ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017 - 6

Steve Schaeber

Change is coming for some
HD vehicle refrigerants

ast year around this time the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized Rule
# 20, which was a Change of Status Rule affecting several industrial sectors including
MVAC (Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning).
Specifically of interest to MACS members is the ban on
R-134a for use in new, light-duty A/C systems beginning
with Model Year 2021 vehicles.

used to build these trucks are the same; it's the chassis,
frame and suspension that really distinguishes them. As an
example, what are the main differences between the A/C
system of a Ford F-150 pickup truck and an F-550 Super
Duty? For 2013, the refrigerant charge amounts only differed by about 4 ounces, likely due to variations in components or heat load amongst the engines. Let's also compare
two 2016 Chevys: The Silverado 1500's GVWR is 6,5007,200 lbs, while the 2500HD is 9,300-9,900 lbs.

If you're concerned about whether this rule will affect
how we service the existing fleet, don't
be. We're talking about a phase-down
on the use of R-134a, not a phase-out as
we did with R-12 in the 1990's. There
...this rule should allow
are literally hundreds of millions of vethe use of yf in Class 2b
hicles on the street today that use R134a, which will still be available long
and 3 vehicles
into the future.

Prior to that, EPA Rule # 16 added
R-1234yf to the SNAP (Significant
New Alternatives Policy) list as a new substitute MVAC
refrigerant. But when you read the fine print, you'll find
that it's only allowed to be charged into certain light-duty
vehicles, specifically those with a GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating) of less than 8,500 pounds. This is why
you'll see the gas being used in the average passenger car,
SUV and even some light trucks.

Many technicians want to
know why R-1234yf isn't simply approved for use in all motor vehicles. The reason is that
it hasn't yet undergone all of the
necessary risk assessments. For
example, if you look into some of
these larger Class 7 and 8 trucks,
you find their A/C system size,
usage patterns and operating
characteristics are quite different
from those used in passenger cars. It might technically be
able to work, but there are a lot of variables that still need
to be considered. Two other SNAP listed alternatives are
listed as acceptable, subject to use conditions, in all new
MVAC systems, including HD. These are CO 2 (R-744) and
HFC-152a.
Note: Stay tuned to macsw.org for the most up-to-date
MVAC information! ❆

Next SNAP Rule
Effective January 3, 2017. EPA listed HFO-1234yf as
acceptable, subject to use conditions, for limited HD vehicle types, such as medium-duty passenger vehicles, HD
pickup trucks and complete HD vans. This rule allows the
use of yf in medium and heavy duty vehicles with a GVWR
of between 8,500 and 14,000 pounds (Classes 2b and 3).
This rule makes a lot of sense, too. After all, there are
only minor differences in the size and configuration of the
A/C systems between these vehicles as compared to their
smaller counterparts. In fact, many of the bodies and cabs

ACTION/NAPA * Spring 2017

Steve Schaeber
Manager of Service Training
You can reach Steve at
steve@macsw.org

http://www.macsw.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ACtion Magazine - Napa Special Edition - June 2017