What year is 1234yf mandatory?

Author: Prof. Emilio Corkery  |  Last update: Saturday, May 3, 2025

In 2010, Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac announced that their 2013 vehicles would use this new refrigerant within the U.S. Since then, many other automotive manufacturers have transitioned to using R-1234yf with the EPA scheduling all newly manufactured vehicles to be equipped by 2021 (click here to read more).

When did 1234yf become mandatory?

The First Air Conditioning Refrigerant Replacement Mandate Since The Early 90's. A new automotive refrigerant R1234yf is being used in many late model 2015 and newer vehicles. The United States EPA has mandated that all new vehicles use R1234yf by 2021.

What year did cars go to 1234yf?

When was the 1234YF introduced? The new Freon that is being used in vehicles was first introduced in 2013. Only a few vehicles had 1234yf in them. There are still vehicles out there that use 134a Freon.

Do all new cars use 1234yf refrigerant?

R-1234yf is used in almost every new car sold in the U.S., but the EU is discussing a ban and the industry is investigating alternatives like CO2 and propane.

Is it illegal to put 134a in a 1234yf system?

Still, the answer is an emphatic, “No.” Not only would a retrofit of this type negate the environmental benefits of R-1234yf, but it would also be a violation of Federal Law under Section 203 of the Clean Air Act: “tampering” with a vehicle's emissions control device.

What's R1234yf? What's R134a? Automotive HVAC training

Is R-1234yf being discontinued?

It is anticipated that by 2025 all vehicles will contain 1234YF. Don't fret, however, if your current vehicle requires 134a. Though 134a is not compatible with 1234YF and is expected to be phased out, it is still in production and will continue as long as there is a demand for repair of older vehicles.

Can you convert R-1234yf to R134a?

You can convert an empty R-1234yf system to R-134a. Mercedes made this obvious when it raised objections to R-1234yf over 11⁄2 years ago and recalled European models with the refrigerant, recovered it from the vehicles' systems and recharged them with R-134a.

What is the life expectancy of R-1234yf?

R1234yf has an atmospheric life of 11 days compared to a 13 year lifespan for R134a. R1234yf compares in efficiency to R134a and has the same cooling capacity.

What happens if you mix R-134a and R-1234yf?

The mixing of R-134a with R-1234yf will change refrigerant pressure and may result in evaporator freeze-up on pressure control systems, reducing system airflow.

Why does R-1234yf cost so much?

Switching to R1234yf refrigerant is a step towards a greener future, but it comes with higher costs due to advanced equipment, stringent regulations, and specialized training.

What are the disadvantages of R-1234yf?

Potential Downsides
  • Cost: 1234YF can be more expensive than older refrigerants, both in terms of the refrigerant itself and the cost of servicing.
  • Compatibility: It requires specific equipment and systems, so older air conditioners might not be able to use it without modifications.

Do you need a license to buy R-1234yf?

If you are purchasing less than 2 pounds of either R-134a or R-1234yf, you are not required to have a license to purchase either refrigerant. However, if you are working with 10- and 25-pound single-use recyclable cylinders you will need Section 608 Technician Certification.

Is 1234yf here to stay?

“More than a trend, R-1234yf is here to stay and is widely accepted as the 'future of automotive refrigerants — in use now.

What year vehicles have R-1234yf refrigerant?

R-1234yf was listed as an EPA-approved mobile refrigerant for new vehicles under SNAP in 2012. R-1234yf usage was accelerated with signature of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2016. This multinational agreement pledged the phasedown of certain HFCs like 134a.

How long will R-134a be available?

This group of synthetic refrigerants is not subject to a ban on use. This means that installations using R134a, R407C and R410A can simply be refilled after 2030. However, there will be significantly less synthetic refrigerant available in the future due to production limitations.

How can you tell the difference between R-134a and R-1234yf?

Most vehicles have a label or sticker under the hood that indicate whether the refrigerant used is R-134a or R-1234yf.

Can you flush a R1234yf system?

The ACX universal flushing unit is designed for refrigerants R134a and R1234yf. A proper flush of the air conditioning system is one of the most important tasks to be carried out during repairs and after the replacement of a compressor.

Which is better compressor R134a or R1234yf?

The results also shows that the compressor working with R134a performed better than that working with R1234yf when operating under high condensing and low evaporating temperatures. However when the condensing temperature gets lower, R1234yf outperformed R134a.

What are the hazards of 1234yf?

May form explosive mixtures with air. Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated. May cause frostbite. May displace oxygen and cause rapid suffocation.

How much does a 1234yf service cost?

An evacuate and recharge of the 1234YF for a standard system is $400.00, If you have a dual unit system the price is $450.00.

When was R1234yf mandatory?

In 2010, Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac announced that their 2013 vehicles would use this new refrigerant within the U.S. Since then, many other automotive manufacturers have transitioned to using R-1234yf with the EPA scheduling all newly manufactured vehicles to be equipped by 2021 (click here to read more).

Is R1234yf harmful to humans?

May cause irritation to the respiratory system. Direct contact with eyes may cause temporary irritation. Ingestion May be harmful if swallowed.

What year did they stop using R134a?

In the United States, vehicles produced after 2021 no longer contain R-134A in the air conditioning system. In other parts of the world, including the United States, there are restrictions around using 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. Specifically, in California, retailers can deny selling customers canned R-134a.

Is R1234yf more expensive than R134a?

On average, the cost of servicing the air conditioning system, in the case of R1234yf refrigerant can be up to 10 times more expensive. The R1234yf refrigerant itself is several times more expensive than R134a.

What is the drop in replacement for 1234yf?

Solstice® yf (R-1234yf) refrigerant is a near drop-in replacement for R-134a in automobile A/C applications, helping automakers around the world comply with EU low GWP requirements.

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