For about twenty years nearly every car in the US used R-134a. Newer vehicles use R-1234yf, a refrigerant with far lower global warming impact. Automakers began switching in the mid 2010s, and from the 2021 model year essentially every new light vehicle sold in the US uses R-1234yf. Plenty of cars on the road still use R-134a, so which one you have depends mostly on the year.
How to tell which one your car uses
- The under-hood label. Look on the radiator support, the underside of the hood or near the AC lines. It names the refrigerant and the charge amount.
- The service ports. The two refrigerants use different port fittings on purpose, so the wrong equipment physically will not connect.
- Ask us. Give us the year, make and model when you book and we will confirm.
They cannot be mixed or swapped
The two refrigerants run at similar pressures but are not interchangeable. Adding R-134a to an R-1234yf system, or the other way round, contaminates the charge, upsets the pressures and can damage the compressor. It also contaminates the recovery equipment of the next shop to service the car. Converting an R-1234yf vehicle to R-134a is not a legitimate fix.
The compressor oil differs too. Using the wrong oil type, or the wrong amount, shortens compressor life.
Why an R-1234yf recharge costs more
R-1234yf costs considerably more per pound than R-134a, and it needs dedicated service equipment. So the same repair can price very differently on two cars that look alike. That is also why topping off without fixing the leak is a bad deal on a newer car: you pay for the expensive refrigerant again every time it leaks out.
Is R-1234yf safe?
R-1234yf is classed as mildly flammable, which is part of why it needs its own equipment and procedures. Vehicles designed for it are engineered with that in mind. It is not something to handle with a DIY can.
A note on venting
Neither refrigerant may legally be released into the air. Federal rules require it to be recovered with proper equipment before an AC system is opened. If anyone offers to just let it out and recharge, find someone else.
We service both
We work on R-134a and R-1234yf systems. We find out why the charge was low before recharging, and we quote the refrigerant, parts and labor up front so the price difference between the two is clear before any work starts.