Aircon oil.

[norsa]

Im fitting a new compressor to the lady wifes Rav4 at the weekend. The new comp comes with new seals and some recommended oil. From what my factor part man could get from the manufacturer is they put oil in from the factory but some can leak out in transit. Apparently you fill it right up with oil after fitting??? Seem right??
Nick

 

[voipio]

Recharging car aircon systems is normally done using refrigerant that is mixed with the correct oil. Once the joints have been tightened up, the system will need to have the air and its attendant moisture removed using a vacuum pump before recharging.

 

[BrokenBiker]

as above i thought the oil was intergrated into the refrigerant...

 

[norsa]

So are you saying I should drain all the oil out?

 

[Johnseat]

To work on the system you have to be F-gas certified like myself.
The vehicles system will have a recommended amount of oil for each component when they are changed.
You need to contact the vehicles manufacturer and ask for the amount to full the compressor before fitting it.
You need to fill the pump via a fulling point which will either be one of the pipe connections or a bung which is removed and refitted.
Once it's fitted and the system is sealed, you need nitrogen test it to 5bar and leave it for at least an hour to tests for leaks.
Once that test has passed then you have to vaccuum for at least an hour per kg of refrigerant so if the system holds 11kg of refrigerant like a large Setra coach by Merc Benz then you have to vaccuum for at least 11 hours, we set the machine going and leave it over night.

Once it's completed the vacuum stage then you fill the system with the refrigerant plus 20ml of oil to take into consideration the oil that has been removed when the system was evacuated before you opened it.

I'm guessing you haven't got an air con machine or a set of gauges and a set of scales for the gas in which case you really shouldn't be opening the system as knowingly releasing R134a carries a minimum several thousand pound fine and a minimum term of several years in prison...

 

[norsa]

I'll not be charging the system. I'm just asking if it's the correct amount of oil.

 

[roofman]

To work on the system you have to be F-gas certified like myself.
The vehicles system will have a recommended amount of oil for each component when they are changed.
You need to contact the vehicles manufacturer and ask for the amount to full the compressor before fitting it.
You need to fill the pump via a fulling point which will either be one of the pipe connections or a bung which is removed and refitted.
Once it's fitted and the system is sealed, you need nitrogen test it to 5bar and leave it for at least an hour to tests for leaks.
Once that test has passed then you have to vaccuum for at least an hour per kg of refrigerant so if the system holds 11kg of refrigerant like a large Setra coach by Merc Benz then you have to vaccuum for at least 11 hours, we set the machine going and leave it over night.

Once it's completed the vacuum stage then you fill the system with the refrigerant plus 20ml of oil to take into consideration the oil that has been removed when the system was evacuated before you opened it.

I'm guessing you haven't got an air con machine or a set of gauges and a set of scales for the gas in which case you really shouldn't be opening the system as knowingly releasing R134a carries a minimum several thousand pound fine and a minimum term of several years in prison...

The OP only wants to know what oil he needs and you want to take his life savings off him then give him a 10 year stretch in a high security hell hole....LOL!!! only on migwelding uk do you get this sort of entertainment

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@roofman

 

[roofman]

 

[scotb]

only a certified engineer can fill the oil. but only after the system has been vaccum tested and had all the air/gas/oil/moisture removed this includes a new filter. i am IMI ACCREDITED and its illegal to open a system even if you think its empty,and also illegal to commission a system knowing it has a leak.pay to get it fitted correctly as a burn from the refrigerant is nasty. just my tuppence.............

 

[BrokenBiker]

only a certified engineer can fill the oil. but only after the system has been vaccum tested and had all the air/gas/oil/moisture removed this includes a new filter. i am IMI ACCREDITED and its illegal to open a system even if you think its empty,and also illegal to commission a system knowing it has a leak.pay to get it fitted correctly as a burn from the refrigerant is nasty. just my tuppence.............

wht about using a top up kit to re-fil a unit?

 

[evobilly666]

Only existing stock to be sold of the top up kits, then they too become illegal to sell

 

[roofman]

Only existing stock to be sold of the top up kits, then they too become illegal to sell

you mean the R134A that halfords sell with the cash back on the empty bottles??

 

[premmington]

To work on the system you have to be F-gas certified like myself.
The vehicles system will have a recommended amount of oil for each component when they are changed.
You need to contact the vehicles manufacturer and ask for the amount to full the compressor before fitting it.
You need to fill the pump via a fulling point which will either be one of the pipe connections or a bung which is removed and refitted.
Once it's fitted and the system is sealed, you need nitrogen test it to 5bar and leave it for at least an hour to tests for leaks.
Once that test has passed then you have to vaccuum for at least an hour per kg of refrigerant so if the system holds 11kg of refrigerant like a large Setra coach by Merc Benz then you have to vaccuum for at least 11 hours, we set the machine going and leave it over night.

Once it's completed the vacuum stage then you fill the system with the refrigerant plus 20ml of oil to take into consideration the oil that has been removed when the system was evacuated before you opened it.

I'm guessing you haven't got an air con machine or a set of gauges and a set of scales for the gas in which case you really shouldn't be opening the system as knowingly releasing R134a carries a minimum several thousand pound fine and a minimum term of several years in prison...

I too have a F-gas cert, plus a city + guilds qualification in Air-con.

PAG oil can be added manually directly into the pump, in a measured quantity or pulled in under vacuum off scales or by an automated machine.

Oh.. "Norsa"

I would not send you too prison for playing with your own car. Good luck with the DIY repair.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Only existing stock to be sold of the top up kits, then they too become illegal to sell

there are always plenty on the shelves in my local halfords and motor factors...no sign of them selling out any time soon

 

[Johnseat]

I'm only trying to put the OP in the mindset of a qualified air con guy.
As stated above the bottles sold at Halfords ect are going to be illegal in the near future due to health and safety regulations.
As for the amount of oil, you need to ask the manufacturer for the specified amount.

As for putting the oil in, I was told not to insert oil via the machine for compressors as the takes time for the oil to work it's way around and fill the compressor to the desired amount can take top long and burn it out.

 

[norsa]

Well trying to belittle me withoutility even knowing my background is all very entertaining and threats of prison is laughable but all I want to know is. Do I fill the thing up with oil, drain it out or let the guys who re gas the system do it. Quite a simple question I thought.

 

[Johnseat]

I wasn't trying to or meaning to belittle you but you come onto a welding forum to ask about air conditioning where anyone could have fed you a cock and bull theory or a completely wrong answer and you could have done some damage to yourself.

This is why I fear the new 200bar Co2 systems being fitted to new mercs and so on as regular people on the street will eventually be messing with the system and causing all sorts of damage.

 

[norsa]

Ok. We're all impressed that you know what you're talking about. So. Answer me a simple question. Do I fill it up with oil, drain it out or let the man who re gasses it do it?

 

[premmington]

I filled plenty of aircon systems

I wasn't trying to or meaning to belittle you but you come onto a welding forum to ask about air conditioning where anyone could have fed you a cock and bull theory or a completely wrong answer and you could have done some damage to yourself.

This is why I fear the new 200bar Co2 systems being fitted to new mercs and so on as regular people on the street will eventually be messing with the system and causing all sorts of damage.

I run a garage, most of the DIY vehicle repair work I have seen over the last thirty plus years is done to a very high standard.

The worst abortions of repair work we have seen, have mostly been done by other members of the trade to sales cars.

I would never try and put off anybody repairing there own car. It is there property.

There seems to be an annoying growing trend in the trade of "you cannot do that to a car, you are not a technician"