Approved Refrigerant Oils

The oils used with refrigerant R12 are not suitable for refrigerant R134a.

The name of the compressor manufacturer "Nippondenso" has been changed to "Denso".

The special refrigerant oils and oils that are only for refrigerant circuits with refrigerant R134a are not always available on the open market.

Refrigerant oils specifically designed for each compressor can therefore be obtained from the replacement parts program. Refer to the Parts Information.

If a faulty A/C compressor is replaced with an A/C compressor from another manufacturer, check if the same refrigerant oil is approved for the A/C compressor to be installed as the one that is already in the refrigerant circuit (from the removed A/C compressor). If a different refrigerant oil is approved for the A/C compressor to be installed than the one in the removed A/C compressor, the refrigerant circuit must be flushed. Refer to Refer to REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT, CLEANING (FLUSHING) WITH REFRIGERANT R134A .

The use of other refrigerant oils could cause system failure, as they do not always mix and thus circulate with refrigerant R134a (for compressor lubrication).

The "Zexel / Valeo", "Denso", "Delphi/Mahle" and "Sanden" A/C compressors all have different refrigerant oils. Refer to the Parts Information.

Beginning from production year 2006, the name of the "Zexel" A/C compressor was changed from "Zexel" to "Valeo".

The refrigerant oil with the part number G 052 300 A2 (external designation ND 8) to be used in refrigerant circuits with a "Denso" A/C compressor (old manufacturing name "Nippondenso") is also included in the retrofit kit (part number 4A0 298 107 A). It is the same for mechanically and electrically driven A/C compressors. Refer to the Parts Information.

For refrigerant circuits with "Zexel/Valeo" - compressors use is to be made of refrigerant oil with part number G 052 154 A2. Refer to the Parts Information.

For refrigerant circuits with mechanically-driven "Sanden" A/C compressors, the refrigerant oil with part number G 052 154 A2 (or the part number G 052 535 M2) is to be used. Refer to the Parts Information.

For mechanically-driven "Sanden" A/C compressors, the refrigerant oil with part number G 052 535 M2 (external designation SP A2) can also be used in addition to the refrigerant oil with part number G 052 154 A2 (external designation SP 10). Refer to the Parts Information.

For refrigerant circuits with electrically-driven "Visteon" or "Sanden" A/C compressors (for example in the A3 e-tron and in the Audi Q7 e-tron), use the refrigerant oil with part number G 052 535 M2. Refer to the Parts Information.

Refrigerant oils with part numbers G 052 154 A2 and G 052 300 A2 can be used in refrigerant circuits with a "Delphi/Mahle" A/C compressor. Refer to the Parts Information.

For refrigerant circuits with an "Zexel / Valeo" A/C compressor, both the refrigerant oil (G 052 154 A2) and the refrigerant oil (G 052 200 A2) contained in the retrofit kit (part number 4A0 298 107) may be used. Refer to the Parts Information.

Currently the electrically-driven A/C compressor (for example, on the Audi Q5 Hybrid manufactured by "Denso") is filled with the same refrigerant oil as the manufacturer mechanically-driven A/C compressor (refer to the type plate on the A/C compressor). Refer to the Parts Information.

Since different refrigerant oils are used depending on the A/C compressor manufacturer, a certain small amount (up to maximum 10%) of refrigerant oil may be released in the respective vehicle refrigerant circuit with a different specification as the respective A/C compressor installed. This is so that the A/C service station does not have to be cleaned after every procedure on different vehicles. Therefore for Audi, up to a maximum of 10% SP 10 (or SP A2) refrigerant oil may be filled on a vehicle with a "Denso" A/C compressor (with ND 8 refrigerant oil), or up to a maximum of 10% ND 8 refrigerant oil may be filled on a vehicle with a "Sanden", "Delphi/Mahle" or "Visteon" A/C compressor (with SP 10 or SP A2 refrigerant oil). However, other refrigerant oils that are not specified here may not be filled (different properties due to different viscosity, other or missing additives, etc.).

Instead of discharging via the A/C service station, the extracted refrigerant oil can either be filled when emptying the refrigerant circuit via an open connection before evacuating the refrigerant circuit, or with valve -3- removed via a service connection -1- or -2- using a commercially available syringe. Refer to Refer to QUICK-RELEASE COUPLING CONNECTIONS ON REFRIGERANT CIRCUIT . This is useful for example when a refrigerant oil is specified for a refrigerant circuit, that is normally only seldom used. Always fill with fresh coolant oil. Refer to Refer to REFRIGERANT OIL and the Parts Information. The arrangement of the service connection -1- or -2- in the vehicle varies. Refer to Component Location Overview - A/C System (vehicle-specific service information).

Fig 1: Identifying Valve And Service Connection

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC