What Gas Does My Car Air Con Need? - Read The Answer (2023)

If you bought your car after 1 Jan 2017, your aircon gas should be a gas known as R1234yf

, or HFO-1234yf. While it doesn’t quite roll off the tongue, car manufacturers made this change to meet the EU’s carbon emission (cutting) standards.

How do I know if my car is R12 or R134a?

To tell if it has been converted you can look for a sticker on the unit under the hood, which would indicate that it is R134a

R134a

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone

. And you can also look for R134a adapters, which would be located on the charge parts.

How do I know what type of gas my aircon is?

One sure way to find out which gas your vehicle takes is to lift the bonnet and look for a stick which either says R134a

R134a

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone

or 1234yf

1234yf

2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene, HFO-1234yf, is a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) with the formula CH₂=CFCF₃. It is also designated R-1234yf as the first of a new class of refrigerants: it is marketed under the name Opteon YF by Chemours and as Solstice YF by Honeywell. 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene. Names. Preferred IUPAC name.

and that will determine which one is correct for your vehicle.

How do I know what refrigerant my car AC uses?

If you are still concerned you might be using the wrong refrigerant, look under the hood. There is a sticker under the hood that will show you exactly what refrigerant you should use for your engine.

What gas does my car air con need? – Related Questions

Can you mix R134a and R1234yf?

You cannot mix refrigerant types, and putting the wrong refrigerant in your car will cause damage to the air conditioning system!

What year cars use R134a?

R134a

R134a

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone

Freon: Vehicles Manufactured Between 1995 and 2021

The majority of vehicles on the road today use R134a to fuel their air conditioning systems.

Is there a difference between 134a and R134a?

Basically the difference in the two relates to how the atoms are attached in forming the chemical compound. R134a

R134a

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone

is an (and in this case, the only other) isotope, it is designated with the letter “a”. The same type and amounts of atoms are used..they are just attached differently (CF3-CH2F) is all.

Can I use R134a instead of R-1234yf?

The answer is yes, it will. This makes it simple. Service shops can stock one product, PN 702, and use it for any vehicle, whether it uses R-134a

R-134a

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone

or R-1234yf

R-1234yf

2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene, HFO-1234yf, is a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) with the formula CH₂=CFCF₃. It is also designated R-1234yf as the first of a new class of refrigerants: it is marketed under the name Opteon YF by Chemours and as Solstice YF by Honeywell. 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene. Names. Preferred IUPAC name.

.

Why R134a is not used in AC?

R134a

R134a

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone

systems operate at higher discharge-side pressures than R12

R12

Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) is a colorless gas usually sold under the brand name Freon-12, and a chlorofluorocarbon halomethane (CFC) used as a refrigerant and aerosol spray propellant.

, which can cause compressor seals to leak. Bottom line, R134a simply doesn’t cool as well as R12. In addition, there was the lubricant issue. Because A/C compressors have moving parts, they require oil.

Can you use R134a in a HFC-134a system?

It can be seen from the above that R134a

R134a

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone

and HFC134a are two different substances, but their physical properties are basically the same, and they can be substituted by each other.

What is compatible with R134a?

There are three refrigerants that can be used to replace R-134a

R-134a

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone

: R-1234yf

R-1234yf

2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene, HFO-1234yf, is a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) with the formula CH₂=CFCF₃. It is also designated R-1234yf as the first of a new class of refrigerants: it is marketed under the name Opteon YF by Chemours and as Solstice YF by Honeywell. 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene. Names. Preferred IUPAC name.

, R-152a, and R-744.

Can you mix different brands of R134a?

In short, the answer is, “No!” Automotive refrigerants are volatile compounds that can have a negative effect on the environment. Combining them can have adverse effects, and cause damage to your car’s A/C system.

What happens when you mix R12 and R134a?

R134a

R134a

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone

systems work at higher discharge-side pressures than R12

R12

Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) is a colorless gas usually sold under the brand name Freon-12, and a chlorofluorocarbon halomethane (CFC) used as a refrigerant and aerosol spray propellant.

systems, which could lead to compressor seals leaks. Additionally, since R134a is composed of much smaller molecules, it has a greater chance of leaking from an R12 system.

Why is R134a being phased out?

HFC-134a

HFC-134a

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone

: a Potent Greenhouse Gas

It is the most abundant HFC in the atmosphere. HFC-134a will no longer be approved for use in new light-duty vehicles manufactured or sold in the United States as of model year 2021 as a result of EPA’s July 2015 final rule under SNAP (July 20, 2015, 80 FR 42870 ).

Can you still buy R12 refrigerant?

R12

R12

Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) is a colorless gas usually sold under the brand name Freon-12, and a chlorofluorocarbon halomethane (CFC) used as a refrigerant and aerosol spray propellant.

Refrigerant Today

It is illegal to manufacture new R12, but it is not illegal to sell or use R12. And many of the cylinders and cans of Freon R-12 sold for decades throughout the United States are still around.

What happens if you put the wrong refrigerant in your car?

You cannot mix refrigerant types, and putting the wrong refrigerant in your car will cause damage to the air conditioning system! If you’re not sure which kind of refrigerant your vehicle takes, DIY A/C charging may not be for you.

Can I Regas my car aircon myself?

Can I regas my air-con system myself? You can buy air-con regas kits if you’d like to attempt the job yourself, but we wouldn’t advise it. They’re almost as expensive as paying a specialist to do the job and if anything goes wrong, you may be left with a very expensive repair bill.

Can I recharge my AC myself?

If you need refrigerant for your air conditioner, you’ll need to contact a professional heating and cooling technician. Under EPA regulations, only a certified professional can recharge your home’s HVAC system. You should never try to recharge the A/C yourself, even if you have a home air conditioner recharging kit.

How often does car AC need to be recharged?

Once every year or two is probably sufficient. Spring is a good time to do this. We advise you to schedule an AC recharge before your unit stops blowing cold air entirely. If you notice that the air coming out of your vents is not quite as brisk, give us a call.

How do I know if my car AC needs to be recharged?