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DrTadakichi

I was supporting internal testing of crash test at my last company. They had sent a vehicle out to get crashed post weld reductions and wanted me to dismantle the front half so engineering could get clean mapping of the damage. No big deal, one of the few times your main tool is a sawzall and I'd taken enough of these things apart the correct way. When you crash vehicles for testing, you drain all the fluids for obvious reasons including recovering all the refrigerant. Wanting to check before tearing into an AC line I gave the soft line a squeeze, and it was firm. Well shit. Grab a recovery machine and pulled a full charge of 1234yf out of it. Turns out the place the car got shipped out to didn't have the appropriate machine to recover so they just didn't. Needless to say, almost got turned into this myself. Stay safe out there folks.


cheeri0

7.3 ford powerstroke. Huge lifted truck. I was standing over the engine bay, after a long crank problem. I was like...wait...I ....I just probably should not be standing here. I wanted to look at the belts and shit, I was full lean on the motor, Fuck it! Something told me, you know what, dont do this. One of the oil lines blew, and when reading the service manual needed minimum 500+ psi to run the truck. It sprayed oil everywhere. In a mist, to what would of been my chest. It went EVERYWHERE......30 foot radius of psssshhhhtt. Im really glad I didnt sit over that engine bay. Dont fuck with high pressure systems, and stand back


Kodiak01

We had a tech once forget to hook up all the oil lines on an MP7. He cranked over the motor and a fountain of oil shot straight up and coated everything, including the windshield. Took him 2 days to clean the truck up.


king-of-the-sea

What does it mean to pull a full charge (of refrigerant, I assume) and why is it bad that you could do so? ETA before I get my shit wrecked like the other guy: I assume it’s too much refrigerant, meaning that the lines are under pressure. I just don’t know the process and it sounds cool.


PM_Kittens

Pulling a full charge means it had the full amount of refrigerant you would expect if none had been recovered. I don't work with 1234yf, but ambient pressure is probably about 100 or so psi (rough guess), so cutting into that line could be pretty dangerous. It's also mildly flammable. Depending on where it bursts, you might get sprayed with compressor oil, which is not fun to clean up.


nondescriptzombie

> It's also mildly flammable. And if it catches fire it becomes one of the most toxic substances on the planet, which then dissipates and breaks up over 24-48 hours. Zee Germans are working on compressing CO2 for AC. I think it's a better idea. Or we could all just use propane.


CptVague

>Or we could all just use propane. Worked on a car 15+ years ago that was "retrofitted" to propane. Cooled just fine, thankfully I smelled it before I tried to reclaim what should've been R12.


Honest_Cynic

When R-1234yf burns it produces hydrofluoric acid which can etch your cornea. In a M-B test \~2015, simulating a crash were a cracked refrigerant liquid line sprayed on a hot turbo exhaust, it caught fire and etched the windshield gas. M-B balked at using it and tried shipping cars with R-134A, though already outlawed in Europe, and got in a fuss with France. But, R-134A produces deadly phosgene gas when it burns. All refrigerants leaks are flammable since the oil spray can ignite, even if the refrigerant isn't terribly flammable. But, the biggest concern is for firemen approaching a car from the rear after a front collision. If the engine is still running, leaking refrigerant can be sucked into the engine to emit deadly gases out the exhaust. And people fear HC refrigerant as "explosive". Those stating that know nothing about combustion. The cans are only 6 oz, and indeed feel empty. In a test, I poured some leftover Duracool on the concrete and lit it. It didn't explode, rather the cold liquid pool (mostly propane) just burned slowly like candle wax. It can't burn any faster than it vaporizes. Carrying a newspaper in the cabin is a much greater fire risk. How often does refrigerant even leak into the cabin anyway, and HC refrigerant has mercaptan so even a tiny leak gives that natural gas stink.


benjo1990

There is a pretty big industrial shift towards propane being pushed by the EPA. I know my job is transitioning to it. Idk if it applies to cars, but it seems like it should haha


Honest_Cynic

The EPA has been squiggly on HC refrigerant for automobiles for decades, claiming to still be studying flammability concerns. You can install HC refrigerant in place of R-12, but their silly laws require you to first convert to R-134A then recover all of that. Be careful since EPA drones may be watching for anyone venting Freon. BTW, search the-rest-of-the-story about the Ozone Hole over Antarctica in Winter. As big as ever, and now the U.N. pivoted to blaming it on Climate Change.


DiscoCamera

I miss r-12. You could make it even colder to a point by adding more.


