Propane a/c?
Propane a/c?
-1982 300D Turbo, 280k miles, ALDA apparently maxxed, fram 8038, 12 lbs boost, non-egr manifolds, W/M injection, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 front rotors/calipers, 4-speed swap
In the works: A/W IC, adjust pump, turbo rebuild (w/60 trim comp wheel)
-1980 300SD, 110k, project car. Goal is to get it lookin' like it did on the showroom floor (body and interior wise, not necessarily under the hood )
-1974 240D, FRESH PAINT!!!!!!
sassparilla_kid
06-21-2013, 12:20 AM #1So at the risk of starting a flame war, has anybody else done any reading or looking into charging their a/c with propane? Apparently it is commonly used in large/industrial applications under the alias R280 (or something like that) and is a common ingredient in "generic" refrigerant replacements like Duracool and Envirosafe. I'm thinking about trying it out since no real conversion is needed to use it in an R12 system, but coming up with a charging apparatus is looking to be a whole other challenge in itself
-1982 300D Turbo, 280k miles, ALDA apparently maxxed, fram 8038, 12 lbs boost, non-egr manifolds, W/M injection, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 front rotors/calipers, 4-speed swap
In the works: A/W IC, adjust pump, turbo rebuild (w/60 trim comp wheel)
-1980 300SD, 110k, project car. Goal is to get it lookin' like it did on the showroom floor (body and interior wise, not necessarily under the hood )
-1974 240D, FRESH PAINT!!!!!!
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech...alive.html
cheers
![[Image: 208104.png]](http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-us/208104.png)
Propane is R290, it works very well in every R12 system I've seen. The charging aparatus is dead simple. Start with a cheap propane torch and cut off the nozzle end, slip a 1/2" hose over the end with hose clamp, take an R12 or R134 hose and cut off the bottle end, stuff the hose into the other end of the 1/2" hose, hose clamp, done. With propane you don't have to worry about vacuuming it down to 29.xxx inch. Get it down to 20", fill to 65psi, repeat a couple of times if you're super picky about it, then normal fill up procedure with engine running. The propane Duracool and others sell you are very dry, higher quality than the generic Benzomat stuff and usually contains some butane to match the temp/pressure of R12. That said, generic propane from the hardware store works just as well. Keep in mind that doing this is illegal in most states, its very flammable so you better know what you're doing, you can still buy R12 on Ebay for very little money and if you take it to a professional AC shop and contaminate their recovery equipment with propane, they will cut off your nuts and feed them to you.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech...alive.html
cheers
1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running
willbhere4u
06-21-2013, 10:06 AM #3Evan r134 is flammable!
1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running
-1982 300D Turbo, 280k miles, ALDA apparently maxxed, fram 8038, 12 lbs boost, non-egr manifolds, W/M injection, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 front rotors/calipers, 4-speed swap
In the works: A/W IC, adjust pump, turbo rebuild (w/60 trim comp wheel)
-1980 300SD, 110k, project car. Goal is to get it lookin' like it did on the showroom floor (body and interior wise, not necessarily under the hood )
-1974 240D, FRESH PAINT!!!!!!
sassparilla_kid
06-22-2013, 09:41 PM #4Hmm, well if I can find an R12 hose tomorrow I might try it out for fun
-1982 300D Turbo, 280k miles, ALDA apparently maxxed, fram 8038, 12 lbs boost, non-egr manifolds, W/M injection, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 front rotors/calipers, 4-speed swap
In the works: A/W IC, adjust pump, turbo rebuild (w/60 trim comp wheel)
-1980 300SD, 110k, project car. Goal is to get it lookin' like it did on the showroom floor (body and interior wise, not necessarily under the hood )
-1974 240D, FRESH PAINT!!!!!!
Unless the AC system is full of air, then you're just running compressed propane. If ignition occurs, then you're going to get flame like a torch from wherever the leak is (worst case scenario). In a diesel a torch under the hood is bad, but nowhere near as bad as it would be in a gas car. In a crash the propane would vent so fast it would be highly unlikely to be a fire hazard-it would vent away. Maybe a breathing hazard, but what refrigerant isn't?
For offroad uses I think you'd be just fine. Maybe mix in some CO2 to de-flammability it?
Newbie-read this: Cheap Tricks
617.952-220k-Getting built up
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
Simpler=Better
06-22-2013, 10:08 PM #5My unprofessional backwoods theory:
Unless the AC system is full of air, then you're just running compressed propane. If ignition occurs, then you're going to get flame like a torch from wherever the leak is (worst case scenario). In a diesel a torch under the hood is bad, but nowhere near as bad as it would be in a gas car. In a crash the propane would vent so fast it would be highly unlikely to be a fire hazard-it would vent away. Maybe a breathing hazard, but what refrigerant isn't?
For offroad uses I think you'd be just fine. Maybe mix in some CO2 to de-flammability it?
Newbie-read this: Cheap Tricks
617.952-220k-Getting built up
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
(06-23-2013, 06:09 PM)Mark_M Common garden propan has a huge amount of water in it, won't that damage the AC system?
