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Using Propane in Volvo AC

dbarton

dbarton

Dejected by Volvo Corp.
Joined
Nov 17, 2002
Location
Prosper, TX
I would like to start a discussion on using propane (or other hydrocarbons) in Volvo AC systems. I suspect using hydrocarbons violates some environmental laws, so for the purpose of this discussion, any practical use mentioned here is simply hypothetical.

First, some Volvo green book info:
Coolant Capacity
240 R12 systems 1979-1990 2.86 lbs
240 R12 systems 1991-1992 2.42 lbs
240 R134a systems 1993 1.65 lbs

Performance Testing (measured at center vents)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ambient 68 F . . Ambient 86 F . . Ambient 104 F
240 1979-1990 . . . . . 46.4-50 F . . . . 48.2-53.6 F . . . 48.2-53.6 F
240 1991-1993 . . . . . 41-46.4 F . . . . 41-46.4 F . . . . . 46.4-53.6 F

Above tests with hood closed, engine 2000 rpm, AC set to "Cool", fan speed at 3, recirc set on.
Click to expand...

I was told by a friend who has some experience with propane that it is easy to overcharge, so you should use only about 1/2 of the amount of R134a needed. It seems propane is a much better refrigerant than R134a or R12 and it has a tendency to freeze valves closed if too much is used.

MY SITUATION:
In my hypothetical situation, the car is an '84 240T, original condenser and evaporator, new R134a rotary compressor and hoses a few years ago, and recent new receiver/drier and expansion valve. Previous R134a charges have resulted in cool vent temps (50s), never very cold, and lousy performance when ambient is 90 F plus.

So far it appears using as little as only 6 oz of propane is too much and causes things to freeze up after about 20 min. I suspect the freeze-up is in the expansion valve area. Symptoms are a gradual rise in vent temps, eventually to ambient. Low side pressure gradually drops (begins about 25-30) to ZERO, while high-side remains between 150-180. It begins working ok again after letting the car sit (thaw out) for 4 to 8 hours.

When it works, I get vent temps in the mid 30s F (ambient 80 F). I have tried a number of different amounts beginning with 12 oz and working downward. I use a postal scale to measure the bottle before and after, and lately during the charge. Each recharge gets a new vacuum for 20-30 minutes. Results are the same in all attempts. If there's any moisture in the system, it could only be coming from the propane (is that likely?).
Dave B

UPDATE 2012: I decided to change to Duracool as an R12 replacement instead of straight propane. Cooling had been ok for cruising with propane, however there were some periodic issues with freeze-ups and problems cooling during idle.

UPDATE 2017: I decided to abandon the original Volvo evaporator box in favor of a completely new system from Classic Auto Air. I have posted all the details of that conversion at: http://www.240turbo.com/volvo240mods.html#classicair
 
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Dont let anyone work on it for an A/C leak if you have propane in it, the "sniffers" pros use have a electricl charge at the tip and will cause your car to blow up not worth the risk with all the heat and possible other sparks in a car. say your evaporator is leaking and you lite something in your car(a cig or joint) a bomb goes off.
good luck
Eric
 
Maybe you should just look for what is causing you to only have 50 degree vent temps. There are a ton of retrofitted cars including Volvo's that seem to work just fine on the non explosive 134a. Here is where I start a fight, using or even trying to use propane is just crazy and it's not only dangerous to you but anyone who operates or rides in the car. And yes I know the link's over two years old but I just had to jump in.
Mark
ASE automotive master
ASE truck master
ASE bus master
 
Ok, now that the "your car will explode" is out of the way, let's continue the discussion without it. And I'll be extra careful to stand 100 feet from my barbecue next time I click the lighter so it doesn't explode too.

JERIC said:
Dont let anyone work on it for an A/C leak if you have propane in it, the "sniffers" pros use have a electricl charge at the tip and will cause your car to blow up not worth the risk with all the heat and possible other sparks in a car. say your evaporator is leaking and you lite something in your car(a cig or joint) a bomb goes off.
good luck
Eric
Click to expand...
 
Are you sure the dryer is not causing the problem as it can hold quite a bit of moisture. What is the exact temperature on the evaporator coil and high side pressure when it freezes? Hydrocarbon tolerates moisture much better then r-134a but it gets much cooler in the evaporator as well, the high side pressure runs lower too. If you run hydrocarbon through it should easily purge the system of moisture but possibly not the dryer. :nod:


The refrigerant efficiency can be found on the Internet, look up the common ones and post.

The type of refrigerant used is the first determinant on how well an A/C system works, its make up fixes the rest of the system.

The second area is the system itself and primarily the size of the evaporator and condenser with a compressor that is sized to operate with them. You pick the refrigerant to use and then the size of a system to move enough of it to cool the cabin with a full heat load.

The last step is to reduce heat load and really the most practical as it makes everything else smaller and better mpg. Tinted windows, insulated roof and floor areas, car color and maybe isolating the cabin with clear plastic so as the air is restricted to the front only if rear passengers are not an issue.

The refrigerants hydrocarbon, r-12, r-134a are different by about 10-20% efficiency with hydrocarbon being the best and r-134a the worst. The A/C system must be increased in size to make up for the less efficient refrigerants.