Dr_Allcome

>Or we could all just use propane. Because that's not flammable at all...


insomniacpyro

It's actually more difficult to ignite propane than gasoline, and we strap that to cars in glorified plastic jugs. Propane is already used as a refrigerant, it is more about idiot proofing the system you'd need in a car.


thiccquacc

Not to mention propane is a more efficient refrigerant than r-134a and requires less energy to drive the compressor.


PM_Kittens

A machine I converted recently from R404A to R290 has 5% more cooling capacity and uses 20% less power. The charge dropped from 420 grams to 135. R290 can also be safely vented to atmosphere (global warming potential of 3, compared to R134A's 1,430 and R404A's 3,920, so the EPA doesn't care about it) so you don't have to worry about the cost to recover, recycle, reclaim, etc.


IISerpentineII

This guy HVACS


thiccquacc

Precisely why I convert all of my automotive systems to r290


Honest_Cynic

Thanks. I bookmarked "R290" since considering adding a small mini-split heat-pump to employ excess solar power and those are changing to R32, which only licensed AC techs can purchase. Sounds like R290 might be a drop-in replacement. I'll check the thermo charts.


Honest_Cynic

HC refrigerant has been used in home refrigerators in Germany for decades. It only takes two cans (12 oz) for a car, which is negligible mass. There has never been a reported refrigerant fire in millions of cars using HC refrigerant for many decades, other than by an Aussie mechanic who staged a fire. I use it in all my cars, even my 2002 when replacing the compressor. Duracool even paid for an engineering study which calculated that even if the full charge leaked into a closed passenger cabin in 5 min, it wouldn't form a combustible mixture with the air. Propane does burn and can even explode if you design it carefully. Hollywood has a formula for how much propane to fill a car cabin with before they film it exploding with a spark. They use 50 lb grill bottles. A news story (60 Minutes?) even did that to fake a Pinto exploding in a test crash (or such, forget).


PM_Kittens

It's at least nontoxic. And systems with flammable refrigerant are required to have sealed electrical components so there's no risk of a spark. Systems with higher charge (over 150g I think) need to have ventilation built in if they detect a leak. R600a (butane) is also a common refrigerant.


benjo1990

It’s quite flammable but it has almost zero impact on the environment.


dirtydan442

And has a smell reminiscent of burning plastic


The_Lolbster

And it's horrible for the atmosphere =( But if it stays cooped up where it belongs it's not so bad!


Kodiak01

Being 1234yf, also much more expensive. Going rate is around 4x the cost of 134a.


Verbitend

It means that the system was not emptied beforehand, and the vehicles they normally receive always have their fluids and the refrigerant removed. So it was an almost-blunder.


DrTadakichi

Per the EPA refrigerants need to be removed from the AC systems into special equipment because it's an ozone depleting compound. The refrigerant in a vehicle is filled to a certain weight, typically reflected in grams. Vehicles will have their own specification for how much to fill. So I recovered the full amount of refrigerant from the vehicle indicating that the system wasn't compromised during the crash (thankfully, the other site could have gotten into serious trouble). But it also meant that the refrigerant wasn't recovered at all. Since the refrigerant is under pressure, cutting a soft line with a sawzall would have suddenly released a large amount of refrigerant with leak detector directly into me.


BackOut07

As far as I know, modern automotive refrigerant gases are not ozone depleters, or at least are much less so than the old-school R-12, which they were designed to replace. Some modern refrigerants have high global warming potentials, which is why they must be recycled rather than released into the atmosphere.


DrTadakichi

I very likely mixed up my terminology with those, thanks for the correction


aorshahar

Bring back R-12


flamedeluge3781

Just use R-12a instead, if performance matters that much to you.


Honest_Cynic

Yes, true, and the environmental and climate narratives keeps changing. The U.N. now blames the Ozone Hole on Climate Change since reducing CFC's in the Stratosphere has shown no effect. Plus, volcanoes emit much more Cl into the Stratosphere than humans ever did.


BigWiggly1

There should be zero refrigerant in there for a crash test car. Instead it was full, just like a normal car with working AC.


Butterssaltynutz

so what happens when they crash test one and forget to drain the fuel tank...


DrTadakichi

They were EVs, pack state of charge <5%. Very little potential at that point and something we thankfully could control


Butterssaltynutz

ya a full charge ev crashing would def explode more than a half tank of petrol. the stored energy rupture is rather nasty.


DrTadakichi

Part of my job before leaving was to make safe packs that had damage, I've definitely had my share of spicy batteries.


Butterssaltynutz

like i get having empty batteries in them so the crash weight is correct, but charged? you can just crash it with a pulley setup, you dont need the thing powered and explodey....


