1. Label located in engine bay. There should be a label located under the hood of your car that will list the type of refrigerant used. This label is usually silver and about the size of a business card. It will say "Refrigerant Type" and will list the type of refrigerant used in the vehicle.
2. Refrigerant tank. The refrigerant tank is usually located in the front of the engine compartment. It is a cylindrical metal container with a valve on top. If the tank is labeled "R12", then the vehicle uses R12 refrigerant.
3. Color of refrigerant. R12 refrigerant is colorless, so if you see any colored refrigerant in the system, it is not R12.
4. Smell of refrigerant. R12 has a distinct, sweet smell. If you smell this smell, it is likely that the vehicle uses R12 refrigerant.
5. Ask a qualified technician. If you still don't know for sure, ask a qualified technician. They will be able to use a refrigerant identifier to determine the type of refrigerant in the vehicle.