I think the ac dryer will capture most of the water
1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running
willbhere4u
06-24-2013, 02:34 PM #8(06-23-2013, 06:09 PM)Mark_M Common garden propan has a huge amount of water in it, won't that damage the AC system?
I think the ac dryer will capture most of the water
1987 300SDL 6spd manual om606.962 swap project
1985 300td euro 5spd wagon running
-1982 300D Turbo, 280k miles, ALDA apparently maxxed, fram 8038, 12 lbs boost, non-egr manifolds, W/M injection, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 front rotors/calipers, 4-speed swap
In the works: A/W IC, adjust pump, turbo rebuild (w/60 trim comp wheel)
-1980 300SD, 110k, project car. Goal is to get it lookin' like it did on the showroom floor (body and interior wise, not necessarily under the hood )
-1974 240D, FRESH PAINT!!!!!!
sassparilla_kid
06-25-2013, 04:38 PM #9Okay update folks, I've acquired a charging manifold and a vacuum pump, so next is finding the correct fittings and some uv dye to add to the system to find leaks
-1982 300D Turbo, 280k miles, ALDA apparently maxxed, fram 8038, 12 lbs boost, non-egr manifolds, W/M injection, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 front rotors/calipers, 4-speed swap
In the works: A/W IC, adjust pump, turbo rebuild (w/60 trim comp wheel)
-1980 300SD, 110k, project car. Goal is to get it lookin' like it did on the showroom floor (body and interior wise, not necessarily under the hood )
-1974 240D, FRESH PAINT!!!!!!
(06-21-2013, 12:20 AM)sassparilla_kid So at the risk of starting a flame war, has anybody else done any reading or looking into charging their a/c with propane?
Hahaqhaha! I just got the pun, man am I slow
Newbie-read this: Cheap Tricks
617.952-220k-Getting built up
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
Simpler=Better
06-26-2013, 08:07 AM #10(06-21-2013, 12:20 AM)sassparilla_kid So at the risk of starting a flame war, has anybody else done any reading or looking into charging their a/c with propane?
Hahaqhaha! I just got the pun, man am I slow
Newbie-read this: Cheap Tricks
617.952-220k-Getting built up
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
-1982 300D Turbo, 280k miles, ALDA apparently maxxed, fram 8038, 12 lbs boost, non-egr manifolds, W/M injection, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 front rotors/calipers, 4-speed swap
In the works: A/W IC, adjust pump, turbo rebuild (w/60 trim comp wheel)
-1980 300SD, 110k, project car. Goal is to get it lookin' like it did on the showroom floor (body and interior wise, not necessarily under the hood )
-1974 240D, FRESH PAINT!!!!!!
sassparilla_kid
06-27-2013, 02:13 AM #11^^ lol! So it looks like I have everything I need except a few hose clamps I forgot to buy, so I might try to get it going tomorrow night, we'll see
-1982 300D Turbo, 280k miles, ALDA apparently maxxed, fram 8038, 12 lbs boost, non-egr manifolds, W/M injection, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 front rotors/calipers, 4-speed swap
In the works: A/W IC, adjust pump, turbo rebuild (w/60 trim comp wheel)
-1980 300SD, 110k, project car. Goal is to get it lookin' like it did on the showroom floor (body and interior wise, not necessarily under the hood )
-1974 240D, FRESH PAINT!!!!!!
For other options you might be interested in a rather long conceptual post on DIY A/C systems that I put together for discussion purposes -
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/dies...setup.html
I use Envirosafe which is essentially propane plus some other components like iso-butane. It's a proprietary mixture so can't know the exact formulation. It's a relatively cheap way to get "dry propane" into the system. I did some cursory research to see if there was a convenient way to run "Coleman" propane through some sort of a dessicant to adequately dry it and didn't get anywhere.
For other options you might be interested in a rather long conceptual post on DIY A/C systems that I put together for discussion purposes -
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/dies...setup.html
-1982 300D Turbo, 280k miles, ALDA apparently maxxed, fram 8038, 12 lbs boost, non-egr manifolds, W/M injection, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 front rotors/calipers, 4-speed swap
In the works: A/W IC, adjust pump, turbo rebuild (w/60 trim comp wheel)
-1980 300SD, 110k, project car. Goal is to get it lookin' like it did on the showroom floor (body and interior wise, not necessarily under the hood )
-1974 240D, FRESH PAINT!!!!!!
sassparilla_kid
06-29-2013, 11:52 AM #13So I tried to charge the system last night, and something wasn't right. When I went to charge it the low side pressure went up and never went down, and the high side pressure never changed, even though the compressor was running the whole time? I'm confused
-1982 300D Turbo, 280k miles, ALDA apparently maxxed, fram 8038, 12 lbs boost, non-egr manifolds, W/M injection, 4 brake light mod, Gen II w126 front rotors/calipers, 4-speed swap
In the works: A/W IC, adjust pump, turbo rebuild (w/60 trim comp wheel)
-1980 300SD, 110k, project car. Goal is to get it lookin' like it did on the showroom floor (body and interior wise, not necessarily under the hood )
-1974 240D, FRESH PAINT!!!!!!
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