What happens if too much refrigeration oil is added?

[VonEliana]

Excessive refrigeration oil hinders heat exchange. When the amount of refrigeration oil is too much to be carried back to the compressor by the refrigerant vapor, the excess oil will adhere to the evaporator and related pipe walls, forming a certain thermal resistance. Below is a related introduction about car air conditioning maintenance: Regularly check the refrigerant and refrigeration oil: Since the refrigerant used in modern cars has strong permeability, even a well-functioning refrigeration system may experience insufficient refrigerant due to long-term use, leading to reduced cooling performance. 2. Clean the condenser surface: The cooling efficiency of the air conditioning system is also related to the cleanliness of the condenser's cooling fins. Dust, insects, and other debris covering the condenser surface can reduce heat dissipation efficiency.

[LaLilah]

During automotive air conditioning repairs, adding too much refrigeration oil can cause significant trouble. Refrigeration oil is used to lubricate the compressor, but excessive amounts can displace refrigerant space, overloading the compressor. I've seen many car owners add too much themselves, resulting in drastically reduced cooling performance—cars take forever to cool down in summer. The compressor may overheat due to insufficient lubrication, producing a humming noise, and prolonged operation like this can even cause parts to seize or burn out. Repairs involve not only removing excess oil but also recharging refrigerant, incurring additional costs. Worse, too much oil can increase system pressure, leading to seal aging and leaks. Always refer to the vehicle manual for the standard oil quantity before adding—don't rely on guesswork. For regular maintenance, have a professional technician use specialized tools for inspection to avoid major repairs later.

[SabrinaAnn]

Adding too much refrigerant oil is no small matter. Here's my experience: I once added oil to the AC system myself and didn't control the amount properly. The result was so much oil that the compressor started squeaking. The cooling effect immediately worsened, and the car became unbearably hot. I didn't pay attention at the time and kept using it for two weeks until the compressor completely failed—the repair shop said the excess oil had jammed the internal valves, requiring new parts and costing several thousand dollars. The lesson was profound: too much refrigerant oil reduces cooling efficiency, increases compressor wear, and may not show problems immediately but poses long-term risks. It can also cause frost buildup and blockages in the AC lines, leading to abnormal high pressure or refrigerant leaks. Now, I check the AC every six months, using precise instruments to measure the oil level to avoid overfilling. A small mistake left unfixed can lead to major trouble.

[CarterLee]

Excess refrigerant oil is harmful to the air conditioning system. The extra oil causes the compressor to work overloaded, significantly reducing cooling efficiency. For example, the car may remain hot even after running the AC for half a day, and there might be a buzzing noise. Excessive oil leads to insufficient lubrication, accelerating compressor damage and resulting in costly repairs. It also occupies refrigerant space, disrupting the smooth operation of the refrigeration cycle. It's recommended to precisely measure the oil amount during refilling to avoid overfilling. If excess oil has been added, promptly drain the surplus to prevent long-term damage to the AC system.

[LeSabrina]

Excessive refrigerant oil poses safety hazards. Compressor overload may lead to sudden failure, and the air conditioning stopping during high-speed driving can be dangerous, especially in hot weather when heatstroke is likely. Overfilling oil may also cause excessive system pressure, leading to pipeline leaks or corrosion issues. I once helped a neighbor deal with a similar situation where overfilling resulted in low air conditioning efficiency and odors, and inspection revealed oil foam accumulation damaged components. Timely oil extraction prevented greater losses. A reminder to everyone: prevention is key—always use proper tools to measure before adding oil.