All true, I guess.  However, it would be unethical to add R12 to a system
with ANY leaks.  R12 has been outlawed for new equipment for a good
environmental reason.  And it might be that what is a "slow leak," what is
an "excessive leak"?  Who knows, and who wants to make that determination?
mcneely

On Mon, Apr 13, 2020 at 11:02 PM Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net> wrote:

> Your mechanic lied to you, or at least he misquoted federal law. You are
> allowed to add Freon to a system with slow leaks, you are not allowed to
> add Freon to a system with excessive leaks. But repair the leaks and you
> are allowed to add Freon again, even R12.
>
> Thanks, Tom Hargrave
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>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
> Of Richard Koerner
> Sent: Monday, April 13, 2020 10:12 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: found some freon 12 should I recharge old AC
>
> (I tried sending this before...nothing happened...might be useful for
> someone.  So am trying to send again.  Will NOT be offended if of no use
> for anyone.)
>
>
> I wanted to fix my 85 Vanagon A/C after doing the Subie 2.2 conversion.
> Conversion came with a Subaru A/C compressor; my converter had to get a
> couple new lines made.  Re-filled system with R-12.  Excellent!....for
> about 2 months...doh.   So there is this local San Diego A/C shop who knows
> Vanagons; took it to him.  Using "sniffer" thing, discovered many leaks;
> most were O-rings, easily fixable and they did so.  However....there was
> still one small leak coming out of Evaporator (on an 85 Tintop it's a big
> monster contraption hanging down from ceiling behind front seats).  To fix
> that would be like $2000....and super brittle plastic housings.  By Federal
> Law, he could not add R-12 to a system that had been determined to have
> leaks.  So the decision was made....convert to R-134A.
>
> All was good for about 9 months.  But, slowly weaker performance.  I asked
> my guy about that Stop-Leak product available for R-134A.  He said, Yes it
> might work, or help at least.  Here is the Big Thing though:  once you have
> that Stop-Leak stuff in your system, it opens a whole can of worms.  If you
> ever need your system evacuated, it will RUIN a shop's equipment.  So
> nobody will work on it, and you are on your own forevermore.
>
>
> I considered all my options....and decided to try the Stop-Leak.  Worked
> very well, like magic.  Still a tiny leak from somewhere.  So now the
> situation is:  every year around June 1 or so, I hook up my gauge set, and
> add a can or so of R-134A to the appropriate High and Low Side pressures.
> It generally lasts all summer and fall.  Over winter and spring, I never
> need A/C of course.  But then come June 1, I repeat the cycle.
>
>
> Not sure if the wisest approach and decision-making.....but so far so good.
> Rich
> San Diego
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