What Refrigerant is Used in Car Air Conditioning?
2 Answers
Common refrigerants used in car air conditioning are as follows: 1. Freon-12 (Code: R12): R12 is a halogenated derivative of alkanes, with the chemical name dichlorodifluoromethane. It is a medium-pressure, medium-temperature refrigerant widely used in small and medium-sized refrigeration systems in China. It is a colorless, transparent, odorless, almost non-toxic, non-flammable, non-explosive, and very safe refrigerant. 2. R134A (Tetrafluoroethane): Currently recognized and recommended as an environmentally friendly refrigerant by most countries worldwide, it is the mainstream eco-friendly refrigerant. It is widely used for initial installation in new refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and for recharging during maintenance, offering excellent safety performance.
I've been driving for over a decade and am quite familiar with car air conditioning systems. Most modern car air conditioners use R134a refrigerant, a common chemical gas that effectively absorbs heat for cooling, circulating when the cold air is turned on. I remember a few years ago when my car's AC malfunctioned. At the repair shop, the mechanic diagnosed it as an R134a refrigerant leak that needed replenishing. While this material is relatively stable, it has significant environmental impacts. Nowadays, new car models mostly switch to R1234yf, a more eco-friendly option with much lower global warming potential. During repairs, insufficient refrigerant leads to poor cooling performance. I must remind everyone not to attempt DIY refrigerant top-ups, as improper handling may cause leaks or safety hazards – it's best left to professional technicians. Refrigerant choices also evolve with regulations, like Europe's mandatory use of environmentally friendly types. Future trends may shift toward cleaner alternatives, but regular AC system checks during routine driving can effectively extend its lifespan, making summer drives more comfortable.
