i finally did it!!! my 93 dodge needed to have the AC recharged , i couldn't find a place within 50 miles to do it, so i used propane from a camp stove bottle.... it works great so far.
there are some commercial products available that are about the same as straight propane, but with additives(oil)but they are a lot more expensive.......
i used less than two bottles (16 oz per bottle) the system calls for 40 oz's of R12.
we'll see how it works down the road

 

Keep us posted.
Propane is a LOT less expensive than R12.

 

My last truck had propane in it for 2 years with no issues.. oh and propane is colder

 

i just got back from a short drive,
it seems to work ok , i just guessed on how much to put in..... i put in untill the cold started to come out
maybe i got lucky

 

I tried it in mine at one point to verify that the system worked. It blew cold but had a leak so the charge only lasted maybe a week. When I fixed the system I charged it up with R12.

 

How did you hook up the propane bottle to the A/C gauges?

 

Propane is dangerous!!!!

Think of it this way. What if you started a leak within the cabin of the truck, and there was a source of ignition? Most of the "blends" of freon use propane or a natural ignited source. R12 or R134a are not a natural lighted product.

There are lots of lawsuits that are still in the court for companies that have sold "blended" cooling products.

The choice is yours.

Glenn

 

Like said above the stuff is dangerous. I have seen it first hand. A 98 s10 came in on a hook with a nice hole in the hood. The compessor went high and blew a hole in the high side line, which routs right over the exhasut manifold, and well you could guess what had happened. Really wish I had a camera at work that day.
But also like Ruralcruiser007 said "the choice is yours"
I'm sure lots of guys have used it with no problems.
Do you feel lucky today?
Justin

 

gasoline is dangerous, cng is dangerous ,any fuel you carry is dangerous..... only the amount determins the level of danger, i don't think 16oz's of propane presents much of a danger compared to the amount of propane in my other systems ( RV tanks,12 gallons, propane injection tank,30 gallons) also i carry a loaded 9mm ruger under the seat,no danger there(CCP of course)

 

i didn't use any guages, like i said i guessed

 

okay so how did you charge the low side line with a camp stove bottle?

 

also i carry a loaded 9mm ruger under the seat,no danger there(CCP of course)

Dude was just sayin what I've seen and what I know. It's a free world and you can do as you will, I know the stuff works and cools well, I was just tryin to give you some info in case you didn't think of it or hadn't had any one tell you. SO IF IT ****** YOU OFF I'M SORRY JUST TRYIN TO GIVE SOMEONE SOME INFO THE MAY NOT OF KNOWN. I THOUGHT THIS SITE WAS FOR FRIENDS AND PEOPLE TO GIVE INFO. I'LL BE SURE TO KEEP MY MOUTH/ KEYBOAD SHUT IN THE FUTURE.
And I carry a 44 ruger under my seat(for me and the family) and a mini 14 in the roof rack for the yoties.

 

It is my understanding that it turns out it is fiction that you can't mix freons. They do not mix and form acids as once claimed. The claim was made to make sure all of the old freon was bought up and used instead of the companies leaving it on the shelf.

 

i cut the end off of a soldering torch and soldered a hose barb on it... i had an old freon charge hose i put on the barb . that's it, very simple. i could probably post a picture

 

and i was just saying that the danger is not as large as other things that are carried in a vehicle, gasoline,diesel fuel, ammo. and i thank you for your concern ....i reviewed the possible danger and decided the amount of propane used would not present much of a problem,
as you can see in my sig, i have a propane injection system on my '01. my tank holds 35 gallons of LP
now if that ever ignited you would hear about it on CNN..... but i have more safety's than a commercial setup,so I'm not worried