cars, old
refrigerators, etc.?  It goes right thru the shredder at the scrap
yard/steel mill and into the blast furnace (the freon released to the air).
Do not be fooled by these overly stringent government regs.

If it is swapped to R-134, he can buy the stuff at Wal-Mart.

If it has not been swapped, he can buy the kit and wtill do it himself.
Maybe pay someone to put a vacuum pump on it.  I have done this on at least
5 vehicles in the driveway and have never had a problem.

Sometimes a new o-ring is needed if there was no coolant in the system prior
to my adding freon. That is about all.

Adam Puzerewski
81 westy
74 beetle
86 cabrio
Vanagon Partsmobiles
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Mages" <wasserbox@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2001 11:36 PM
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] AC Freon

> hehehe - surely you aren't serious.
>
> If you can even get freon (very illegal unless you are
> a certified mechanic) you need a recovery tank, and a
> bunch of other $$$ equipment to do it correctly.
>
> Since 1991, you only option is pretty much to go to a
> mechanic, and pay exorbitantly high fees to have your
> AC system recharged.  I have never had work done on
> the AC system where it cost less than $500.  They
> always find a 'problem' with the drier, evaporator,
> clamps, hoses....
>
> Unless you live where it is very hot, I wouldn't even
> bother.  a totally rebuilt Westy AC system barely kept
> my vanagon bareable in the Houston summers, and it
> sucked so much power from the engine I got in the
> habit of driving around in my boxers and drinking a
> lot of AquaFina.
>
> Just my .02
> Mark
> --- timnew <timnew@PACBELL.NET> wrote:
> > I want to put some AC freon in my 86 GL.  I've never
> > done this before.  What
> > kind of freon do I need? what other equipment might
> > I need? where do I
> > install the freon?
> >
> > Tim
> > 86 GL
>
>
> =====
> Mark
> Music is the soundtrack to the Low Budget B-movie that is my life.
>
> 87 Westfalia Gl
> 84 Scirocco 8v
> http://student.fortlewis.edu/~mwmages/
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35
> a year!  http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/