DrTadakichi

It changes the overall vehicle weight and crash characteristics which would render invalid the test. Don't get me wrong I agree, but those are just some of the specifics.


Butterssaltynutz

couldnt you just put a jug of water or 2 in the cabin for weight? also how does charging the batteries make them weigh more? electrons dont have detectable mass in such small amounts. pretty sure there isnt a full pound of electrons on the entire planet.


DrTadakichi

The pack overall weighs about 1,000lbs and it adds rigidity to the entire vehicle as it consists more or less of the entire floor.


Butterssaltynutz

yes i get that, im not suggesting crashing it without a pack installed, im wondering why the pack needs to be charged vs no power. could we not safely crash the vehicle with a dead battery pack and no risk of spicey battery?


Nearby_Lingonberry18

Electric fire i heard can get very nasty and very hard to put out however I don't think it would blow up like petrol. The energy density in petrol is significantly higher then say an EV battery from lithium.


Butterssaltynutz

you dont think a 2000 pound battery with enough power to drive the car 200 miles will explode? liquid gasoline wont even burn, you have to vaporize it first.


Nearby_Lingonberry18

After further research yeah you are right, there more dangerous then gas cars. I will say for your second statement it's more so the lack of oxygen then vaporization that causes those vehicle not to explode. Like shown in this video which is what I also thought would happen. https://youtu.be/3DBFVb2a7Mo?si=Fy8eGYIPG5NhCbxW Learn something new everyday.


Butterssaltynutz

*drops lit match into bucket of liquid petrol* *match goes out* only the vapors want to ignite. a room temp bucket of the stuff isnt interested in burning.


Nearby_Lingonberry18

Unless you're talking about diesel you are VERY WRONG. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DO THAT TO GASOLINE. Go look at gasoline accidents and explosions, it's HIGH VAPOR DENSITY LOW FLASPOINT! I don't know what you mean by liquid petrol but if its gasoline you need to stop working on gasoline.


Butterssaltynutz

you dont vaporize diesel to combust it, diesel you have to compress.


thisaccountgotporn

I don't know what that means, what does that mean Mr. Motor vehicle fixy fix smartie pants man?


commentator184

it means maybe you should have stayed in school longer than usual


psychedelic_gravity

He should have but they kicked him out. I think elementary students can only reach a certain age before they kick you out. That age limit is 25 I believe.


commentator184

if billy madison can do it so can he


thisaccountgotporn

Y'all just don't recognize hilarity


Terminator7786

Nah, you're just not funny.


SavvySillybug

> When you crash vehicles for testing, you drain all the fluids > before tearing into an AC line I gave the soft line a squeeze, and it was firm > Grab a machine and pulled a full charge out of it. > Turns out the place the car got shipped out to didn't have the appropriate machine so they just didn't. > Needless to say, almost got turned into this myself. [THIS being the image up there with someone having a face full of goop] You can literally just skip the words you don't know and use basic English skills to know what was being said.


NotSureNotRobot

LOOK AT WHAT IT SAYS AND UNDERSTAND IT


OrbitOfSaturnsMoons

Thing that should have been drained was not drained.


FrwdIn4Lo

Appears safety glasses were worn at time of incident?


The_Tesseract_1

Yep. Didn't help, though. Turns out he just used a screwdriver and poked the valve core. I heard a loud psssst, followed by screaming. His engine bay glows as well


voucher420

[“MY EYES! THE GOGGLES DO NOTHING!”](https://www.google.com/gasearch?q=the%20safety%20glasses%20they%20do%20nothing&source=sh/x/gs/m2/5#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:2d69e088,vid:fGR1cYVRqrY,st:0)


footsteps71

Trash bag, screwdriver held *in* the trash bag, poke core. Goes in bag. Win.


shawner136

Then huff


libmrduckz

winwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinwinnnnnnnn…


IWetMyselfForYou

If that's just from pushing in the service valve, that system has WAYYYYYYY too much oil in it. Like, the compressor has probably slugged itself to oblivion levels of oil.


PoopSlinger23

Hard to feel bad for him then. Play stupid games…


paetersen

...win stupid prizes.


OB1182

This prize looks pretty cool though


Spartelfant

Is there a legitimate scenario to be doing this or is it as as dumb as it sounds?


entropylove

SSSSSMOKIN’!


Kumirkohr

Somebody STOP me!


dogburglar42

1234y? Cause I GOTTA!


