Is Aircon Gas Dangerous?

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Zip

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Zip

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I need to take the Aircon Compressor out of the car because it ****ed it self.

But to do this i need to Decompress the gas out of the Air con system to disconect the Lines from the Compressor.

So i need to know if the gas is Dangerous to humans. I dont want to be going blind, Getting Cancer or Dieing because i Drain the gas, its just not worth it.:p
From Memory i think the gas is R134a.
 
Contact of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane with flames or hot surfaces in excess of 250 °C (482 °F) may cause vapor decomposition and the emission of toxic gases including hydrogen fluoride and carbonyl halides.[9] 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane itself has an LD50 (lethal concentration for 50% of subjects) in rats of 1,500 g/m³, making it relatively non-toxic. However, its gaseous form is denser than air, and will displace air in the lungs. This can result in asphyxiation if excessively inhaled.[10][11]
Aerosol cans containing 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, when inverted, become effective freeze sprays. Under pressure, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane is compressed into a liquid, which upon vaporization absorbs a significant amount of thermal energy. As a result, it will greatly lower the temperature of any object it contacts as it evaporates. This can result in frostbite when it contacts skin, as well as blindness upon eye contact.
Click to expand...

It's also illegal to release it into the atmosphere
 
You need to get it reclaimed using the proper channels as it is illegal to vent to atmosphere!

But no you will not die but you will get frost bite if you get liquid on you, I have walked in plant rooms full of R134a after a pipe failed.

Edit: Data Sheet below:

http://www.bocsds.com/uk/sds/special/r134a.pdf
 
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Damn it! Such a simple job is now up **** creek :(

I have a Spare Compressor on another car which id like to take off and replace the rooted one.
Will have to think the plan over how to get it.

Dont really want to take it to an Air con Specialist because i really did mash up the pulley quite well trying to get it off so i could leave the compressor in place with out the pulley grinding the belt away. :o
 
Being irresponsible isn't cool but it won't kill you. I've seen it done before and everyone is still alive and well.
 
A friend took his S13 to another friend to remove the AC compressor, and the dumbass got a face full of gas.
No harm done :p
 
Worthy to note, It might not kill you on its own. But whatever you do don't smoke while its present in your general vicinity, as noted above - when in contact with high temperatures it breaks down into multiple really rather toxic gasses- which you would be inhaling directly through a cig.
 
There's laws governing the disposal of air con gas, but they're pretty worthless if you ask me. I had an air con specialist come and refill my home air conditioner. It had a small leak, but still plenty of gas in it. He was supposed to drain it into his tank (which he brought with him !) and then fix the leak and refill. Instead, he decided it was just easier to vent it into the atmosphere (!!).
 
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they are the same gas though! thats odd as hell, so in my guns its fine but if you release it from an aircon system its illegal :P?
 
It's illegal to release any refrigerant into the amospher including, this also includes environmental refrigerants like R717 (Ammonia) still require to be decanted into recovery bottles.
 
Zip lives in upside down land AKA Australia, so the laws may be different down there.



As for getting an AC specialist to do the job, don't. Remove the AC belt so as to not cause any more damage to the belt or the systems it's linked to. Drive to a garage and get them to drain the AC system. Drive home and remove the old compressor, fit replacement, drive back to garage and get it regassed.

That's how I sorted mine when the compressor ate itself. I'm guessing though that the spare one you have on another car would also require draining and isn't on the road? Which makes changing to that one a bit tricky.
 
P1010169.jpg


Were it not dangerous, it would not have warning stickers....
 
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