.....or convert to R134A.  I've read that the old oil can't be fully
removed, and when you add the new oil, they mix and make a
difficult-to-remove coating, which helps to seal the pores in hoses.
  Or you could replace all the hoses with barrier hoses.  I'd recommend that
you just do the conversion first, and then wait to see how well it holds,
before changing the hoses, due to the expense and difficulty.

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack R." <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 8:21 PM
Subject: Re: AC does loses freon

> The big issue with Vanagon Freon loss is due to the long hoses, which are
> not barrier hoses.  It is time to change these old hoses with the new
> technology.  Better for the environment, and better for your pocket book!
>
> Jack R.
> 84 Westy Wolfie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> JAIME E FORERO
> Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 7:54 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: AC does loses freon
>
> Hi, my 91 Vanagon's AC has been giving me the fits for a few years now.
> Every spring I have to get it loaded with freon.  This year I had my
> mechanic take the evaporator down, he changed the expansion valve, put it
> rebuilt compressor and fixed a very small leak in the system. The charge
> is
> again low and I don't know what to do because we have checked all joints
> and
> there is no evidence of a leak using a leak detector.  Obviously the freon
> is leaking somewhere.  R12 was the original fluid but since we can't get
> it
> anymore he uses something called Freeze 12 which works OK but does not
> cool
> like R12.  Any suggestions, hints, advise???
> Cheers
> Jaime