I have searched high and low through these threads and can't find the exact answer I am looking for.


I have did a complete refurb on this car. Replaced the expansion valve when I had everything apart and now I am going to replace the receiver/dryer. IN the tech manual it says to replace compressor oil if the dryer has been replaced.

So I just want to verify a few things. I am going to take it to a shop for recharge.

Do I put some of the oil in the drier prior to reinstall. I have read that the other half of the required amount goes on the low side of the compressor. Would that be the suction side??

Is the oil addition typically something the shop will do as part of the recharge labor?

Prior to teardown my system was not getting super cold. Would come and go. Per my tech manual my freon appeared low. So rather than find out that the expansion valve and receiver needed replaced later, I did it now when it was easy to access.

 

Brad, take a look over here: http://www.autoacforum.com/
I bet you will find the answer, but my guess is no, you absolutely don't want to put anything in the drier!! oil if for the compressor only.
{edit] - When I replaced my drier, I didn't. only added a samll amount of oil charge to the system.
-bug

 

STOP RIGHT NOW

Put the allocated amount of oil in each device. Spin the compressor by hand and let it soak into the metal Find a shop that has a digital machine that injects oil into everything and freon at the same time.

I had to have mine done on the digital machine before it got cold.

I lost the previous compressor that Jim sent me due to the oil mismatch (R12 was in there before which requires ester oil not ND8)

 

Cool. Ill just take it to the shop and let them deal with the freon and the oil.

 

Each part of the system needs the proper amount of oil added. Typically when you remove a part you drain the oil and measure then add that amount to the new part. Oil is not contained within the compressor only, it is circulated through the entire system with the refrigerant.

 

Sure, it circulates, but the drier certainly doesn't need it, nor do the other components. Ideally it would all stay in the compressor, so no, each part of the system does not need oil.

 

Oil gets circulated so if you remove one part you are removing a percent of the oil from the system. If you google you will see adding oil to the drier is certainly a way to add oil back to the system. There is no physical way once the oil and refrigerant mix that the oil will Only stay in the compressor. If you remove just the dryer and have no intention of breaking the compressor fittings, add oil you removed to the new dryer to maintain the proper amount of oil in the system.

This is from alldata for my jeep as an example showing not just the compressor has an oil capacity.

A/C System = 240 ml (8.1 oz)
Accumulator = 120 ml (4 oz)
Condenser = 30 ml (1 oz)
Evaporator = 60 ml (2 oz)
Compressor = Drain and measure the oil from the old compressor.

 

Here's several links from the site you posted stating rather plainly to add oil to the various components, including the dryer. Also one post explains how very little oil actually remains in the compressor.

http://www.autoacforum.com/messagevi...AR_MSGDBTABLE=

http://www.autoacforum.com/messagevi...AR_MSGDBTABLE=

http://www.autoacforum.com/messagevi...AR_MSGDBTABLE=

 

Sure, I agree, if you take oil out, you need to replace it, just that those components don;t require it.

 

What oil do you guys use for the compressor?

 

That's what I said from the get-go.

I didn't say the dryer needs oil to function but it does need the proper amount of oil added.

 

My label (for an r134a system) states "ND-oil 8" in bold.
[edit] for a 95 sc400.

 

Thanks.