Jeff, what is the temperature of the air coming out of the vents above the
windshield after you have been put on the highway for a while?

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA
'84 7-passenger

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Schwaia" <jeff@TSSGI.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 2:14 PM
Subject: Re: Converting to R134

> Sam,
>
> I just did another one of these this week.  Pretty basic...
>
> -I always replace the receiver/drier, expansion valve and all O-rings.
>
> -Pull the compressor and let it drain for about 30 minutes.
>
> -If the system has been open for any length of time you should flush the
> system with A/C cleaning fluid.
>
> -Re-assemble everything with new O-rings and liberal amounts of esther
oil.
>
> -Evacuate the system for at least 30 minutes, make note of the readings on
> the gauges.
>
> -Let it sit for at least 30 minutes, check the gauges to make sure it held
> the vacuum (i.e., the readings didn't change).
>
> -Add freon till the high side reads ~250psi with the A/C on and the engine
> running at ~2000RPM.  Low side pressure should be ~35psi.
>
> -Turn off the A/C and let it sit for a few minutes, the high and low side
> pressures should equalize.
>
> -Button it all back up and drive down the road with the windows up! ;-)
>
>
> BTW & IMHO, the downside to R-134 (other than its inferior cooling
ability)
> is the amount of power it robs from the engine when compare to R-12.  An
> R-12 system operates at a lower pressure than the R-134 system, which
means
> the engine does not have to work as hard to turn the compressor.  The vans
> I've converted had a noticeably less power with R-134 than they had with
> R-12.  Perhaps it's just me...
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff