Hey guys,


Im in the process of taking my engine out of my car to do some preventative maintanance.


Is it safe to unhook these AC lines? What do i do with the fluid?????



Thanks,


=Ben

 

it should be recovered by a licensed pro...its against the law to let it out in the atmosphere.

and its just gas.

 

^ +1

Can't you do the work you want and just take the compressor off the engine and leave the lines all hooked up? Believe me, if you have R-12 in those lines you want to KEEP it, as the stuff is worth roughly the price of Unobtanium right now...lol!
If you lose it, it will cost a fortune to recharge it with R-12, PROVIDED you can even find someone to do it.

 

AC is over-rated

 

....in Michigan.

 

I got ahold of some R-12 and it wasn't priced that badly. I no longer use A/C so it doesn't matter anymore though.

 

Compared to the price of R134a, it's a lot. The last time I charged my A/C (probably back around 2001), it was about $150 to do it. In the grand scheme of things that's not a lot of money. But compared to what normal people pay, that's about 2x more.

 

only problem is your suppose to be licensed to purchase r12. atleast in Alabama.

 

actually from what i just learned in an a/c class, r-12 had been collected by a few companies and mass stored in warehouses because of its worth. Now with more new and advanced "charges" aka freons the r-12 is now dropping in price. All this saved up r-12 is now being unloaded because in a few years the demand is only going to decrease.

Hydrogen if i remember correctly is the latest to be used in an a/c system and in a matter of time might be much more efficient and cheaper than what has previously been used.

This came from a man who has worked in the automotive a/c industry for over 40 years.

take it for whatever its worth

 

/\ this doesnt mean that r-12 is going down in price at ur local a/c shop.....just in the market itself

of course shops are going to rape ppl with r-12

 

I get "cost" prices which is why I didn't notice the big price difference. I'll definitely agree with you though that it's significantly more expensive than the new freon type.

 

I would just tie the compressor out of the way thats what i did and i had no problems, i even relocated the condenser.

 

$40 a pound last time I checked for R-12....

 

I just pulled my engine and didn't have to disconnect the AC. IIRC, I raised the engine just enough to access the bolts holding the compressor and then used a bungy to keep it out of the way. The only thing that wants to hang up on the metal AC lines from the condensor is the oil line to the cooler(s). You could disconnect it at the block, but I just went slow and carefully pulled them around and on top of the metal lines as I raised the engine. Wasn't difficult.
And yes, you can still get R12, And Bajaman is pretty close in price. Two years ago an 'O' ring leaked and I had to have mine recharged....$150 (including labor).

 

Are you wanting to remove your AC? IF not, it is unnecessary to remove the compressor or any AC lines to get the engine out.

 

Ok guys, engine is out!!


I was following Rotary Resurrections instructions so it wasnt too bad... but man, its an awful pain just to have AC.


So now that the car is NON drivable i guess i have to get an AC guy to come empty my system..



=Ben

 

Just to make myself clear...


I am REMOVING the AC for good. I am wondering how i am going to uncharge the system.


I have taken the engine/trans out with the AC stuff all hooked up.



According to wikipedia r-12 is not very harmful to health, not flamable and none reactive. BUT it is NOT good for the environment.



=Ben

 

you know if you accidentally punchered a hose i dont think thats considered your fault.

 

I 'accidentally' unbolted the line on the compressor last night thinking it was a bolt that held the compressor onto the block. 20 minutes and a few drips of green ooze it was fine and I could disconnect all of the lines.

 

Er....not true at all. R-12 turns DEADLY in the presence of an open flame. One whiff of the vapors will kill you.

 

Then ive died a 100 times! One wiff and you will stop breathing then you run for clean air, and start breathing again. Welding in rooms with ref. over 30 years you learn this with out being told! But your right dont play with the stuff!

 

"Accidentally" losen the a/c line in a well ventilated room and leave till the gas clears. China does way worse to the environment.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichlorodifluoromethane





The NFPA only rates it a '1' on the health hazard scale.




UPDATE: OK so i did some phoning around... a local shop (which i dont like very much..) can come out to my car and pump the stuff out. Its going to cost 100$ though.


The cost is a deterant to protecting the environment thats for sure.. Oh well, id rather do it right.




=Ben