Mexican R-12?

[Oracle]

Hey, for you deep southwest guys, do the Border Patrol dudes whack you for bringing R-12 in from Mexico?

[Tad]

Got R12 sniffing dogs too, they start sheding when they sniff out some freon. :D

[PlumCrazyChris]

I believe so, I went down there 2 weeks ago and had mine serviced and charged. It sure blows cold now. Next time, I'll have all the servicing done here, and just drive over with my own valves/gauges and charge it in the Autozona parking lot and drive home cool.

I thought about smuggling it back, but I don't think its worth it. Don't think playing dumb will work if you get caught.

R-12 is about $5-6 a can there.

[porkchop]

I am not really sure if you can bring it across or not. I think you need a license to do so. It is easier to just drive across, get it and service it in the parking lot like PlumCrazyChris said. That is if you are close enough to do it.

There is a web site out there where you can take the test and get your license, don't know it off the bat though. I beleive gsmikie might have a license. If not he goes to mexico so much he has to have a visa just to get back home :D , he might know the answer.

[JeepFreak]

I was just looking at a website that said bringing R12 across has turned into a big profit biz. According to the site they are really cracking down on it big time. Will try to find the site and post the link.

[Ralph]

Another tack:

R12 costs about $23 for a 14-ounce can at AutoZone, and the system capacity in late model FSJ's is 36 ounces. A manifold guage set is less than $40.

I went to www.macsw.org (http://www.macsw.org) and registered for an exam that they send you to take at home. Sent in the test with $25, and in short order got myself a license to buy R12.

Compare that to the cost/effort of driving to Mexico! I'd file this one under the category "Teach a man to fish..."

[PlumCrazyChris]

There are other coolant options as well. There is a site for a product called Duracool that sounds promising and they ship it via the internet. Supposed to work better than R-12.

[porkchop]

That's the web site I was talking about!

[joe]

Originally posted by Ralph:
Another tack:

I'd file this one under the category "Teach a man to fish..."Oh yeah I know that one..."Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll always be late to work on Monday cause he's sitting in a boat drinking beer."
Is that the one? :D
Fishing was invented by guys who's wives won't let them drink at home. ;)

[JeepFreak]

EPA's testing website http://www.epatest.com/

[Highsteel]

I also took the EPA test online. I can buy freon in containers up to 20lbs. 25 question open book test. $19.95 http://www.mainstream-engr.com/ I got an instant temp cert. and then got my card in about 5 days. :D

[ July 10, 2002, 04:14 PM: Message edited by: Highsteel ]

[Allen78J20]

You can also go here---> http://www.uticorp.com/609.pdf
and download the manual and take the test at the end. Send in your answer sheet and a 15.00 money order and in a few weeks you get your cert.

[2j20's]

WOW WHAT A TEST... :confused: :confused:

[Ralph]

I gave Narnian a few cans of Freeze12 that I had sitting around, and he likes it just fine. I've never used it myself.

[Lindel]

Be careful of R12 substitutes, most of them are likely to be propane!!

[Tad]

Freeze 12 Web Site (http://www.freeze12.com/)

You need a cert to buy Freeze 12 also. Royal Buick (Dealership) here in Tucson has been using Freeze 12 for almost two years now on older R12 vehicles. My neighbor works there and set up my 78 Datsun B210. I didn't think it was as good as R12 but ti worked as well or better than the 134A set up in Sally's Honda.

[Tad]

Did some checking Freeze 12 is

80% HFC- 134a
20% HCFC-142b

[chaos]

Smuggling any refrigerant into this country is big fine, for venting r-12 into the atmosphere, there is a up to $ 25,000 reward for turning someone in. THis is mostly for a/c and refrigeration work. In other countries they don't accept the montreal protocol but here a 30lb can cost about $900 probably $50 in mexico. With a retrofit of 134 from 12 the seals are the big problem because you use a different type of oil which doesn't like the old seals.