What is Refrigerant Oil?
2 Answers
Refrigerant, commonly known as Freon, is a working fluid used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems to transfer heat energy and produce cooling effects. It can be classified by working method into primary refrigerant and secondary refrigerant, and by material properties into natural refrigerant and synthetic refrigerant. The main function of refrigerant is to transfer heat energy and produce cooling effects in refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Below is relevant information: 1. Refrigerant composition: It consists of polyester-based synthetic oils (such as polyalkylene glycol). Since nitrile rubber is incompatible, polybutadiene nitrile rubber is used as a sealing component. Its characteristics are colorless, odorless, non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-explosive. Currently, R134a refrigerant is widely used. R134a does not damage the atmospheric ozone layer but still has a certain greenhouse effect and is currently one of the substitutes for R12. 2. Refrigerant replacement: There is no fixed time cycle for adding or replacing refrigerant. Whether it needs to be replaced or added mainly depends on the state of the air conditioning refrigeration. The simplest way to evaluate the state of refrigeration is to measure the temperature of the air conditioning outlet, which is generally between 5 to 10 degrees Celsius and considered normal, with slight variations among different vehicle models. After eliminating reasons such as heat dissipation or refrigerant leakage, the refrigerant can be replaced. Additionally, after repairing or replacing components of the air conditioning system, the refrigerant may also be replaced to ensure the cooling effect of the air conditioning.
In my past days of repairing cars, refrigerant oil was something I frequently dealt with. It's a specialized lubricant used in automotive air conditioning systems, not your regular engine oil. When the compressor is running, it needs this oil to lubricate internal components, reduce friction and wear, and keep the refrigerant flowing smoothly. If there's insufficient or aged refrigerant oil, the compressor can start making clunking noises or even seize up, causing the entire AC system to blow warm air. I remember when helping car owners fix their AC, I often checked the quantity and quality of the refrigerant oil; different vehicle models require different types, such as some using synthetic PAG oil that's compatible with new environmentally friendly refrigerants. Regularly replacing refrigerant oil can extend the AC system's lifespan and prevent refrigerant leaks. Don't underestimate it – without it, the AC in summer would leave you sweltering in discomfort.
