Is Refrigerant Oil Necessary to Add?
3 Answers
Refrigerant oil must be added. Refrigerant oil, also known as refrigeration oil, is essential for the following reasons: 1. Importance: As the lubricating oil for the moving parts inside the compressor, a severe lack of refrigerant oil will significantly impact the lubrication, sealing, and cooling of the compressor. 2. Inspection Method: Observation Port Check: With the air conditioning turned off, observe the refrigerant level through the observation port. If the level is below half, it indicates a lack of refrigerant oil. The detailed amount of refrigerant oil to be added can be found on the compressor's nameplate and in the vehicle's user manual.
Refrigerant oil doesn't actually need to be added every time you recharge the refrigerant. With over ten years of experience working on car AC systems, I can tell you this stuff is used to lubricate the compressor. It circulates within the sealed system along with the refrigerant and basically doesn't get depleted under normal circumstances. The only times you lose refrigerant oil are when there's a system leak or when the compressor has been disassembled for repairs. For instance, when my car's AC line developed a leak last time, the mechanic specifically topped up some refrigerant oil after fixing it. For a properly functioning car during routine maintenance, there's absolutely no need for additional refrigerant oil. But remember, adding too much can reduce cooling efficiency and may even clog the pipes, so don't fall for sales pitches about frequent top-ups. If your AC is cooling normally, you don't need to worry about this at all.
As a DIY car owner, I believe that refrigerant oil shouldn't be added casually. It acts like a substitute for engine oil, providing lubrication in the compressor. As long as the system doesn't leak, the oil level won't drop. Refrigerant oil only gets lost when AC components are disassembled or when there's severe refrigerant leakage. Last year when I replaced the compressor in my old car, the repair shop replenished the specified type of refrigerant oil according to standards. If it's just low on refrigerant, simply topping up the refrigerant is sufficient—no need to add extra oil. Especially nowadays, many small shops irresponsibly recommend refrigerant oil packages, which are just a waste of money without any benefit. Remember, adding too much refrigerant oil can actually worsen AC cooling performance, so regularly checking the sealing of the pipes is what really matters.
