How Much Refrigerant Oil You Should Add to Your AC Compressor

Taking care of your vehicle can be challenging. Of course, you always want to make sure that every drive is smooth and well – but that isn’t just about engines. It’s also essential to take a deeper knowledge about how well every part of your car is – especially how to control your AC.

Speaking about air conditioning systems, you probably don’t want to feel uneasy when you encounter unwanted situations. This is where refrigerant oils play a crucial role in your vehicle’s AC to function well. No need to fuss, We’ll guide you on how to deal with AC failures and prevent them from occurring.

Does your AC system need an oil refill?

If you’re thinking of changing your AC compressor, or if you’re currently experiencing an oil leakage, this is where you need to replenish the oil in your AC unit. Sufficient amounts of refrigerant oil are necessary for your vehicle’s air-conditioning system to operate aptly.

At which point, it’s also best to determine the kind and amount of lubricant that is suitable for your vehicle’s compressor producing the right dose of cold air. If the lubricant’s circulation, compression, and expansion is recurring, and is not properly maintained, this can cause the system to malfunction – might as well take good care of the unit for it to keep working well.

Is your AC system leaking?

You’re probably questioning first about how to determine if there’s a leakage on your air-conditioning unit. While trying to peek at the compressor might not work, you can actually feel it. If the AC doesn’t give cold air like before, it can hint that the oil is dripping.

Changing the lubricant by yourself is fine. Still, it would help to take extra precautions as you have no idea about how much grease is gone. Adding much oil and vice versa can affect the whole operation of the car and create more issues later. Bet no one wants that.

If you’re not too confident in replenishing the compressor’s oil yourself, taking advice from the pros is not a big deal. Plus, bear in mind to repair the leakage first before refilling the oil to avoid any future glitch. Thank me later.

How much oil should you add to your compressor?

Identifying the amount of oil to be present at your current compressor is a must. It’s better to know deeper about the compressor’s capacity to put the ample amount of lubricant your car needs.

If you’re using a new compressor, you may want to check its specs to know the right volume of lube needed – some compressors are preloaded with grease, so that it can prevent you from putting excess oil.

For any other circumstances, you may check these tips:

Refilling an old compressor

Your AC compressor issues don’t always need a replacement. If you want to keep your old one, it’s fine as long as the problem is not that serious. While keeping that in mind, it’s also essential to know about how much oil your compressor contains – making it easy for you to replace the lubricant after draining it.

Filling up replaced components of the AC system

Any AC unit compressor has its own specs about the capacity it holds for oil. Checking the guidebook can help you determine the right amount of lubricant needed to give an exceptional cool air for your vehicle. You never want to over-filled or under-filled your compressor, right? You just need to be mindful of these tips, and you’re good to go!

If you’re wondering about the PAG (Polyalkylene Glycol) oil needed for any kinds of AC components to perform well, here are some of the pattern to trace:

• Evaporator = 1.5 oz
• Accumulator = 1 oz
• Hoses = 1 oz
• Compressor = 1.4 oz
• Condenser = 1 oz

Keep in mind…

You may also consider rinsing the entire unit before refilling the compressor with lubricant – we insist. If you plan to change some parts like evaporator or condenser, it’s best to replace the oil which the parts had lost to ensure that system will still work to its best ability.

Having that in mind, it’s also essential not to go beyond 4 oz or the max capacity of your AC unit. Taking extra precaution is a necessity. – most especially if it has to do with taking care of your AC’s system.

What refrigerant oil should you use?

Aside from determining the amount of refrigerant oil your AC unit needs, it is also important to consider the type of lubricant to use. Over the past years, car industries are up to use R134a (Tetrafluoroethane) refrigerant – known as non-corrosive, non-toxic, and non-flammable. While later in 2015, R-1234yf took place – known to be more eco-friendly that requires PAG oils.

The owner’s guide can tell you how much viscosity of PAG, your car compressor’s desire. The development of refrigerant oils also changes the lubricant used in your compressor. Determining the amount of density is a good step to keep your AC system perform well.

If you’re not aware of your AC viscosity needs, it’s safe to use PAG 100 for R134a as this is the universal amount that most technicians are fond of using. Never take the kind of lubricant to use easily. It’s best to invest in the ones that are suitable for the compressor that you have.

Taking care of your AC compressor

Taking care of your car’s air-conditioning compressor should be done regularly, whether you wanted it to be done by yourself or go to a car technician. After all, it’s for the best performance of your car as a whole.

Having in-depth knowledge about your vehicle’s AC compressor helps you how the entire system works. On top of that, it lets you identify any issues instantly and fix it right away! Especially if the issues occur in the most unexpected time.

If it struggles you to be familiar with how the entire AC compressor works to take good care of it, no need to fuss. Here are the procedures to keep in mind to help you avoid any hasty compressor breakdown:

Understand how your compressor works

Frankly speaking, understanding your compressor can be a bit tough, but it is the main thing here. Begin with determining the type of compressor you use. if you have the one with oil-filled already, no need to add more. However, if you’re dealing with the dry one, then an appropriate amount of lubricant must be added.

Always keep in mind that your compressor should have an accurate amount of oil for it to function well.

Flush your AC system

Noises in your AC’s compressor is a clear indication of any inner system issue. It’s mostly because of the little specks mingling with oil resulting in a noisy sound. It’s better to remove the filthy oil and change it as soon as you can to avoid any future complications

Remove clogged particles

Removing jammed tiny bits is indeed formidable. Performing an evacuation only helps in taking off moisture and air. it doesn’t help in removing all the undesired particles, which is a total flop if not taken care of immediately. Changing the condenser can save you bucks if executed as soon as possible. Never let particles stick there for a long time, as it can keep issues from occurring.

Use the correct lubricant

While taking care of your AC compressor, it is essential to use suitable oil for your refrigerant. Using the right one can keep your compressor performing smoothly. Also, it prevents you from any further damage from occurring in the future. As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure.

Drive carefully

Watch your driving as rugged terrain can greatly affect your AC compressor’s lifespan. If you wanted your compressor to persist without any severe issues, then keep this in mind.

Let your compressor set in motion by adding the adequate oils that will be spaced evenly. Also, it can help you remove your worries about the performance of your AC unit. Wherever possible, keep your car from a bumpy road.

Overview

Having a thorough knowledge about oil refrigerants can be beneficial, especially when it’s about taking proper care of your AC compressor. While most people prefer to let the mechanic do the work, it’s also essential to keep this material for any unplanned incidents. Besides, it’s always fun to learn interesting things about your car.

The discussion above has specified the amount of lubricant needed as well as the type of oil to be used. It is better to understand this kind of thing as it will be more convenient for you when you encounter any unwanted situations, especially if it concerns AC compressors.

It is also necessary to take a look at your car’s manual if you lost track of keeping your vehicle in its best condition. Always remember the tips and procedures stated above for a smooth ride experience. Hoping the guideline and information in this blog helped you find the solutions to most of your concerns about refrigerant oils.

Read also related articles: Can you mix synthetic oil with regular oil? and AC low side pressure too high.