The brand name “Freon” is commonly used to refer to a number of different refrigerants. In the past, R-12 Freon was used in car air conditioners but the EPA outlawed its use due to the chlorofluorocarbons it contained and its detrimental effects on the ozone layer. Today’s formulas are safer and cleaner.
All types of car refrigerants work in a similar way, regulating the temperature as it cycles through gas and liquid states.