Technical
Real world experience with R1234yf The new refrigerant is finally here; are you ready? The introduction and increased use of the new and current R1234yf refrigerant requires an up-tick in terms of both equipment and procedures for proper A/C service. How flammable is it? Do you need new equipment? How much more expensive is R1234yf? Our resident HVAC expert provides an insightful overview of what you need to know to help your customers — and their vehicles — keep their cool. By Jacques Gordon
Much has been written about what to expect when the industry changes over to the n 2014, Fiat Chrysler began filling the air new refrigerant, but up until now it was all conditioning systems on almost all of its speculation. models with R1234yf refrigerant. That Shops that do A/C work for collision same year, General Motors (GM) began using repair have been working with R1234yf for it in the Cadillac XTS. Since then, GM has three years, and with some 2014 models just been gradually switching over its entire line of starting to come out of warranty now, some vehicles to R1234yf, and Ford has also begun aftermarket service/repair shops and techniusing it, too. cians are finally gaining real world experience with the new refrigerant and the new tools and service techniques. Here is some of what they’ve learned so far.
I
System hardware
On this new Malibu, the label is on the firewall. It indicates refrigerant type and quantity and the correct type of oil. Notice the “flammable” icon.
Air conditioning systems filled with R1234yf are almost identical to those using R134a, but there are a few important differences. First of all, there is one additional component, an inline heat exchanger (IHX) that has two concentric chambers. Liquid refrigerant from the condenser flows through the inside chamber, and the outside chamber surrounds it with vapor flowing out of the evaporator on its way back to the compressor. The still-cool vapor absorbs heat out of the liquid refrigerant, “sub cooling” it below
12 | ASP March/April 2017
