Subaru Legacy 2003 Service Manual page 3437

HVAC SYSTEM (HEATER, VENTILATOR AND A/C)
C: CAUTION
1. HFC-134A A/C SYSTEM
• Unlike the old conventional HFC-12 system com-
ponents, the cooling system components for the
HFC-134a system such as the refrigerant and com-
pressor oil are incompatible.
• Vehicles with the HFC-134a system can be iden-
tified by the label "A" attached to the vehicle.
Before maintenance, check which A/C system is in-
stalled in the vehicle.
2. COMPRESSOR OIL
• HFC-134a compressor oil has no compatibility
with that for R12 system.
• Use only the manufacturer-authorized compres-
sor oil for the HFC-134a system; only use
ZXL200PG for LHD model or DENSO OIL9 for
RHD model.
• Do not mix multiple compressor oils.
If HFC-12 compressor oil is used in a HFC-134a A/
C system, the compressor may become stuck due
to poor lubrication, or the refrigerant may leak due
to swelling of rubber parts.
On the other hand, if HFC-134a compressor oil is
used in a HFC-12 A/C system, the durability of the
A/C system will be lowered.
• HFC-134a compressor oil is very hygroscopic.
When replacing or installing/removing A/C parts,
immediately isolate the oil from the atmosphere us-
ing a plug or tape. In order to avoid moisture, store
the oil in a container with its cap tightly closed.
3. REFRIGERANT
• The HFC-12 refrigerant cannot be used in the
HFC-134a A/C system. The HFC-134a refrigerant,
also, cannot be used in the HFC-12 A/C system.
• If an incorrect or no refrigerant is used, poor lu-
brication will result and the compressor itself may
be damaged.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
( A )
AC-00006
AC-16
4. HANDLING OF REFRIGERANT
• The refrigerant boils at approx. −30°C (−22°F).
When handling it, be sure to wear safety goggles
and protective gloves. Direct contact of the refriger-
ant with skin may cause frostbite.
If the refrigerant gets into your eye, avoid rubbing
your eyes with your hands. Wash your eye with
plenty of water, and receive medical treatment from
an eye doctor.
• Do not heat a service can. If a service can is di-
rectly heated, or put into boiling water, the inside
pressure will become extremely high. This may
cause the can to explode. If a service can must be
warmed up, use hot water in 40°C (104°F) max.
• Do not drop or impact a service can. (Observe
the precautions and operation procedure described
on the refrigerant can.)
• When the engine is running, do not open the
high-pressure valve of the manifold gauge. The
high-pressure gas will back-flow resulting in an ex-
plosion of the can.
• The refrigerant is non-toxic and harmless under
normal operating circumstance, but it may change
to phosgene (a noxious fume) under open flames
or high temperatures (caused by a cigarette or
heater).
• Provide good ventilation and do not work in a
closed area.
• Never perform a gas leak test using a halide
torch-type leak tester.