HFO-1234yf The new refrigerant

[James O’Hara]

I have done some light reading so far skimming over a lot of presentations and slides and reading some articles here and there. I would like input from you guys out there but, from what I have read this is what i have found.

HFO-1234yf is flammable. Compressor oil is extremely flammable. This means compressor oil hits a hot manifold it lights up and that lights the HFO-1234yf on fire. This is not where it ends it release highly toxic hydrogen fluoride. This quickly can damage your eyes. It also forms hydroflouric acid this is what ate the windshield during Mercedes test of it. It is supposed to be better for the environment and you supposedly need all new equipment for it.

Links related to the Mercedes testing:
UPDATED: Daimler video claims 1234yf is dangerous – VW says CO2 is best refrigerant
Coolant safety row puts the heat on Europe’s carmakers

Wiki – Hydrogen fluoride

Bunch of PDF links on the HFO-1234yf refrigerant:
HFO-1234yf Low GWP Refrigerant LCCP Analysis Mary Koban DuPont Fluoroproducts

HFO-1234yf Low GWP Refrigerant Update Honeywell / DuPont Joint Collaboration Sep 2008

HFO-1234yf Low GWP Refrigerant – Information for Manufacturing and Service Facilities Nov 2010

HFO-1234yf – Status and Path Forward Nov 2009

The Service Sector Prepares for HFO Prepares for HFO – – 1234yf 1234yf Paul DeGuiseppi MACS Worldwide Paul DeGuiseppi MACS Worldwide Mary Koban, DuPo

HFO-1234yf Low GWP Refrigerant Update Honeywell / DuPont Joint Collaboration July 2008

Countdown to R1234yf Industry Preparation Christopher J. Seeton, Ph.D. David P. Wilson, Ph.D.

AcDelco Tech Connect – New R-1234yf A/C Refrigerant Makes Its U.S. Debut

Evaluation of HFO-1234yf as a Potential Replacement for R-134a in Refrigeration Applications

Red Dot Corporation – R -12 3 4 y f Fahrenheit Pressure/ Temperature Chart

Topic

[Larry Bible]

I would like to thank you for sharing your research with us MDK! This doesn’t sound good. Are there vehicles already on the road with this stuff?

Edit: I looked into it and there are about 8 million vehicles with this stuff. European made I suppose, but I haven’t gone that far. I will refrain from writing my political opinion on this subject.

[zero]

Is it even realistic that a car would leak in the same manner as in the video?

I’m also willing to bet that anything remotely flammable hitting a hot turbo would ignite.

It’s not just in European made cars, every 2016 Honda in North America is shipping with it. The refrigerant itself is insanely expensive and that’s not including the new equipment that’s required.

[WOTStang]

I work on newer cars everyday for my job, and I can tell you that Land Rover is using it, Chrysler, some Chevrolet’s, Subaru, and a few Toyota’s.. however we do not have the service equipment for it yet. I do know that there is a special service procedure you have to walk though – including checking the vents for refrigerant leaks before it will allow any kind of evac/recharge.

Also word on the wire is that there is another experimental refrigerant in tests as we speak that is 100% o-zone safe… however the stuff is extremely flammable/poison under pressure and supposedly when an accident is detected, there are dump valves installed in the a/c system that immediately vents the stuff to atmosphere so it doesnt have a chance to heat up under pressure and poison you… Safe for the environment… but hazardous to us.. Oh, and no to mention you accidently set off an airbag, your replacing this new expensive refrigerant on top of an airbag..

[Author]

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