2024 test3 productsAuto Parts & Repair
Which Car AC Refrigerant Brand Wins?
A head-to-head test of 3 car ac refrigerant options with the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.
Ranked first
Super Tech R134A (12 oz self-sealing can)
Price shown in test: $10
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Product type | Baseline static pressure | Baseline vent temperature, parked | Baseline vent temperature, driving | Recovery | Recharge at end of test (4 x 12 oz cans, valve up as a gas) | Product claims | Charging performance | Pressure vs official R134A chart | Vent temperature, parked | Vent temperature, driving ~45 mph | Flammability test | Pressure | Vent temperature, driving ~55 mph, ~90 F outside |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Super Tech R134A (12 oz self-sealing can)$10 | genuine R134A refrigerant, made in USA, used as the real/baseline product for the test | ambient temperature just below 80 F; system fully charged at around 85 to 86 PSI static pressure (spec for that ambient is around 84 to 85 PSI) | around 45 F per infrared thermometer, around 43 F per thermal imaging camera (described as probably a little more accurate) | around 40 to 41 F per infrared thermometer, high 30s F per thermal imaging camera | freon recovery machine recovered very close to 3 lb of R134 in around 15 minutes | low side pressure 45 PSI after charging (close to spec); high side pressure around 185 PSI (a little low); after cooling for several hours at 93 F ambient, static pressure around 109 PSI (pretty close to spec); vent temperature around 45 F stationary and 43 to 44 F while driving at 55 mph | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 2ZeroR$8 per can | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | took around 13 minutes to fully extract from the system into a separate recovery tank, kept apart from the R134 tank | not tested | claims to be equivalent to 16 oz of R134A per can, claims eco-friendly, made in USA; must be installed as a liquid using a puncture-style adapter, can inverted while charging | first can was a slow process, took a while for the compressor to power on; after 2 cans, vent temperature still not good at around 65 F, requiring a third can; the vehicle holds around 3 lb of freon total, so 3 cans (48 oz claimed equivalent) was used | R134A chart calls for low side no more than 50 PSI and high side 175 to 210 PSI; ZeroR's third can started around 80 PSI low side, settling at 50 PSI (the higher side of normal) with the high side lower than it should be per the R134A chart, since narrator notes this isn't actually R134A and behaves differently | not impressive at around 62 F while sitting still | improved to around 45 F, described as doing better than expected once the vehicle was moving and the compressor was at higher RPM | confirmed flammable, produced a blue flame like natural gas or propane when tested with a propane-style torch nozzle | not tested | not tested |
| 3LeakSaver R134A replacement$11 per can | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | not tested | claims to be equivalent to 21 oz of R134A per can, made in USA, claims non-ozone depleting and zero global warming potential, claims smoother compressor operation and improved cooling; must check and repair all leaks before charging per instructions | fills quickly, about 2 to 3 minutes per can versus longer for a genuine self-sealing R134A can; first can added while the shop was warming up, vent temperature still around 80 F after just one can; second can took only about a minute to add | not tested | not tested | not tested | confirmed flammable, produced a blue flame like natural gas or propane, tested safely at a distance using a propane nozzle equipped with a check valve, pressure relief valve, and flame arrester | second can started around 90 PSI low side, settling at 52 to 53 PSI, described as about as high as the narrator is comfortable going given it is a flammable gas; head pressure measured around 85 PSI, confirming the manufacturer's claim of a lower head pressure than R134A | around 51 to 52 F, described as doing better than expected |
How it was tested
- baseline vent temperature and static/dynamic pressure test using genuine R134A refrigerant, parked and driving
- freon recovery and weight-based extraction performed between each refrigerant swap
- vent temperature and pressure test while charging each alternative refrigerant, parked and driving
- comparison of measured pressures against the official R134A pressure chart (low side under 50 PSI, high side 175 to 210 PSI)
- flammability test using a propane-style torch nozzle setup with check valve, pressure relief valve, and flame arrester