What type of refrigerant does my car need?

A car without an AC installed in it is real torture for the driver on a hot day. Thus, today turning on an AC seems natural and we even do not have any idea about what helps the air conditioning system to work properly and cool the air efficiently. Yet, with time, each car owner needs to maintain the AC and change the refrigerant (a special gas) that helps to cool the air. After intensive exploitation, the refrigerant inside the air conditioning system needs to be utilized properly and replaced with a new portion of gas. And there are several types of refrigerants for car ACs that have various characteristics, so, choosing the right one is crucial. In our article, we’ll focus on three main types of refrigerants your vehicle may need for its air conditioner.

1. R12 – the Choice for Old-Fashion Cars

Up to 1994, R12 was the gold standard of AC refrigerants for vehicles. Due to its cheapness and efficiency, it was the #1 choice that almost every car manufacturer used. But it was discovered that R12 is dangerous for the ozone layer, so, today this refrigerant is not widely used. You may still need it if your car is older than 30 years, or you are the owner of a classic car. Yet, it is quite a rare thing, as due to EPA bans, most of these vehicles were re-equipped with modern-type ACs.

2. R134a – Still the Standard

If you drive a car that came from the conveyor from 1994 to 2021, it is probably R134a your vehicle uses to cool the air in its air conditioning system. This refrigerant became a great substitute for outdated and banned R12 for almost 2 decades due to its following features:

  • It provides low flammability, thus, it is safe for using it.
  • Its price was reasonable, so, refilling it was an affordable task for most car owners.
  • It is not as hazardous for the environment as R12.

Today, R134a/R12 is still actively used. So, if you drive a vehicle manufactured before 2021, you need that refrigerant to refill your car’s AC.

3. R1234yf Innovative Refrigerant

In 2021, a new-gen refrigerant launched on the market and today, most manufacturers equip their cars with R1234yf-compatible ACs. The switch towards this technology was boosted again by increased concerns about environmental protection. The formula of this refrigerant is safer for the atmosphere than its predecessors’ so, today it is reasonable to use it instead of R134a. There are several signs your car needs precisely that refrigerant:

  • It was manufactured in the US or Europe after 2021.
  • It was re-equipped with next-gen AC that uses that type of refrigerant.

If you still have doubts about which type of refrigerant your car needs, it is better to consult about it with a representative of the AC service point.