Refrigerant and A/C compressor oil filling quantities (2024)

FAQs

How much oil do you put in an AC compressor? ›

The goal is to maintain the new OEM amount of oil. 3 ounces In this example the removed compressor contains 3 ounces so the new compressor should have 3 ounces as well. This way we maintain the original 10 ounce oil charge consistent with the new system.

Then distribute the 8 ounces of PAG-46 throughout the system, with 1.5 ounces each in the evaporator and condenser; 2 ounces in the accumulator; and 3 ounces in the compressor. This way, you'll know for certain that the system has the correct amount of oil in it.

The AC system in most modern vehicles needs a total of 4 ounces (120 ml) of oil. So, checking the manual is a good idea to be sure of the exact amount and to avoid over- or under-filling the system. A low level of oil may cause compression failure, and overfilling will also hurt cooling performance.

There is a significant range in how much oil air compressors require, with no clear standard across manufacturers. VMAC air compressors hold approximately 1-2 gallons (4-9 liters) of compressor oil, depending on the VMAC system, but other systems may contain more or less oil.

Putting too much oil in the compressor will not shorten its life. But if this oil gets ejected through the compressed air line, you will notice a drop in the compressor's air quality. In short, putting too much oil in the compressor will cause the compressor to leak oil or compressor oil to get into the compressed air.

Refrigeration oils are soluble in liquid refrigerant and at normal room temperatures they will mix completely. Since oil must pass through the compressor cylinders to provide lubrication, a small amount of oil is always in circulation with the refrigerant.

The fact of the matter is unless you are changing out the or another component in your A/C you probably will never have to worry about recharging PAG and Ester oils.

Excess oil may accumulate in the evaporator and then return to the compressor in a slug. This could overfill the crankcase and possibly damage the compressor. Excessive amounts of oil in an evaporator decrease the capacity of a system.

Vacuuming only removes gases, not liquids. Oil doesn't change state to gas, it stays liquid and therefore it will not get sucked out.

How much refrigerant does it take to fill an air conditioner? ›

Each make and model of air conditioner needs a slightly different amount of AC refrigerant. According to PG&E, most central air conditioning systems use two to four pounds of refrigerant per ton of cooling capacity. A three-ton air conditioner would typically have six to 12 pounds of refrigerant for a proper charge.

Both SAE 20 and SAE 30 oils are ideally suited for use with an air compressor. The difference between SAE 20 oils and SAE 30 oils for air compressors is not huge. In simple terms, SAE 20 is not quite as viscous.

Oil Capacity 5.6 oz.

This question comes up because people want to avoid poor cooling or failure problems resulting from improper oil levels. Fortunately, most people realize the harm to the system and the potential danger of running an AC compressor with no oil.

According to my Haynes techbook, you need 4 to 5 oz.

Without oil, friction will cause the compressor to heat up and will cause the air conditioning system to shut down. The compressor will also leak a lot of air if there is no oil to act as a sealant. The moving parts inside the compressor also benefit from the oil as it they are lubricated too.

Yes that is correct. Put the oil in low side on every part. If you flush rear evaporator put the oil in the evaporator by disconnecting the lines and you will have to get into the back.