When recharging your AC, one of the first questions is: what refrigerant does my car use? The wrong answer can lead to damage to the entire AC system. Here's everything you need to know.
R134a — The Classic
R134a is a refrigerant used widely since 1994. Before it, R12 was used but was banned for depleting the ozone layer. R134a is reliable, proven, and relatively affordable — a recharge typically costs 40-60 EUR. Most cars manufactured until 2015-2017 use R134a.
R1234yf — The New Generation
Since 2017, all new cars in the EU are required to use R1234yf. The reason is environmental — R1234yf has a global warming potential (GWP) of just 4, while R134a has a GWP of 1430. That's 350 times less climate impact. But there's a drawback: R1234yf is significantly more expensive. A recharge typically costs 90-140 EUR — 2-3 times more than R134a.
Which Refrigerant Is for Your Car?
There are three easy ways to find out. First, look at the sticker under the hood — it's usually on the radiator support or near the charging port. It lists the refrigerant type and the exact amount in grams. Second, check the year of manufacture — if the car was made after 2017, it's almost certainly R1234yf. Third, the charging port shape is different for the two types — they're intentionally made incompatible to prevent accidental mixing.
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Why You Must Never Mix Them
Mixing R134a and R1234yf is one of the worst things you can do to an AC system. The two refrigerants operate at different pressures and have different chemical properties. Mixing can lead to: compressor damage due to incorrect pressure, seal degradation, reduced cooling efficiency, and an expensive repair involving complete refrigerant replacement and system flushing.
Beware of Cheap Shops
Some unlicensed shops charge R134a into systems designed for R1234yf to save on cost. In the short term, the AC may work, but long-term damage is inevitable. Always ask what refrigerant they're using and insist on the correct type.
At HOT22, we work with both refrigerant types using professional stations that automatically identify and prevent cross-contamination. Before every recharge, we check the purity of the refrigerant in the system. If you're not sure which type your car uses, just call or message us — we'll tell you in seconds.