There is an flammability issue with hydrocarbons although small compared with most human exposure to fuels, death is not likely even if it did go off. Natural gas in a house, gasoline in cars and many common flammable items such as spray cleaners (WD-40), some paints and other household items. Think about what girls did years ago with hair spray, very explosive, and their husbands are watching them smoking a cigarette while they did their hair-crazy.
 
chris740 said:
Have you ever tried Artic freeze R 134? It's synthetic and blows very cold in my 740
Click to expand...

Never tried anything but 134 in this car. Anyone know what's in it?

I have used R12 exclusively in my '84 245 for years, but it also have similar mediocre performance.
 
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Kiss4aFrog said:
Maybe you should just look for what is causing you to only have 50 degree vent temps. There are a ton of retrofitted cars including Volvo's that seem to work just fine on the non explosive 134a. Here is where I start a fight, using or even trying to use propane is just crazy and it's not only dangerous to you but anyone who operates or rides in the car. And yes I know the link's over two years old but I just had to jump in.
Mark
ASE automotive master
ASE truck master
ASE bus master
Click to expand...

The "correctly" retrofitted cars that I recall (back when Volvo still offered the components) were fitted with new style condensers and evaporators. Mine are originals.
 
moxy123 said:
Are you sure the dryer is not causing the problem as it can hold quite a bit of moisture.
Click to expand...

It was new when this project began a month ago.

moxy123 said:
What is the exact temperature on the evaporator coil and high side pressure when it freezes? Hydrocarbon tolerates moisture much better then r-134a but it gets much cooler in the evaporator as well, the high side pressure runs lower too. If you run hydrocarbon through it should easily purge the system of moisture but possibly not the dryer.
Click to expand...

Good suggestion. I suppose I can try getting a reading with my laser temp gun. Probably only a reading off the pipe going in though. I won't be able to get a reading for some time since the evap is running at ambient right now, but the expansion valve is about 20 deg cooler. After it sits for several hours, then it'll run cold again and I'll try to get some temps.
 
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something vague about a orifice size change comes to mind, though i know not much about AC other than basics... i know the size of that hole has a lot (everything) to do with the expansion and cooling rate. i think they also swap that out on a retrofit, i read something here once regarding the "orifice tube".
 
moxy123 said:
If you run hydrocarbon through it should easily purge the system of moisture but possibly not the dryer.
Click to expand...

So it appears then that moisture is not the problem? Can propane get cold enough to freeze an opening in the expansion valve shut?

The new expansion valve I bought was an R12 type as far as I know. Would there be a difference between it and an R134 valve?
[EDIT: Checked on this and the PN is the same for all 240s '75-'92. And of course the '93 with R134a uses no expansion valve.]

I read the other AC thread and someone mentioned there being an adjustment on the expansion valve. Anyone know about that?
 
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Coupe' de Grace said:
something vague about a orifice size change comes to mind, though i know not much about AC other than basics... i know the size of that hole has a lot (everything) to do with the expansion and cooling rate. i think they also swap that out on a retrofit, i read something here once regarding the "orifice tube".
Click to expand...

I believe the orifice tube system was in '91 and later systems only.
 
Here's a pic of the Volvo retrofit kit. The arrow goes to the expansion valve. There's a copper coil coming off the valve. Does it somehow regulate this valve? If so, is it feasible that the coil is reading cold enough temps to shut down the valve?
large.jpg
 
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chris740 said:
I have a can lying around...Try to post it up shortly.
I can tell you it's a synthetic version of 134 however it blows much colder much faster than
the regular 134 did in the same car.I's made by inter dynamics I believe.
Link(not much help)
http://www.id-usa.com/product.asp?CID=7&PID=215//
Click to expand...

Here's the MSDS on Arctic Freeze:
http://www.idqusa.com/datasheets/msds/AF-3_MSDS.pdf

Here's what's in it:
1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane 811-97-2, % vol 80-95
2 Polyalkylene glycol monobutyl ether N/A, % vol 1-10
3 Additive Package NA, % vol 1-10
4 Leak Sealer NA, % vol 0-1

FYI, 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane is simply R134a. So Arctic Freeze is 80-95% R134a. I think the colder AC might be in your mind.
 
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Sounds like you need a low pressure cutoff switch. Compressor should cycle off below a certain pressure to prevent the evaporator from freezing up .




Hydrocarbons make a great refrigerant, much better at cooling and more environmentally friendly. All refrigerants are a fire hazard when they are mixed with oil and pressurized, and with most car systems you are talking ~8oz of hydrocarbon.
 
Get real, I grew up on a cotton farm and drove a propane powered John Deere tractor for years. The propane tank was less than 3 feet directly in front of me, the exhaust pipe was another 2 feet in front of the tank. I almost always refueled with the motor running because the damn thing was so hard to start. I guess me and a bunch of other old farmers (especially the ones that smoked "roll your owns" or Lucky Strikes) are lucky we didn't all blow ourselves up years ago. I agree that propane is a hell of a refrigerant, I could freeze a hot soda pop with a 2 second blast from the propane tanks pop off valve, but you better have your glove on or it would also freeze your hand. I don't think 6 ounces of propane in a Volvo would scare me much. No doubt we live in a world full of hazardous situations, but propane in an AC system is not one of them.
 
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