vp v8 air con compressor contains oil?

[orinoko]

Hey,

Doing a v6 to v8 conversion on my vp right now and was cleaning up the air con compressor unit with degreaser, rolling it over and cleaning each side and noticed that when the two main pipe holes were facing ground, it spewed this cooking oil-coloured liquid. It even felt like engine oil... but obviously wasnt.

Is this the refridgerant used in the aircon system? Or is it perhaps some kind of oil to lubricate the internals of the compressor, and now I've stuffed it up by letting it all get out? Can it be replaced by people like Profix?

[Brett_jjj]

Thats just the A/C compresssor oil.They can replace that when they regas the system.I swapped A/C compressors on my VS a while back,and I lost some compressor oil whilst removing the compressor from the donor car,so I got the A/C guys to refill the compressor oil as well as the regas.The compressor oil flows around through the A/C system with the gas.

[turmoil117]

If you have had the pipes off of the compressor and you havnt blocked the holes then the oil will be no good becouse it's hydroscopic like brake fluid and it absorbs moisture from the air. So you'll most probably have to get it all replaced

[Brett_jjj]

If you have had the pipes off of the compressor and you havnt blocked the holes then the oil will be no good becouse it's hydroscopic like brake fluid and it absorbs moisture from the air. So you'll most probably have to get it all replaced

I didnt know that about A/C compressor oil,I knew brake fluid was like that though,Im glad I did get it replaced now,I wasnt going to worry about it,but thought Id better, seeing how I'd lost some oil out of it,and when I think about it, the compressor sat around open for a few days too before it was fitted,I just had clean rag shoved in the holes to stop dust etc getting into it.Plenty of time to soak up lots of moisture.

[orinoko]

Great! *grumbles*... no chance it can be completely drained and replaced then?

[Brett_jjj]

Great! *grumbles*... no chance it can be completely drained and replaced then?

Yeah it can be drained and refilled.Thats what they did with mine.Because I lost some of the oil out of mine,they drained it, then refilled it with new oil to make sure it has the proper amount of oil.

[orinoko]

Yeah it can be drained and refilled.Thats what they did with mine.Because I lost some of the oil out of mine,they drained it, then refilled it with new oil to make sure it has the proper amount of oil.

Ahhhh sweet. Thats much better news than to have to fork out for a 'new' compressor. Looking on ebay, they are around the $400 mark! Thanks guys for your help

[Cheap6]

If you have had the pipes off of the compressor and you havnt blocked the holes then the oil will be no good becouse it's hydroscopic like brake fluid and it absorbs moisture from the air. So you'll most probably have to get it all replaced

It depends on the oil being used. It's a VP so should be using R12 - the oil used with that should be OK. The dessicant in the receiver drier/accumulator won't work very well if it has been exposed to air for an extended period though.

[lein]

The R12 oil was still Hygroscopic even-though it was mineral based. And as it'll probably be going onto R134a may as well just replace it, it won't hurt and shouldn't cost too much. The dryer will need to be changed regardless (as far as the law is concerned).

[orinoko]

The R12 oil was still Hygroscopic even-though it was mineral based. And as it'll probably be going onto R134a may as well just replace it, it won't hurt and shouldn't cost too much. The dryer will need to be changed regardless (as far as the law is concerned).

Yeah even the VP Calais/Ute Handbook that comes with the car even states that a R12 replacement refrigerant was to be replaced with 'something' else in the near future. Funny how they anticipated it back then.

Anyway, you mentioned the dryer will need to be changed regardless? Is that the whole metal can thing near the firewall? They put a whole new can in?

[lein]

I think that may have been the last of the R12 Commodores, unless the early VRs ran it. It was all to do with the Montreal Protocol in the early 90s and the commotion to do with CFCs.

Anyway, you mentioned the dryer will need to be changed regardless? Is that the whole metal can thing near the firewall? They put a whole new can in?

Yep that's it. Think of it as filter for your aircon, like an oil filter.

[Cheap6]

The R12 oil was still Hygroscopic even-though it was mineral based.

Are you sure? How does the chemistry for that work? The PAG and ester lubricants are hygroscopic because they are miscible with water.

And as it'll probably be going onto R134a may as well just replace it, it won't hurt and shouldn't cost too much. The dryer will need to be changed regardless (as far as the law is concerned).

Fair comment.

[orinoko]

Ok, so if I were to put the engine in, and put all the aircon componentry in and then drive it to a workshop to get filled, it will ok, yes? I mean, I wont turn on the aircon etc, since there will be no gas and no oil in it, so that will be ok right?

[orinoko]

Anybody? Surely itll be ok just to drive to the shop to get regassed..?

[lein]

Anybody? Surely itll be ok just to drive to the shop to get regassed..?

Should be no worries. There is a pressure switch in the system that will sense that there is no gas and won't allow you to turn it on anyway.

[lein]

Are you sure? How does the chemistry for that work? The PAG and ester lubricants are hygroscopic because they are miscible with water.

I don't know on the chemistry. I did find a snippet in an old book:
"Refrigeration oil is highly refined and dehydrated. Therefore, the oil container must always be kept tightly closed when not in use. If the container is left uncapped, even for a short time, moisture will be absorbed from the atmosphere by the oil, and then introduced into the A/C system."

[orinoko]

Awesome, thanks everyone.

I'll build up the engine bay after it is resprayed and take it from there!