i went to refridgeration school a while back and the instructor said he was using propane instead of freon in his truck just curious if anyone else has done or heard of this

 

The real question here is: Would YOU, being that you are now educated in refridgeration, put propane instead of freon in your truck?

I would really hope your post would start out like " There is no way in he77 I would do this, BUT....."

Let's put it this way. You might live in a dry environment. You open the door to your truck one day and note the "smell" of propane, but that was right before you slid across your cloth seats and the static charge immediately wiped away your last thought on this earth. Tough way to find out you had an evaporator leak. (....wonder if that could happen?)

 

Talk about stupid. That is one hell of a fire maker

 

I would not use propane its self, but there are plenty of propane(hydrocarbon )based freons to choose from 12A, duracool, redtech etc, I've been using duracool for 7 or 8yrs, it runs cooler vent temps than 134a, runs way less head pressures and is enviromentally friendly, heres another tid bit, 134a is 70F MORE flamable than 12A (propane based refridgeant) and 134a is also very toxic (just like R12) when it burns. so overall 12a more safe than 134a. if I recall correctly just inhaling 134a is not healthy(very toxic), I believe there is less harm (if any) if you acciedentally inhale 12a.
There are lots of scare stuff out there against 12a (dupont) and even in the Trade schools they teach the hazards of using mixed freons, I remember seeing a video of a camero that they released 1 or 2 lbs of propane based refridgant into the cabin and then they remote detonated it, it blew the car clean apart, doors and hoods a-flying, any flamable product will if in a confined/enclosed space. 134a will as well. its just that when you use the word propane everyone thinks....boom, call a more toxic and explosive material 134a and everyone thinks its safe.
Do a little research, if anyone is curious, dupont holds patents on both R12 and 134A its pretty scary how they have manulipated things in their favor.

Also many countries in the world use propane as well in AC systems,
This topic could get hot!

 

Even if you didn't have an evaporator leak, what about the condensor in a front-ender?

Sh-boom, SHA-boom, the truck went boom...

 

My evaporator had a bad leak and I kept refilling it with 134A? How bad was this stuff for me to be breathing everyday in the spring, summer, and early fall for 1.5 years?

 

Good thing our trucks are Diesel, you wouldn't want that flamable gasoline stuff anywhere near your truck.

 

you carry propane in your pocket eveyday if you smoke,do you blow up????.have used propane for years for a/c,i knew whoever posted this would get all the worry about everything people posting.

 

there is no difference except that the 134a is more likely to explode than the propane, and either would have to be exposed to open flame, the risk would be the same as if two gas veh collided and burst into flames, gas ,propane no difference except that cas is more voilitile, (as gas vapor is lighter than air and propane heavier)

Here:
http://www.coolearthinc.com/faq.htm

 

i wonder if you blow a line if your truck would try and (runaway)

 

who told you people that 134A was flammable?

 

You can always read the msds.
http://www.refrigerants.com/msds/r134a.pdf

 

R12 seems nastier. http://www.refrigerants.com/msds/r12.pdf

Propane could burn you for sure. http://www.iigas.com/propane_msds.htm

 

i use propane in my '93 dakota because it costs too much to keep it filled with r12, i have to fill it about once a week during the summer.... i never have found the leak....can't smell it.
the truck isn't worth fixing, so i just keep on putting gas and propane in it

 

yeah, watch out for all the gasoline vehicles out there. not to mention the propane and natural gas powered ones