My 1991 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile with 2.1l original waterboxer at
185k miles has factory air converted to R-134a in 2010 that currently does
not work.  Every year since 2010 I have had competent VW AC mechanics
ferret out problems (leaky valves, bad o-rings, and so on, unending).  When
it works, it cools magnificently, but I have decided that pumping more
R-134a into the atmosphere is NOT being a good citizen.  Most recently, I
have been told by several including some on this list that the R-134a
molecule is smaller than the R-12 molecule, and that the factory hoses
actually seep R134a through their walls.  How true that is, I have no
idea.  I have not replaced the hoses, nor have I even priced R&R for the
hoses.  At my advanced age, and being fairly heat tolerant anyway, I am not
sure additional money on this problem is justified.  But a buyer would
probably want working AC, and I am not one to get it "serviced" in order to
sell it when that time comes.

On Thu, Aug 8, 2019 at 6:28 PM Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

>  Jeff, GoWesty has a very good writeup about the issues with getting
> satisfactory performance on Vanagon Air Conditioning.  As for me, mine is
> an 85 tintop....and thus has the evaporator hanging from the ceiling just
> behind the front seats.  I also have a Subie 2.2 conversion; when the
> conversion was done, with a Subie A/C compressor, I requested that they try
> to get the A/C working again.  They did.  But I had leaks.  So took it to a
> knowledgeable shop here in San Diego.  They replaced O-rings and
> stuff...but with sniffer determined that I had a small leak in the
> evaporator.  So....by law...they could NOT refill with R-12 freon
> (incredibly expensive anyway).  They converted system to R-134A.  So far so
> good.  But stuff leaked out.  So I bought a Stop-Leak can (available for
> R-134A but NOT available for R-12).  It worked mostly; I followed
> instructions exactly with regard to putting in the Stop-Leak and then
> immediately following up with R-134A refrigerant.  Now, one year later, A/C
> was still "sorta" working...but not icy cold.  Still must have a little
> leak. I did the routine of adding R-134A.  I carefully monitored low side
> pressure to hold it at about 35 PSI.  But I think I overfilled.  On recent
> trip through deserts of Arizona at 106 F, my A/C worked fine for about 20
> minutes....but then seemed to give up.  I think the problem is overfill of
> freon (causing icing up of expansion valve, so maybe also need evacuation
> to get rid of even a tiny bit of water in system).  Also...per the GoWesty
> writeup, R-134A is only about 80% efficient compared to original R-12.
> Also, GoWesty recommends a "parallel" condenser up front as apposed to the
> original "serpentine" condenser...I wish I had done that.  Anyway, like
> GoWesty says.....it's a very tough and expensive problem to solve.  So much
> air volume in van...so much sun exposure...and old technology.  Heck....any
> modern car can do the job just fine!  Good luck...I'm still struggling too
> with the issue.
>
> Rich
> San Diego
>
>     On Monday, August 5, 2019, 3:06:57 PM PDT, Jeff Palmer <
> w.jeff.palmer@ICLOUD.COM> wrote:
>
>  With my advancing age and borderline health :) I am finding it hard to
> handle heat these days. My 85 does not have AC.  Thinking about selling and
> finding one with AC - if it actually works? And is AC the same in every
> year?
>
> So does Westfalia AC actually cool or is it the 1985 version of cooling?
>
> Thanks
> Jeff
>