I was at my local NAPA parts store today and came across something called Freeze 12. The can said it is compatible with any R-12 system and is used as a replacement.

Has anyone ever used this Freeze 12 before? Pros / cons?
Is it as good cooling wise as R-12?

Im curious as this is cheaper than the regular R-12. Plus it is more available too.

Here's the 411 http://www.freeze12.com/ I bought some for my Chevelle, then converted to 134 instead.

d1 Bradley,

how was the Freeze 12 compared to the original R-12? Did it cool as good as R-12? Why did you switch from Freeze 12 to R-134?

Couple of comments of Freeze-12. First I'm not an AC tech but pick up things that are going around me once in awhile. We have used FR-12 in our shop for three years that I know of without any problems or combacks. The AC on my '80 El Camino leaked down over the last winter and in May our AC guru shot it up with a little over a pound and it is still going strong. We charge $15 a pound at that rate I could recharge it every spring for a fraction of the cost that it would take to "correctly" convert it to 134 for many years.

Yes, but dont you have to evac. the AC system then put in Freeze 12? I know the oils are compatable but is the two different Freons?

try over at www.ackits.com (http://www.ackits.com) forums and ask your question. Its been answered dozens of times, and you could just search there. Freeze 12 seems to be a blend of refrigerants that will work, but has many drawbacks. Good Luck.

My $0.02

$15/lb for Freeze-12? Earlier this spring I checked on R-12 at the local parts store it was running ~$26/lb. in single cans or in the high teens if you were to purchase a 30lb cylinder.

I'm not trying to knock the Freeze-12 and as always, "to each, his own". But for the minor $11 difference, I'll stick with the peace-of-mind and ice-cube performance of the real R-12.

Last time I asked R-12 was 1,300.00 for a 30 lb drum
The last 30 lb drum I bought at Sam's wholesale club was 500.00

has been quite a while ago though

I put Freeze 12 in my daily driver and it blew cold okay but I would still recommend a conversion to R134a for a long term fix. I think I got some bad advice from the source I bought my Freez 12 from because my compressor went toast less than a year later. Not sure if it was bad advice or a less than perfect product but it's worked flawlessly since the R134a conversion and it blows as cold as the old R12 did. I can't say that for the Freeze 12.

Oh, and Freeze 12 will negate any warranties on AC parts and most shops won't install it so that should tell you something. It's also flammable at very high temperatures though I doubt you'd see such temps anywhere in your engine compartment if everything is working properly but still.

A 1 1/2 ago I finished my 66 elcamino, every thing new. I used R-34 and it did pretty good but just wasn`t cold enough for me, the warehouse rep. at my parts store said I should try freeze 12 and he sent me a case, it took 2 mo. to get the fittings. Charged it up, and it works as good as r12 for me. I have used it in a few customers cars, no problems.

$3.96 a can is a loooooooot cheaper than r12 even if you could find r12.

I understand that freeze 12 has some r12 traces in it??

HTH
Troy-Curt

The EPA ( http://www.epa.gov/Ozone/snap/refrigerants/refblend.html lists the composition of Freeze 12 as:

80% R134a
20% R142b

So there should not be any significant traces of R12 in Freeze 12.

Also... http://www.r22.org/prod_list.php?maingroup=+Refrigerant&secondgroup=R-12 First place I happened to find with R-12...~$23 per lb. The price is definitely coming back down. It's starting into the 11th year since R-12 was used in production autos.

To answer why I changed from Freeze-12 to 134. I drive all over the place, didn't want to get caught somewhere without Freeze-12. I never put it in, just had it in case the 134 didn't do the trick. The 134 works fine.