General Refrigerant Precautions
BODY REPAIR FUNDAMENTALSREFRIGERANT HANDLING PRECAUTIONS
1. GENERAL REFRIGERANT PRECAUTIONS
WARNING:
- Do not release refrigerant into the air. Use approved recovery/recycling equipment to capture the refrigerant every time an air conditioning system is discharged.
- Always wear eye and hand protection (goggles and gloves) when working with any refrigerant or air conditioning system.
- Do not store or hear refrigerant containers above 52 degrees C (125 degrees F).
- Do not heat a refrigerant container with an open flame; if container warming is required, place the bottom of the container in a warm pail of water.
- Do not intentionally drop, puncture, or incinerate refrigerant containers.
- Keep refrigerant away from open flames; poisonous gas will be produced if refrigerant burns.
- Refrigerant will displace oxygen, therefore be certain to work in well ventilated areas to prevent suffocation.
- Do not pressure test or leak test HFC-134a (R-134a) service equipped and/or vehicle air conditioning systems with compressed air during repair. Some mixtures of air and HFC-134a (R-134a) have been shown to be combustible at elevated pressures. These mixtures, if ignited, may cause injury or property damage. Additional health and safety information may be obtained from refrigerant manufacturers.
Precaution for Identification Label on Vehicle
- Vehicles with factory installed fluorescent dye have this identification label on the under side of hood.
- Vehicles with factory installed fluorescent dye have a green label.
- Vehicles without factory installed fluorescent dye have a blue label.
2. PRECAUTIONS FOR WORKING WITH HFC-134a (R-134a)
WARNING:
- CFC-12 (R-12) refrigerant and HFC-134a (R-134a) refrigerant are not compatible. These refrigerants must never be mixed, even in the smallest amounts. If the refrigerants are mixed, compressor malfunction is likely to occur.
- Use only specified lubricant for the HFC-134a (R-134a) A/C system and HFC-134a (R-134a) components. If lubricant other than that specified is used, compressor malfunction is likely to occur.
- The specified HFC-134a (R-134a) lubricant rapidly absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. The following handling precautions must be observed:
- When removing refrigerant components from a vehicle, immediately cap (seal) the component to minimize the entry of moisture from the atmosphere.
- When installing refrigerant components to a vehicle, do not remove the caps (unseal) until just before connecting the components. Connect all refrigerant loop components as quickly as possible to minimize the entry of moisture into system.
- Only use the specified lubricant from a sealed container. Immediately reseal containers of lubricant. Without proper sealing, lubricant will become moisture saturated and should not be used.
- Avoid breathing A/C refrigerant and lubricant vapor or mist. Exposure may irritate eyes, nose and throat. Remote HFC-134a (R-134a) from the A/C system, using certified service equipped meeting requirements of HFC-134a (R-134a) recycling equipment, or HFC-134a (R-134a) recovery equipment. If accidental system discharge occurs, ventilate work area before resuming service. Additional health and safety information may be obtained from refrigerant and lubricant manufacturers.
- Do no allow lubricant (Nissan A/C System Oil Type S and Type R) to come in contact with styrofoam parts. Damage may result.
3. RECOVERY OF REFRIGERANT
Freon gas R12 used in air conditioners is harmful to the ozone layer of the atmosphere. We must take utmost caution to prevent this freon gas from entering the atmosphere. When performing automobile repair or when disassembling the air conditioner, the R12 freon should be controlled by the device shown and reused when the repair is completed.