IIRC from my reading and our discussions on this last spring (and if things
haven't changed quite a bit), there's a list of states on the EPA site that
have banned using hydrocarbons as a refrigerant in motor vehicles
completely, regardless of how you go about it. At any rate, there's a great
deal of information on the site and it would be well worth the time to do
some reading there for anyone considering a conversion or working on their
A/C systems themselves.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim Brennan" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2005 1:54 PM
Subject: Re: all my R12 is gone..? (bummer)

>I read up some more on the whole Duracool stuff. There is some
> interesting reading, and what is available from various COMPANIES
> varies. However, from the US EPA site this information was gleaned:
>
> It is illegal to replace R12 in a system with a hyrdocarbon refrigerant.
> It is illegal to mix refrigerants.
> You can replace R12 with R134.
> There are no restrictions on replacing R134 with hydrocarbon
> refrigerants.
> It is illegal to vent (to the atmosphere) any refrigerant....except for
> hydrocarbon refrigerants (which due to their flammability would be more
> hazardous to reclaim then vent.)
>
> Note that information again. You CAN use Duracool (or other hydrocarbon
> refrigerants) if you have FIRST converted to R134. (My instructions as
> previously posted did mention that step, and did include the comment
> that after the conversion you have your system properly evacuated and
> the R134 reclaimed, if not in so many words.)
>
> I've been extremely pleased with Duracool's performance and cooling
> capabilities and (obviously) don't hesitate to recommend it to other
> Vanagon folk.