How Dangerous is Fake Car A/C Refrigerant? Let's Find Out!

I own an HVAC company and I'm surprised how well and thorough you did with this video. I shouldn't be, because you're always thorough, but I never expect anyone to grasp refrigeration very well. Great job! I didn't even realize there were a bunch of 134a replacements on the market. Good to know. Replacement refrigerants usually work fine, but I avoid them when I can. Also, I'll ask again and hopefully one day you'll be able to get to it, but- testing coolant additives would be awesome. Those additives that are supposed to make your cooling system run cooler like Royal Purple's Purple Ice, Water Wetter, etc.

Fun fact: "Freon" is DuPont's registered trademark for R12. If it isn't R12, made by DuPont, it isn't "freon"

To be fair, the R134a Replacement Refrigerant has R134a written on it with huge letters despite not being that stuff at all. Unlike ZeroR, the replacement refrigerant has purposefully been designed to deceive customers looking for actual R134a.

Literally one of the best examples of correctly using a refrigerant recovery machine on YT

Today I learned how to properly recover refrigerant. Thanks for unveiling another mystery of the trades!

This was not a test of R-134 replacement refrigerants … it was a detailed course in AC servicing! Bravo, great job!

HI, keep in mind that when taking a vacuum on a system some moisture will freeze due to the evaporation and appear it is all out, sometimes all you need to do is let the system up to atmosphere and the ice will melt. what we normally did was warm it up with a torch or heat gun, while watching the vacuum gauge, when any water flashes off the vacuum will jump up a little. I would warm up the accumulator/drier to drive off the stored moisture. Good Luck Rich

I have had good success with an R134 substitute called Enviro-Safe. It's a 60/40 propane and isobutane mix. A similar blend has been used by auto manufacturers in eastern Europe and parts of Asia for many years, due to its performance and cost savings. Yes, it's flammable, but so is gasoline. Also, people have been driving propane powered vehicles for decades. Cars, pickups, forklifts, farm tractors, semi trucks, school and city buses just to name a few. But it does have many things to recommend it. In my experience it out performs R134 by a noticeable amount. The A/C in my old 99 GMC Suburban was significantly colder after switching. The molecule of the refrigerant is a lot larger than R134, so you will have significantly fewer small leaks. As such, it is also compatible with old R12 systems with no modifications needed. It operates at a lower high side pressure, reducing strain on the system and lowering the amount of engine power needed to turn the compressor, increasing (by a very small amount) fuel economy! It also doesn't deplete the ozone layer. And lastly, it costs quite a bit less. Of course, use only if you have done all the necessary research and due diligence, and have followed all appropriate safety measures. Then, it is a viable and economic replacement refrigerant.

Todd, you started the best and you're still the best. To me, your channel feels like the most American channel that this great country could produce. You are the type of wholesome person that I think every person wishes they knew personally. Keep it exactly the same. Very few people get it right straight out of the gate, so naturally you'll wonder what you need to improve. To me, the answer is NOTHING.

Fun fact: propane can be replaced in a functioning R22 system and it will run perfectly. Propane and isobutane are common refrigerants in soda vending machines and commercial refrigerators like in supermarkets

You are the gold standard of product reviews, Thank you for creating them! I have been researching devices and phone apps for detecting hidden cameras and surveillance equipment when staying in vacation rentals and hotels. There are videos out there but no one does reviews products like PF. Perhaps this could be a future video. Thanks again for your great reviews!

Has been known for decades that propane was nearly equivalent to R12. That unscrupulous used car dealers might use really cheap propane rather than (once upon a time) $1.50/pound R12.

The amount of different items tested and with absolute know of every thing tested leaves me to believe you are either a rocket scientist or a real world genius.

The explanation of how the car's AC system works @6:55 alone makes this video worthwhile for anyone who works on cars. Another PF gem 💎💎

Project farm is such good YouTube. Entertaining, educational, thorough and unbiased.

WOW! This was GREAT! An all-around class on R-134A, fake R-134A, vacuuming, recovery, charging, and manifold readings. ❤

I like the dude’s commitment to a task….

the "fake" refrigerant is Propane. Nothing wrong with it but doesn't perform well in car AC systems. Propane is R290, which is used for industrial meat freezers as propane is a better refrigerant for freezing temperatures. The reason propane works poorly in car system is the system gets too cold and the EVAP core actually starts to freeze up from moisture, causing blockage of airflow and higher tempratures. I've tried straight propane in car AC. If you want to run propane in car AC system, the pressures need to be different than R134a. If you fill up with propane to R134a pressures, the EVAp core freezes or the compressor goes to constant clutch cycling.

Great video! You never disappoint and always have interesting topics! Thanks for all of the information that you have given over the years!

As usual another great educational video. Thanks for all the work that you go to for these videos.