RE: R-12 Replacement

[christopher_bender@fmc.com (CHRISTOPHER BENDER)]

     There is a company called Mainstream Engineering Corporation 
     (www.epatest.com) that offers an on-line course in automotive 
     refrigeration principles.
     
     In their course material they claim that NOTHING is a direct 
     replacement for R-12, even though a lot of people will try to sell you 
     one.  They claim that those replacement blends just cause problems and 
     you should stay away from them.
     
     As an aside, I took their course and examination, and received a 
     certificate saying I am now EPA certified and thus qualified to 
     purchase the refrigerants.  I haven't yet tried to do it though.  It 
     will be interesting to see if the spanks at Pep Boys will actually 
     sell me any refrigerants.
     
     Chris