Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)
Using R12 with an HD6 compressor?
roger55 on 
Thu June 16, 2011 10:52 AM 
I've got an LT1 350 engine out of a 1996 Impala SS and have put it in a 1983 El Camino.
The Impala engine has an HD6 compressor that used R134a in the original car.
However, I have a stash of R12 and want to use it in the Camino.
Since the HD6 was designed for R134a, are there any issues to running R12 with it?
(And, btw, that HD6 has evidence that has been slinging oil off the front. so I'm thinking I should replace it.)
Edited: Thu June 16, 2011 at 10:55 AM by roger55
JJM on Thu June 16, 2011 5:57 PM
Shouldn't be any issues if as long as you use 525 mineral oil in a dry system.
Just because there's oil slinging around the front doesn't mean you have to replace the compressor - in most cases you can simply replace the shaft seal. You can find pretty much any shaft seal on this site, and there's definitely one for the HD6.
Joe
roger55 on Thu June 16, 2011 6:43 PM
Thanks Joe.
So, if I flush the entire system, how much oil should I put in?
The accumulator on the car is used (probably 20-30K miles worth) but has been sealed. Can I flush it and re-use it?
JJM on Thu June 16, 2011 9:10 PM
The '83 El Camino needed 6 oz of oil with the R4 compressor, and the '96 Impala needs 8 oz of oil with the HD6 compressor. I'd go with the 8 oz minimum, but 9 oz just to play it safe (525 mineral oil for R-12) given the larger mass of the HD6 over R4 and engineering differences between the two.
Joe
JJM on Thu June 16, 2011 9:27 PM
Also, in response to second half of the question, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES do you flush an accumulator!!! Or lines with mufflers or the compressor!
Replacing the accumulator is cheap insurance at $15 - why mess with it?
37-23202 - Drier - Accumulator (Tank Only)
A few bucks more if you want it with the bottom tube...
Joe
roger55 on Thu June 16, 2011 10:17 PM
Got ya on that.
One last question:
If I end up replacing the compressor, what is the best? I don't care about cost on stuff like this.
Thanks for all your help.
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