Adding PAG oil after A/C repair

[fastpakr]

The compressor definitely has PAG46 in it, I'm just not sure how much. The sticker that's on it is turned so I can only read 'This compressor contains' and 'Need to add more PAG46'... There's also this document that seems to indicate that it contains a full charge:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3908334&cc=1354564&jsn=40

In the future, I'll definitely drain the compressor and measure. Didn't know to do that until it was too late. So my thinking now is to grab a 2 ounce compressed can like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Interdynamics-Pro-R134-Charge-PC-1/dp/B000CO7QEC?tag=959media-20

And charge the system with that plus whatever it calls for of R134 (30 ounces IIRC, but I'll check before charging).

Any obvious flaws in the plan?

 

[Denisefwd93]

The compressor definitely has PAG46 in it, I'm just not sure how much. The sticker that's on it is turned so I can only read 'This compressor contains' and 'Need to add more PAG46'... There's also this document that seems to indicate that it contains a full charge:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3908334&cc=1354564&jsn=40

In the future, I'll definitely drain the compressor and measure. Didn't know to do that until it was too late. So my thinking now is to grab a 2 ounce compressed can like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Interdynamics-Pro-R134-Charge-PC-1/dp/B000CO7QEC?tag=959media-20

And charge the system with that plus whatever it calls for of R134 (30 ounces IIRC, but I'll check before charging).

Any obvious flaws in the plan?

It probably says need to add oil use PA G.. Imo don't think 1 we need to add more than was in the compressor because the oil moves around in the system when it's running.

 

[Craig0320]

Even if the compressor says it has oil in it I always dump it out and measure and then refill it with what I bought. I had one that said it had oil and only a few trickles came out. Any component I replace I usually add a ounce or so before I install it. It has served me well over the years.

 

[fastpakr]

And that certainly makes sense, but it's a giant pain to get the compressor back out at this point to do so. Definitely a lesson noted for the future.

 

[Denisefwd93]

There was a time, compressors had place where you could actually see the oil level. On miniature and hermetic compressors there's only one way to know, pour it in and pour it out if you can even get it out. Larger systems that are remote piped may have traps every 25 ft for the oil to return back to the compressor if the evaporator is below the compressor. Most of this doesn't apply to Automotive of course, unless you're building from scratch.

Even if the compressor says it has oil in it I always dump it out and measure and then refill it with what I bought. I had one that said it had oil and only a few trickles came out. Any component I replace I usually add a ounce or so before I install it. It has served me well over the years.

 

[4x4junkie]

The sticker that's on it is turned so I can only read 'This compressor contains' and 'Need to add more PAG46'... There's also this document that seems to indicate that it contains a full charge:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3908334&cc=1354564&jsn=40

Says "volume of oil is noted on the identification tag" in your link...

Can you get a small mirror behind there and see what it says? (maybe like a dental-type inspection mirror or small makeup mirror)?

 

[fastpakr]

I've failed miserably so far. I may go ahead and try unbolting the compressor though. The wheel's off already to swap the oil pressure sender and install manual hubs.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Denisefwd93]

I'm a little lost at this point. is it charged and ready to run and you're just shy about running it without adding more oil?

 

[fastpakr]

I vacuumed the system down, then charged it with 24 ounces. Test drive the truck for about ten minutes, then shut it down. A few minutes later, the low pressure hose blew off while I was inside the house. Any ideas?

 

[Denisefwd93]

I vacuumed the system down, then charged it with 24 ounces. Test drive the truck for about ten minutes, then shut it down. A few minutes later, the low pressure hose blew off while I was inside the house. Any ideas?

The connection or the crimp?

 

[fastpakr]

At the spring lock coupling on top of the accumulator. A bit more info now that I have more time. This actually happened yesterday as well, while I was actually charging it at the time. Then I'd briefly forgotten to jump the low side switch so the compressor wasn't running while I was adding. I thought that was the mistake that caused it so I just tried again today, making sure to jump the switch with it connected this time so it could close on its own if the pressure was high enough.

 

[Denisefwd93]

Well if it would be any consolation to you, I may have a leak on the brand new refrigerant lines on my truck. Lost about 1/3 of the charge over 3 weeks

 

[Craig0320]

At the spring lock coupling on top of the accumulator. A bit more info now that I have more time. This actually happened yesterday as well, while I was actually charging it at the time. Then I'd briefly forgotten to jump the low side switch so the compressor wasn't running while I was adding. I thought that was the mistake that caused it so I just tried again today, making sure to jump the switch with it connected this time so it could close on its own if the pressure was high enough.

Mine also blew there after the swap. Turns out the locking spring fell out of the connection during the swap. Silly me. Installed another spring and it has been good to go.

 

[fastpakr]

I'll take another look this evening. I did verify this morning that I can twist the hose a few times and then slide it off, so either the spring isn't there or it isn't engaging.

 

[Craig0320]

Sounds like the spring is missing. Mine held pressure for two days then blew when I was working on installing the battery. I put it back on and could slightly twist to pull off. Luckily I still had the spring from my 4.0