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My experience with R-152A in a 1998 Corolla.

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    #1

    My experience with R-152A in a 1998 Corolla.

    There's an RX-7 forum talking about R-152A conversions. Great write up from a real auto HVAC licensed tech. Any who..... I tried it out. My car had R-134A factory.

    Did a 2 hour vacuum. Added a full can of R-152A into purged gauges. High side was 200psi at 95F in the garage. Max fill was 0.9lbs with R-152A, 1.5lbs with R-134A. Think R-152A cans were 10oz net. Added another full can. High side was around 300psi. Center vent temp was finally 46F at a whopping 300psi.

    Changed out the TXV. Same outdoor temps and refrigerant levels later, same story as above. Low side was 35-50 psi. Wasn't impressed. Knew and felt something was wrong. System not performing as it should.

    Later reading up on sub-cool and super heat. Guy on youtube has a great video explaining it for car systems.

    Took an IR surface temp gun. Read 163F on the condenser inlet and 165 on the outlet. As in WHAT?? Later on......

    Another 2 hour vacuum. Installed a new condenser and R-134A. Added a rough ounce of PAG 46 oil. 2 full cans of R-134A and I get 29F vent temps.

    So I think on my system, the condenser was dirty from 20+ years of road grime. Not dumping heat off as it should. Both fans run fine.

    Guessing with a new clean condenser, my R-152A charge would of kicked booty. l
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    #2
    You can't allow 29F (40F max IMO) vent temps the evap will frost over and A/C will quit working air flow out vents will slow to stop.

    IDK but when playing with alterate refrigerants may have to fuss with charge or other adjustments it can't freeze up!

    Double check those temps and devices with others see if they agree??
    Last edited by Tom Greenleaf; 10-15-2022, 07:36 PM.
    Tom
    MetroWest, Boston

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      #3
      Where are you getting R152a in small cans or are you using "dust-off" cans?
      If you are not shedding heat at the condenser, which refrigerant is immaterial

      Comment

        #4
        Originally posted by Tom Greenleaf View Post
        You can't allow 29F (40F max IMO) vent temps the evap will frost over and A/C will quit working air flow out vents will slow to stop.

        IDK but when playing with alterate refrigerants may have to fuss with charge or other adjustments it can't freeze up!

        Double check those temps and devices with others see if they agree??
        The compressor kicks off and some chilly air follows (29F). This system is back on factory R-134A again.

        I know the title was about R-152A. If you read it again, I switched refrigerants on you guys LOL.

        So I tried R-152A with no luck. Maybe it was my stock 1998 condenser?? I blew through it with my mouth and was totally open. Later installed a new condenser and R-134A.

        Comment

          #5
          Originally posted by Cornbinder89 View Post
          Where are you getting R152a in small cans or are you using "dust-off" cans?
          If you are not shedding heat at the condenser, which refrigerant is immaterial
          Recently got the R-152A at Sam's Club. It is computer duster. Forgot the actual brand.

          Agree, not shedding heat at the condenser and refrig type immaterial.

          So I was puzzled why my charge of R-152A was not cold at the vents. I measured the inlet and outlet of the condenser. Virtually the same temps. Both fans running fine. Not dumping any heat out of the condenser. Ordered a new condenser and getting freezing temps again, back on R-134A.

          Think my condenser wasn't working, but wait. Last season 2021, it blew 32F out the vents. This season 2022, was like 48F?? Then I read about R-152A. Charged with R-152A. Not very cool on vent temps. Wonder if the bittering agent in the R-152A to slow down the huffers clogged my condenser? No way of confirming this with a 20 plus year old condenser. New condenser later and I'm nice and cool.

          Comment

            #6
            Yeah, dust-off is not necessary refrigerant grade R152a only. I haven't found anyone packaging R 152a in small cans for refrigerant.
            What is odd, is there is a unique fitting designed for R152a but it never was put into production to my knowledge. It has a GWP of something like 11 compared to R134a which is more like 1100. It is slightly flammable, however.
            • Likes 1

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              #7
              Seems in my view this thread is backwards today? Let it be.

              To follow up the duster in sight of me now is 10oz says it's 152a also on it only could side tap it if used for refrigerant.

              Just me, NOT YET as Cornbinder said it's not tested out pure AYOR on tricks prices are not worth risks IMO despite going up on everything else too hard to know what's a deal or worth it till this fossil fuel nightmare is solved.

              It has to get solved that's what is used to make steel, recycle things - list of 1,000 thing made from it BTW it's my 3rd "crises" made a mess of everything first 2 prices and inflation never went back just settled down to a new normal,
              Tom
              MetroWest, Boston

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