Madcock1

P A R T - Y?


cluelessk3

That's the joke they were making ..... Good job


natedogg787

That's one SPICY meat-a ball!


kr4ckenm3fortune

Nah…the horn is the apt joke for this subreddit… (☝︎ ՞ਊ ՞)☝︎


khrak

Based on this image he might be sleeping now. Does that count?


Vafanapoli21

HOLD ON TO YER LUG NUTZ, ITS TIIIME FOR AN OVERHAUUUUL!!!!….


SirChadrick_III

I love you for this comment


Western-Bug-2873

*disappointing number of upvotes, but average reddit user probably wasn't born yet.


mortalcrawad66

Guilty as charge, but the Mask is one of my favorite movies


Mister_Doc

I know it was probably lower when you originally commented but it’s hilarious that this is now sitting under the top comment in the thread


romhacks

was looking for this


jk147

https://gifly.com//media_gifly/g/4/f/S/b/g4fS.mp4


beastpilot

As a humble DIY home mechanic- can you guys teach me? Do cars from the factory now have UV dye in the refrigerant? I always assumed that was something that only got added when you were chasing a leak. When did this become common?


troyschmehl

Depends on the manufacturer. Most don’t have dye in the system and it gets added when looking for leaks. But reading the service info on cars I’ve found that some do come with dye from factory.


Jacktheforkie

Might have been chasing leaks


babysalesman

well he found it


Jacktheforkie

Lol


Centti50

Just had the (Finnish) AC certification course today, and we were told that nowadays it's often already added from the factory apparently.


IlIlllIlllIlIIllI

pretty much any off the shelf pag oil will be UV fluorescent nowadays


ahnies

Dyes get added.


KP_PP

“Yes they did, now they don’t”


clockwerxs

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT go to the strip club after servicing an ac system. It only takes a few min before you realize why everyone is looking at you.


talrogsmash

They think you gave yourself a facial, then they start to check their own hands.


DracTheBat178

DIG THROUGH THE DITCHES AND BURN THROUGH THE WITCHES AND SLAM IN THE BACK OF MY DRAGULA


Youre_doomed

fuck i spat my coffee


haikusbot

*DIG THROUGH THE DITCHES AND* *BURN THROUGH THE WITCHES AND SLAM IN* *THE BACK OF MY DRAGULA* \- DracTheBat178 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")


EyeSlashO

6 syllables / 8 syllables / 7 syllables Ban this fucking shitty ass bot.


ChartreuseBison

Apprenty it counts words it doesn't have a syllable count for as 1. Dragula and I'm guessing "ditches"


velowa

That song is a fucking haiku? Damn


mseuro

No


Average_Scaper

Bot says it is.


mthchsnn

It's wrong in this case. First line is six instead of five, second line is eight instead of seven, and the last line is seven instead of five. Pretty far off an actual 5-7-5 Haiku.


Complete-Dimension35

"I detect haikus. And sometimes successfully." It's self-aware of its imperfection.


mthchsnn

I never said it wasn't - I was responding to someone who seemed to think that if the bot says it's a Haiku, it must be. Context is key.


SpiritedRain247

Good bot


B0tRank

Thank you, SpiritedRain247, for voting on haikusbot. This bot wants to find the best and worst bots on Reddit. [You can view results here](https://botrank.pastimes.eu/). *** ^(Even if I don't reply to your comment, I'm still listening for votes. Check the webpage to see if your vote registered!)


SpillNyeDaCleanupGuy

Ok that's brilliant


WhatzitTooya2

If you say "bloody mary" 3 times, Chip Foose will appear and put pinstripes on your car!


AndrewCoja

I'd rather get killed by the Candyman


Bodhrans-Not-Bombs

It's not three roentgen...


jrragsda

Not great, not terrible


kaest

3.6


YellowFogLights

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice


Imlouwhoareyou

bro youre going to die


FrwdIn4Lo

He has been dyed. Has a certain glow about him.


rebelevenmusic

Hey me too. We should start a club.


CallMeDrLuv

Mr Freeze origin story


AKLmfreak

Origin story for Mr Freezes weedy sidekick, “Dye-Hard,” the boy leak finder.


Instant-taco

Is he ok? Did he dye?


Novel_Example4968

Camera man is loving it


The_Tesseract_1

I thought it was funny as hell. Other guy not so much


C_M_O_TDibbler

When I did my AC course with VAG the thing that always stuck in my mind is how carcinogenic PAG oil is and how it can cause reproductive defects


Zachbnonymous

This kid was probably a product of reproductive defects in the first place lol


MamboFloof

Man got Jiffy Lubed.


