Suburban 3/4 Ton 4WD V8-305 5.0L (1986)
Refrigerant: Technical Service Bulletins
A/C - Use of Alternate Refrigerants in CFC 12 Units
BULLETIN NUMBER: 93-1B-8
SECTION: 1B
NUMBER: 2
CORPORATE REFERENCE NUMBER: 231205R
DATE: September 1992
SUBJECT:
INFORMATION ON THE USE OF ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS IN CFC 12 REFRIGERANT MOBILE AIR CONDITIONERS
MODELS:
1983-93 ALL MODEL TRUCKS
THIS BULLETIN CANCELS AND REPLACES GMC TRUCK SERVICE BULLETIN 92-1B-126, DATED AUGUST 1992, TO UPDATE THE
MODEL YEARS. ALL COPIES OF 92-1B-126 SHOULD BE DESTROYED.
A number of inquiries have been received concerning the use of "alternate refrigerants" as a replacement for R-12 refrigerant in General Motors air
conditioning systems.
Regardless of any advertised claims, there are currently no substitutes for refrigerant R-12 approved by General Motors. At the present time, only new or
recycled R-12 is approved for use in General Motors R-12 air conditioning systems.
Based on studies performed to date, the use of "alternate refrigerants" in General Motors R-12 air conditioning systems may resuit in higher system
pressures, higher leak rates or incompatibility with drying and sealing materials. System performance and reliability may also be affected.
Service equipment manufacturers have indicated that cross-contaminating R-12 recovery/recycling equipment with "alternate refrigerants" may damage
the equipment. General Motors supports the Society of Automotive Engineers recommended service procedures for recovery and recycling of R-12. The
use of known "alternate refrigerants" without proper service practices for identifying vehicle systems containing these "alternate refrigerants" and
dedicated recovery equipment to service those vehicles will contaminate the recycled supply of R-12 refrigerant. Contamination of the recycled R-12
refrigerant makes the refrigerant unusable for recharging air conditioning systems and could jeopardize the recycling program.
At the present time, General Motors has not approved any "alternate refrigerant" for R-12 in R-12 air conditioning systems. Therefore, R-12 systems
should continue to be serviced with new or recycled R-12 only.
