ACtion Magazine - June 2012 - (Page 6)

Outlook Andy Fiffick MACS Chairman R-? Mobile Air Conditioning Society Worldwide (MACS) Andrew Fiffick Chairman & CEO chairman-macs@macsw.org Elvis Hoffpauir President & Editor-In-Chief elvis@macsw.org Jim Taylor Editor jt@macsw.org Marion Posen VP Sales & Marketing marion@macsw.org Laina Casey Graphics & Design Manager mcasey@macsw.org Corporate Offices Mail To: P.O. Box 88, Lansdale, PA 19446 Ship To: 225 S. Broad St., Lansdale, PA 19446 Phone: (215) 631-7020 Fax: (215) 631-7017 E-mail: membership@macsw.org “It’s clear to most automotive service technicians by now that buying and handling A/C refrigerants is a lot more complicated than it used to be. Even when R-12 was the only refrigerant in town, many A/C techs discovered systems that had been contaminated with air, R-22 or hydrocarbons such as propane and butane. Today, with new vehicles using R-134a refrigerant, and with an abundance of other R-12 substitutes reaching the market, the variety of refrigerants that techs may handle on the job is making A/C service more complicated than ever.” I say “amen” to that little nugget on EPA’s website. The potential for refrigerant crosscontamination has been a reality for many years. I initially viewed the threat as being generated by a do-it-yourselfer, or maybe even another shop, introducing a can of the blend du jour bought online or some illegal hydrocarbon cocktail into the A/C system before eventually bringing the car to my shop for repair. But the threat is more complicated than that. Not only do we have to be concerned about what Joe Public or the shop down the street introduces into the A/C system, we have to be vigilant about the supposedly virgin R-134a we ourselves are buying and using. Counterfeit refrigerant has also been around for a while, but apparently the counterfeiters are growing in number and becoming more sophisticated. Early this year, MACS member DuPont Refrigerants issued a press release urging “members of the HVACR industry to increase their awareness of, and action against, counterfeit refrigerant activity. “This problem is real and it is growing, and the impact can include significant injury and tragic loss of life,” said Greg Rubin, global business manager for DuPont Refrigerants. “Counterfeit refrigerants also have the potential for significant business impact, especially in emerging regions.” All of the major refrigerant manufacturers have stepped up efforts to combat counterfeit activity, but it seems to be an uphill battle. Gus Rolotti, technical marketing director at Arkema, Inc. commented on that challenge noting, “We have recently seen cylinders that were copied almost exactly as the originals and were filled with refrigerants other than those in the label. Further, we have seen original, legitimate cylinders that were fraudulently obtained from the authorized cylinder manufacturers by a third party and filled with low quality or other refrigerant from what the label says. Just because the cylinder is (or looks) authentic, is no guarantee that the refrigerant it contains is pure or within specs. Buyers should indeed beware.” We follow the MACS-recommended service procedures in our shop operations. We check each and every vehicle before we do anything to the A/C system. We also check every cylinder of refrigerant before we install it on a machine. But now even that might not be enough. (See “Last Watch” on page 38.) When the pace in your shop picks up, it might be tempting to skip that step of identifying the refrigerant you’re removing from the car. When times are tough and margins tight, you might also be tempted to go for a deal on refrigerant you find on the Internet or though a friend of a friend. Remember that your reputation is on the line with every job you do. Take the time to identify the refrigerant you are working with and using, and buy your refrigerant through a known refrigerant manufacturer’s authorized distributor. ❆ June 2012 Volume 12, Number4 ACTION magazine is published eight times per year by the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide, 225 S. Broad Street, Lansdale, PA 19446. While MACS Worldwide takes reasonable steps to make sure that the information reported in ACTION is accurate, errors can still occur. The accuracy of all information contained in ACTION should therefore be independently evaluated by the reader. Since conditions of its use are outside of the control of MACS Worldwide, MACS Worldwide assumes no liability for the use of such information or any damages incurred through its use or application. Nothing contained in such information is to be construed as contractual or provide some form of warranty on the part of MACS Worldwide. The opinions expressed in guest editorials are not necessarily endorsed by MACS Worldwide. MACS Worldwide is not responsible for any claims made in or by advertisements or press releases published in ACTION. All company names, products and product names, emblems, logos, images, trademarks, service marks and trade dress appearing in this magazine are the property of their respective owners and are protected under federal laws of the United States and international agreements. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The ACTION logo and MACS globe emblem are property of MACS Worldwide. Reproduction of contents without permission is prohibited. Send requests for permission to copy or reprint to Editor@macsw.org or to ACTION Magazine, Box 88, Lansdale, PA 19446. Non-member subscription rates: one year (seven issues) – U.S. $25; Canada/Mexico $40; international surface $45; international air $55. Send subscription mail, including address changes, to ACTION, P.O. Box 88, Lansdale, PA 19446 or editor@macsw.org. For advertising information contact Marion Posen: marion@ macsw.org or 215-631-7020 x304. H.G. Roebuck & Son, Inc. 4987 Mercantile Road Baltimore, MD 21236 Sincerely Andy Andy Fiffick chairman-macs@macsw.org • 440-667-3278 6 ACTION • June 2012 ISBN 1949-3436 2004-11 IAMA Awards Winner

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ACtion Magazine - June 2012

ACtion Magazine - June 2012
Contents
Outlook
Expansive Valve
Technically RELAY-ted
Under the Southern Cross
Leonard's Law
Cooling Corner
Virtual View
News & Updates
State of the Art Detection
Running Short On Time and Info
The End of R-134A?
Association News
Quick Check
New Products & Services
Last Watch

ACtion Magazine - June 2012