[buddy in texas]

Can anybody give me the pros and cons of Enviro-Safe ES-12a refrigerant. It replaces R12 and 134a as well as others. The last articles/comments on this forum are 8-9 years old and are quite negative. So, I'm looking for some current updates or anyone that has first hand experience using this product. One can google search "enviro-safe refrigerant" or look at the website: http://autorefrigerants.com/co00033.htm I'm leaning strongly to giving this stuff a try.

[buddy in texas]

I can't believe nobody on this forum can give any input about Enviro-Safe. I have continued my research and found much more positive information. About the only negative I've found it that it is flammable. So what? Every vehicle is toting around 12-40 gallons of gasoline, propane, lpg, or E85 that is also much more flammable. Does anyone really care about 18 oz. or less of refrigerant catching fire? Come on. It has much better cooling properties than R-12 or 134a, has 40-70% less hp drag on the compressor under load, has larger molecules for less chance of leaks, does not have to have vacuum pulled on system (mfr recommends to release vacuum after checking for leaks) A local (Houston, Tx) vintage air dealer who has been installing aftermarket a/c systems for years told me that is all he has been using for years with great success. I'm just passing along the positive information I learned over the past couple of days about Enviro-Safe refrigerant.

[Mister Pontiac]

Hmmm... Very interesting. I'll be curious as to your results after install. I don't have any experience with it. I'm still using R-12 myself, so I'm hoping you have good news to report too! Enviro friendly and (I assume) cheaper, plus cools as well in an original R-12 system? That seems like a tall order, but I'm all ears... Please report back with your results!

[Keith Seymore]

Some discussion here:

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=734055

The focus of that thread was something called RedTek.

How does the Enviro Safe compare? http://www.redtek.com/products.html

I haven't seen either of these products on shelves here locally. Is it something you have to special order? In Bulk?

K

[LASJayhawk]

It is a mixture of propane and butane.

The EPA says it is an unacceptable substitute: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/refrig.../unaccept.html

There are EPA approved substitutes that wont turn your car into a plasma cutter if you get a high side leak and it gets lit off: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/refrig....html#mvacpubs

IMHO: This is a case where I agree completely with the EPA's stance. Stick with the original refrigerant if you can, and convert to an approved substitute when the original is no longer available in your area.

You cars fuel system was designed to carry a flammable, your A/C was not.

[LATECH]

I am with LASjayhawk on this one. Can you imagine the explosion if an evaporator leaked into a car with a lit cigarette?
Like LAS jay said, the fuel system was designed for flammables, the AC...not so much.
If it was better and cheaper...the OEM would be using it.