Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

Cadillac Kid on Thu January 08, 2015 7:54 PM

Country of Origin: United States

Hello everyone. I heard awhile ago that r134A was/is being phased out, and by 2017 production will be stopped. What's the deal with this? Have they found out that r134a is just as ozone depleting as r12? Could someone please further elaborate on this subject. I remember when r12 was phased out and now r134a is going...

-Gavin

CorvairGeek on Thu January 08, 2015 9:26 PM

I believe it has always had a phase out date from the beginning. It is claimed to have a very high global warming potential, though it is considered 'ozone safe'. It's probably bad for the Easter Bunny too.

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Jerry

Edited: Thu January 08, 2015 at 9:26 PM by CorvairGeek

HECAT on Fri January 09, 2015 2:18 PM

Yes, R12 bad for ozone, change to R134a good for ozone, but R134a bad greenhouse gas, change to R1234yf good for greenhouse, and so on...

Per a EU Directive, Global New vehicle manufacturing is ceasing use of R134a, and the change has already begun with many manufacturers already putting out models using R1234yf. R134a use in new cars is to cease by 2017 (or later, if amended); but R134a refrigerant use, manufacturing, and availability (for current fleet servicing) is not going away (well, not in 2017 or anytime in the very near future).

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Edited: Fri January 09, 2015 at 8:57 PM by HECAT

mk378 on Fri January 09, 2015 11:24 PM

134a released into the air circulates around the earth for a very long time and has GWP (though less than R12, so getting rid of R12 was still good on two fronts). 1234yf decomposes relatively rapidly when exposed to sunlight and moisture thus is considered preferable. Whether it will also break down during normal operation in your A/C system remains to be seen.

Edited: Fri January 09, 2015 at 11:26 PM by mk378