Refrigerant 3138 - maseratti

[Jelleyman]

Hi all,

New to this forum but it looks good.

I have got a Maseratti to re-gas and Maseratti themselves say i need 3138 gas, i've never heard of this mix before can anyone shed any light on it. Also is the a replacement if it has been retired?

Thanks
Phil

[Johnny Rod]

No idea- got any other info from them? Safety data sheet? I did a quick search and old cars are probably on R12, not sure which is the best drop-in for that.

[NoNickName]

3138
ETHYLENE, ACETYLENE AND PROPYLENE IN MIXTURE, REFRIGERATED LIQUID containing at least 71.5 % ethylene with not more than 22.5 % acetylene and not more than 6 % propylene

hazmat.dot.gov/enforce/guideance/gastable.pdf

[Argus]

.

This stuff is used as a refrigerant?

.
________
e cigarette

[Jelleyman]

After speaking to Maserati, that is what they reckon it takes, but i have spoken to independant specialists now and they reckon it takes R134a, a definate relief, don't want to be playing round with that mix.

[Jelleyman]

sorry forgot, thanks for the replies

[The MG Pony]

take a sample of the existing gas and put it through a tube with an ignition source at the end, if it burns like a bat outa hell doused in gasoline, then you know it is the above mix, if nothing you know it is R-134a.

[Johnny Rod]

I see - it's the UN number. R134a would have a much lower pressure than ethylene (R1270). Hydrocarbons are flammable but it doesn't mean they're unworkable (right MG?).

[The MG Pony]

right, but acytelen is a rather unstable one, and actualy hydrocarbons make very great refrigerants.

[US Iceman]

Hydrocarbons are indeed good refrigerants, as long as they are used in the appropriate application and setting.

Ethylene or ethane would be intended for very specialized systems. I don't think you would want to use them in automotive AC systems.

[Argus]

One point that is constantly overlooked in discussing what to put in car A/C systems is that it should, of course, be street legal.

There is a school of thought that says that, excepting the contents of the fuel tank, other substances in vehicles should as far as possible be ?accident neutral? ? not cause or contribute to further mishap.

In the event of a serous accident the emergency services should be able to find substances that they expect to find and will be in their safety procedures.

Not run the risk of accidentally igniting something strange that they don?t know about.


?..just a thought.
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Jaguar X-Type

[Johnny Rod]

True, but if that's what the system is designed for...? As for the acetylene etc, NoNickName's description is that for the UN number, not the refrigerant itself - it's a blanket description for materials under that UN number.