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What kind of refrigerant do I need for my car?

I turned my car’s air conditioning on the other day to make sure the AC system was ready for the hot summer months before we actually got to them. But even after running it for a while, the air wasn’t getting cool so I think I need to add refrigerant. How do I know what kind of refrigerant my car needs?

avatar
Abbey Orzech · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Thank goodness you checked the AC before it got
too stifling out
! Now you can figure out the kind of refrigerant you need for your car before it’s too late.
Most likely, your car has one of these refrigerants:
  • R-134A. This is the most common refrigerant in vehicles these days.
  • R-1234A. Your car may need this kind of refrigerant if it’s on the newer side.
  • R-12. If your car was made before 1994 and hasn’t had the cooling system changed, you may still need R-12, or Freon, for your AC. This type was banned in the 1990s because Freon is an Ozone-Depleting Substance.
To know for sure what kind of refrigerant your car needs, you can check under the hood for the AC system nameplate that will have its refrigerant needs on it, or you can call your car’s
brand dealership
and ask them.
Although your
car insurance
likely won’t cover a broken AC system, having the right coverage for your needs will give you the same peace of mind as knowing you won’t have to sweat on the way to work.
If you’re shopping for car insurance,
Jerry
will generate competitive quotes from top providers in less than a minute. Jerry
gathers your information
from your past insurer, so you’re not responsible for any long forms or phone calls.
Basically, you get all of the savings and coverage, with none of the hassles.
MORE: How to do summer car maintenance
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