Miata Mailing List: July 1996, Message #63
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   From: russotto@pond.com (Matthew T. Russotto)
Subject: Re:  r-12 (air conditioner)
   Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 17:16:27 -0400

} Brian's air conditioner questions remind me of one I'd like to pose to the
} list.  Is this "R-12" the regular freon....the kind that is being "banned?"
} If so, how much longer is it going to be available?  Reason I ask is that I
} think my AC could use a "shot" or two and I don't want to miss out on the
} "old stuff" if I can help it!  Somehow, I had the idea that the old stuff
} (freon) was long gone!  Just wondering?????????....and hoping!

It's still around, but production in the US has been discontinued --
the stuff still around is recycled and/or stockpiled.  It's illegal to
buy in quantities of less than 30 lbs without a license, and illegal
to simply charge the system with -- you've got to do a whole expensive
operation of reclaiming the refrigerant, testing for leaks, then
recharging the system.