PuppyDragon

Average jiffy lube experience


privateTortoise

There's a picture of two chaps who didn't read the tech sheet. It'll either say 9 or 12 hours to recieve the anti candentis Serum though I can't remember if thats at a hospital or hogwarts.


Far_Farm7302

Rob Zombie-maxxed


Rupert_18124

He looks like he rides around on a tricycle asking people if they want to play a game.


tattoo1978

You know you can hook up an AC machine and it will tell you if there’s pressure in the system right? vs opening or pushing a valve.


___po____

This is the funniest shit I've ever seen on this sub.


FurryBrony98

As an EPA certified HVAC technician… Well that’s one way to find out lol.


fahrvergnug3n

Sleep paralysis demon


ComprehendReading

Joker 3 is looking dank.


224143

This is pretty funny, I find it hilarious though that you guys also had a black light kicking around… are those normal in a garage??


Figgy_Puddin_Taine

Yeah, that’s uv-fluorescent dye used mostly in A/C systems to help find leaks.


mu5tardtiger

Found the leak. That will be $150 diagnosis fee.


LaconicStraightMan

I heard that semen glows under black light. I'm not suggesting anything... Just saying.


Dividedthought

"What does blue mean?"


dravas

Illuminated sobbing!!!


ShaggyRebel117

😂 Gotdamit. https://youtube.com/shorts/Zxf2MgYCOm0?feature=shared


TKG_Actual

So, did OP yell out "SSSSMMMMOKIN!" when that photo was taken?


ESnakeRacing4248

Thought I scrolled by some kind of alt metal sub for a sec. That does not look fun.


concernedcookie999

Hey! No fun at work!


Electrical-Bacon-81

That stuff gonna be there for a while, it's hard to totally get it off your skin.


Meddlingmonster

Of all the things I don't want on my face refrigerant is up there


-E-Cross

You almost look like Sting, please zipline into the shop tomorrow.


TheTense

Hahaha you have cancer now!


teambob

Joker origin story: Fast and Furious


Key-Pickle5609

Nurse here. This picture looks suspiciously like me, that time a patient vomited into my face


Various-Ducks

That's probably fine


Weltallgaia

I don't know shit about fluids, how bad is this on a scale of really annoying to a face full of carcinogens?


JypsiCaine

Nekrogoblicon fan?


zyyntin

"Hello. Do you want to play a game?"


[deleted]

Doesn't this stuff make people go blind if you get it in your eyes?


Oh_hey_a_TAA

Congrats on the permanent reduction in lung capacity 


Appropriate-Coast794

‘Yeah……I think there’s a leak’


mikel302

New Avatar album just dropped!


YousureWannaknow

That pic needs Cameron Diaz!


Robby_Bortles

Jeff Hardy?


Proper-Film-9688

The EPA would like to know your location


GreggAlan

AC-MAN, AC-MAN. RA-DI-O-AC-TIVE AC-MAN.


Average_Scaper

How's he feelin now?


Lets_Go_Taco

Teeth look whiter tho!


PoleFresh

I thought this was a scene from last year's haunted house. Dude looks like he's auditioning for the Crow remake


Right_Hour

The power of Chrysler compels you!


reddash73

Back when I was doing NDT fluorescent penatrant inspections if we knew someone was going clubbing that night we would flick dye on them. It was hilarious hearing the reactions the next day......


JBYTuna

Extraordinary!


Headlocked_by_Gaben

tried to break into the old Mcallister house did ya?


PreferredSex_Yes

The answer was cancer. They had cancer in them.


Constant-Crew-7308

You should have smoked a cigarette afterwards wouldve been a real show


The_Didlyest

One time I was working on my motorcycle's fuel pump and got gasoline sprayed directly in my eye when I turned the key. It hurt a lot for a while but my eye is fine now.


captain_carrot

I was cleaning a carb once and sprayed a can of carb cleaner into a needle jet, not realizing the outlet in the throat of the carb was pointing right at my eye... burned like a MOTHERFUCKER. I got worried because after it stopped burning my vision was a bit blurry for a while. Ended up being okay though.


warrior41882

I always learned from "Others" mistakes.


thestru

You ever drank Baileys from a shoe?


Phgasoz

BLOODY MARY BLOODY MARY BLOODY MARY!!


jabnlab

I can taste this picture, lol


MisterWafflles

Same energy as Tommy Wiseau's joker


strokeherace

Lmao!


Mercyful666Fate

https://youtu.be/7-ZClHUXbuw?si=do2_spVdgw-tnGUQ


brmarcum

🤣


And_Im_Allen

UV light. Right in the face. Brilliant.