ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 13
By Ward Atkinson and Bill Hill
Note: The information in this article is
the current overview as collected by Ward
Atkinson and Bill Hill from industry and
regulatory sources. It is not intended to
provide all possible issues covering any
system modifications and operation or
servicing of production R-1234yf mobile
air conditioning systems.
T
he following provides some information on legal and technical issues regarding using a lower cost refrigerant
to replace R-1234yf in mobile air conditioning systems.
The Clean Air Act prohibits changing the refrigerant in a system designed to use R-1234yf to any
other refrigerant, including R-134a.
Regulatory issues
The EPA staff has explained at various SAE International forums that topping off/filling a vehicle
system designed for R-1234yf, which has received
emission credits, with any refrigerant other than
R-1234yf, is considered "tampering with a vehicle
emissions-control device." This is a violation of
Section 203 of the Clean Air Act.
The SNAP (Significant New Alternatives Policy) program has listed three alternative refrigerants
with a lower global warming potential as acceptable
for use in MAC (Mobile Air Conditioning) systems
with some use restrictions. These include R-1234yf,
R-152a, and R-744. R-134a will be available, in the
future, for servicing the existing R-134a fleet, but
cannot be used to service R-1234yf systems.
The SNAP listings for all MAC refrigerants are
subject to the use condition of unique fittings for
each refrigerant. The purpose of these fittings is to
prevent cross-contamination. Using an adapter or
deliberately modifying a fitting to use a different
refrigerant is a violation of these use conditions.
(See Appendix D to 40 CFR part 82, subpart G.)
If used properly, the unique fittings will not allow
for the introduction of HFC-134a refrigerant to
an HFO-1234yf system. The final rule (Rule #20)
is available at: https://www.epa.gov/snap/snapregulations#Rules.
Spring 2017 * ACTION/NAPA
13
https://www.epa.gov/snap/snap-regulations#Rules
https://www.epa.gov/snap/snap-regulations#Rules
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017
Tips from Gates
Water pump weeps
Regulating recharge
Change is coming for some HD vehicle refrigerants
The road not traveled: A/C for off-highway vehicles
Retrofi tting R-1234yf mobile air conditioning systems is prohibited
Hybrid and battery electric vehicle A/C
Is your recycled coolant at full strength
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - Cover1
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - Cover2
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 3
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - Water pump weeps
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - Regulating recharge
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - Change is coming for some HD vehicle refrigerants
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - The road not traveled: A/C for off-highway vehicles
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 8
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 9
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 10
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 11
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - Retrofi tting R-1234yf mobile air conditioning systems is prohibited
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 13
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 14
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 15
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 16
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 17
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - Hybrid and battery electric vehicle A/C
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 19
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 20
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 21
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 22
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 23
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 24
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - Is your recycled coolant at full strength
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 26
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - Cover3
ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - Cover4
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