Topping Up the Lubricating Oil
The oil must be topped up when repairing a leak or when replacing a component. The quantity required for the component in question will depend on whether leakage has taken place slowly or quickly.
Slow leakage (longer than 24 hours)
With a slow leak, there is normally minimal risk of oil loss.
When installing new components the following procedures apply:
Rapid leakage (e.g. hose rupture)
Rapid leakage often means that lubricating oil escapes with the refrigerant.
When replacing components, the new components or the system (which should be filled through the service valve) must have the oil volumes given below, except for the compressor
| Receiver | 30 cm 3 |
| Evaporator | 50 cm 3 |
| Condenser | 30 cm 3 |
| Tube | 10 cm 3 |
| Hose | 10 cm 3 |
Compressor
Preparatory operations for oil return
- Measure the volume of the oil drained from the compressor
- Replace the volume of drained oil according to the table below:
| Drained oil volume | Reusing the compressor | New compressor |
| More than 60% of the total oil volume | Replace the volume of drained oil with the corresponding quantity | 180 cm 3 - (drained oil volume + 20 cm 3 ) |
| Less than 60% of the total oil volume | Fill with 60% of the total oil volume in the system | Fill with 180 cm 3 * 40% - 20 cm 3 |
Check that there is oil in the compressor. The other components should contain no oil.
Replacing the receiver
Replace the receiver in the following instances:
- When replacing the compressor (compressor seizure for example)
- Refrigerant leakage, where nearly 100% has leaked out of the system. (The system has no pressure)
- When replacing any air conditioning (A/C) component outside the warranty period.