legacycentral bbs

Considering doing it, want to compare costs.

Where do youu compare costs now that we have part numbers?

Compare costs to what?

Costs of the conversion kits. Got a link to a store that has good prices

Using the list that Shemoves posted for a 1990 Calsonic unit I got the following prices


73411FA100 Hvac - Air conditioner - Drier Drier, impreza 1993 - 1994 $89.96
73039AA010 PT181000 O-RING $0.80
73035AA100 PT181000 PRESSURE RE $19.60
73054AA141 Hvac - Air conditioner - Ac hoses Ac hoses, legacy, core to compressor, calsonic type 1990 - 1993 $131.72
73054AA081 Hvac - Air conditioner - Ac hoses Ac hoses, legacy, compressor to cond, calsonic type 1991 - 1993 $56.12
73058AA100 PT181000 LOW PRESS H $7.70
73058AA110 PT181000 DISCHARGE H $7.70
73019AA100 PT181000 V5 PAG OIL $108.00
SOA635054 RETROFIT LABEL R134A $2.40

Seems to me as if you could get away with only replacing the dryer, o rings, pressure valve and the adapters and use r134 and oil from the AC shop. That would come to about 125$ in parts from Subaru.

Funny I used the $40 R12-R134 conversion kit from Autozone (complete with the adapter fittings & 2 cans of R134) on my '85 Corolla & the A/C works fine.
A few of my friends have also used these kits with good results.

That was the best $40 I ever spent!

BXSS wrote:Funny I used the $40 R12-R134 conversion kit from Autozone (complete with the adapter fittings & 2 cans of R134) on my '85 Corolla & the A/C works fine.
A few of my friends have also used these kits with good results.

That was the best $40 I ever spent!

But the variable-displacement type pumps in our cars (at least in mine, so the book says) have all sorts of internal seals which are not compatable with R134a; right? so you need an entire new compressor + accessories, not just some $40 kit from autozone.

To be honest the Subaru AC compressor looks like any other AC compressor & I do not remember seeing a do not use on Subaru disclaimer on the packing of the retrofit kit.
Subaru gets thier A/C compressors from Calsonic just like every other Japanese automaker does.

Honestly what do you have to loose, you have to change the compressor anyway as it supposedly is not compatible with R134a.

According to Subaru the compressor works just fine with R134. It's the drier that needs replaced.

The AC compressor on the first gen legacies used a wobble compressor to vary compression ratio. It did this instead of cycling the compressor on/off like most compressors. I like the results of the design, as it provides more consistent air temperatures with less temperature swings. However the application of the design didn't turn out too well, as the front end of the compressor typically eats itself up over time.

This is probably why I went through 3 or 4 used compressors....I lost count.

Air conditioning systems are really quite simple. The only difference is in the refrigerent they use. The refrigerent will however dictate the type of oil used, the pressures seen in the system, and the size of the condensor & evaporator.

An AC drier is an AC drier....there is no R12 drier or R134a drier. You however can not (should not) use a drier that has been in one type of service and use it in another. EG reuse your drier that was used with R12 when you convert to R134a.

The next thing is oil. The oil aids in transporting the refrigerent, as well as lubricating the compressor. Typically R12 oils & R134a oils are not compatible, which is why it's really recommended to flush out the system. As I've mentioned before, esther oil is compatible with both R12 and R134a, but from my experience, doesn't lubricate the compressor as well. Which is why I converted over completely to PAG oil.

I really need to do an AC system write-up.

Legacy777 wrote:
An AC drier is an AC drier....there is no R12 drier or R134a drier. You however can not (should not) use a drier that has been in one type of service and use it in another. EG reuse your drier that was used with R12 when you convert to R134a.

where do you get this information from?
we've done hundreds of retrofits from 12 to 134a and NEVER had to change a drier unless it was already bad.
Slap on some fittings, Vacuum down the system to remove all of the old oil and refrigerant, hold the vacuum for a while, then charge it back up with r134a. done.

I got that from an old AC guy in florida when I was researching how to convert my car several years back.

I don't know if you can get all the oil out of the drier, which is one of the main reasons I suggest replacing it.

I suspect that is why Subaru suggests replacing it.

ciper wrote:I suspect that is why Subaru suggests replacing it.

Probably.
That's part of the reason to use PAG oil which can be compatible with R12 oil and R134a oil.

internetautomart wrote:Probably.
That's part of the reason to use PAG oil which can be compatible with R12 oil and R134a oil.

PAG oil is NOT compatible with R12.

Esther oil is compatible with R12 and R134a

Legacy777 wrote:

internetautomart wrote:Probably.
That's part of the reason to use PAG oil which can be compatible with R12 oil and R134a oil.

PAG oil is NOT compatible with R12.

Esther oil is compatible with R12 and R134a

yes it is.

FJCinc.com wrote:FJC Universal PAG Oil
with Fluorescent Leak Detection Dye
Part # 2479 (8 oz)
Part # 2480 (Quart)
Part # 2481 (Gallon)
• Compatible with R134a & R12
• Compatible with Mineral, Ester, Paraffin, and PAG Oil.
• Can be detected using a standard UV light.
• Saves time over existing methods of dye injection.

Normal PAG oil is NOT compatible with R12 systems.


What you listed is a UNIVERSAL PAG oil, which from what I have found is not too common. Universal PAG oil must be relatively new or not a common oil to use because there's not much info about it, and I haven't seen it being sold at any shops.

From their site, they state PAG oil is only compatible with R134a systems
http://fjcinc.com/q_a.html#3

Some more info on oils from interdynamics
http://www.id-usa.com/how_to_faqs_retrofitting.asp#8

From this site
http://www.aa1car.com/library/macs2001.htm

POE is a popular aftermarket lubricant because it is compatible with both R12 and R134a, making it a good choice for older vehicles that are being retrofitted to R134a. Even so, the "official" MACS and OEM recommendation is to use PAG oil only with R134a. For all newer R134a systems (most 1995 and up vehicles), use the type of PAG oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. PAG oil is not compatible with R12 and must not be used in older R12 systems

every PAG I've seen as of late has been the universal type.
only a few aren't that I've seen.

holy smokes that receiver/Drier is expensive. $87 ??????????

Hell the one for my truck is nearly three times bigger and was only about $27. DANG!

I guess maybe I'll be keeping my R12 around for as long as it'll hold on. I can get parts out of the junkyard easily and there is a local shop that still does R12.

The receiver drier, I did buy from an autoparts store.....I didn't see a need to go OEM.