blown 87

Does any one know the specs for the oil that was factory fill for the AC systems in a S4?
And where it is in the WSM.

There are so many to chose from, Viscosity from 100-3000 SUS, paraffin, non paraffin, etc........
I am finally out of stock on the old BG oil for R12 and they no longer make it.

And before you say just use Ester, don't.
Go read the labels on Ester oils, every one I have looked at say for R134A and suitable for conversion from R12, I know mineral oil works with R12 and that is what I am going to use.

Thanks

Rob Edwards

Dunno exactly but here are the name brand oils that Porsche approved of in 1990- might be able to google their specs:

blown 87

If I can not find a spec on this I am going to use a non paraffin oil with a viscosity of 500 at 100 F

Mrmerlin

I went to NAPA and bought a bottle (1QT) of mineral oil made for AC systems about 7.00

PN 209500
It says refrigerant oil made for auto AC systems using Freon

Its being used in my 86

Ed Scherer

Greg, that's an interesting and timely (for me) question, as you just made me reconsider something I was about to do (using ester with R12 like I did last time).

Because of using too much oil on a major A/C overhaul I did about a year ago (long story), I'm about to do a flush and start over on oil. Last time, I used ester. The Griffiths "Kuehl" compressor came preloaded with it, so I figured I'd go ahead and use it, in case I wanted to convert to R134a.

Now I'm 99% sure I'm going to stay with R12, so I just read up on the issue and agree that if you're running R12, you should use mineral oil, not ester. (Good reference from Castrol: "Frequently Asked Questions Related to A/C Lubricants").

I just fired off an e-mail to Charlie Griffiths to get his recommendation on what mineral oil to use.

I'm assuming that you're working with a Denso compressor (an earlier model to the 10PA20C my '90 originally used).

Regarding the NAPA oils (I just looked these up about an hour ago), I saw these descriptions:

• NAPA TEM 209500 "SUS 500 Wax Free Lubricant" $7.98
• NAPA TEM 209503 "lubricant w/ Anti-Wear Additives for FX15, FS6, and Nippondenso Compressors from 1/88" $14.64

Anyway... it's interesting that the second one (with the additives) mentions Nippondenso compressors (but only 88-).

SeanR

I've been using the NAPA wax free mineral oil for a couple of years.

Part number 209500

Ed Scherer

Sean, do you use it with any/all of the compressor models you encounter?

SeanR

I have been, yes. Unless doing a conversion or a 134 system. If I need to add oil, it's because I've already emptied the system of oil and starting fresh.

blown 87

Thanks, that sounds like what I will be using, a non parffin oil with a SUS of 500.

I was shocked to learn that BG changed the formula on the Frigi-Quite and that the old was NLA.

WallyP

If I remember correctly, the R-12 928 systems call for 525, so your 500 will be pretty close...

I think that I used some 600 GM-spec oil.

blown 87

thanks for the link, I will check that out.
That FX15 compressor is just junk, always has been, even with R12, but when folks put 134A in them it is only a matter of time till they come apart.

Ed Scherer

Greg, you've probably already seen this, but in case not: Nu-Calgon Refrigeration Oil Cross-Reference (PDF doc). It doesn't have enough specs on it, but at least it's good if you've been running one oil and just need to find similar ones.


Maybe those "Anti-Wear Additives" is what saves them.

blown 87

I checked that link out, lots of good stuff there.
For years I had been trying to tell folks that Ester oil really was not compatible with R12 and to use mineral oil.
I have been actually laughed at, now I have a really good link to send them to.

Thanks again for the link.