Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

wrenwright on Fri September 16, 2011 11:24 PM

Year: 1990
Make: Volvo
Model: 240
Refrigerant Type: r134a

I'm working on a buddy's 240 and have a question about which oil should be used with a r134a conversion.

According to the Volvo service manual covering this conversion, ester oil should be used. However, I've noticed that my '93 model which came with r134a from the factory uses PAG46. Since I'm replacing all of the hoses and upgrading the car to a parallel-flow condenser, I want to make sure to clean all of the old oil out and use the right stuff.

The car has a Seltec DKS-15BH compressor. I've been told that Diesel Kiki/Seltec never warrantied that compressor for use with ester oil, only mineral oil.

What are my options here? I've got a jug of Ester oil that I purchased from AMM and I can get the PAG oil locally of course. I want to use the oil that is going to be the best for the compressor.

Any tips for getting all of the old oil from the compressor "crankcase"? I was thinking that there must be some easy way to flush it out. Or should I just drain it as best I can and then refill?

Thanks for the help!







Edited: Sat September 17, 2011 at 2:14 AM by wrenwright

Dougflas on Sat September 17, 2011 6:16 AM

If it were mine, I'd use ester oil. I would fill the compressor, turn it manually, drain it and repeat this 2 or 3 times. I would flush the other components with the Heacat pulsator. This flushing tool does a real good job.

TRB on Sat September 17, 2011 7:36 AM

If it's the OEM compressor and in 1990 all systems used mineral oil. Why would they not have a warranty on it?

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wrenwright on Sat September 17, 2011 12:07 PM

What I was referring to was Seltec not warrantying that compressor if it was used with ester oil such as in a conversion. Naturally, it was covered under warranty when used with the original mineral oil.

TRB on Sat September 17, 2011 10:38 PM

Seltec has never warrantied a compressor is the years I have used them. There is always a reason a claim get denied. Now has how many vendors that have supplied a warranty is a different question.

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wrenwright on Sun September 18, 2011 12:06 AM

Good point.

So from what I'm gathering, ester oil is what I should use.

TRB on Sun September 18, 2011 12:10 AM

System flush and freash oil. BVA Auto Glo is what I would use.

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wrenwright on Sun September 18, 2011 3:17 PM

I've got a jug of the AMA ester that I bought a couple of summers ago. That's the same stuff minus the dye isn't it?

TRB on Sun September 18, 2011 6:17 PM

Yes. Hopefully it was kept sealed over this time. Otherwise I would buy some fresh oil.

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ice-n-tropics on Sun September 18, 2011 6:54 PM

Volvo was the only major OEM to insist on Ester.
Volvo always recommended ester for retrofit because:
1) Reduces copper plating on interior surfaces when all the residual R-12 is not evacuated out of the residual/cling mineral oil.
2) Can still check refrigerant charge by the sight glass (PAG turns the sight glass milky at higher ambients).
3) Volvo specified some elastomers (especially some of the compressor manufacturer's seals) with Viton which doesn't like PAG and R-134a. Best to stick with R-12 on Volvos.
Cordially,
hotrodac


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Isentropic Efficiency=Ratio of Theoretical Compression Energy/Actual Energy.
AMAZON.com: How To Air Condition Your Hot Rod

wrenwright on Mon September 19, 2011 4:31 AM

Thanks, Ice. In response to your post, I'll be completely cleaning out everything and making new hoses, so there shouldn't be any R-12, mineral oil, etc. in the system.

Can you say more about the Volvo spec'ed compressor seals that don't like r134a?

One thing that I find interesting is that Volvo changed over to a Seiko compressor in '93 when they went to r-134a from the Seltec compressor they used with many of the R-12 cars.

ice-n-tropics on Mon September 19, 2011 2:45 PM

Before Seltec, Volvo specified to Sanden to use Viton compressor seals with R-12.
I don't know what seal materials Seltec used.
hotrodac

-------------------------
Isentropic Efficiency=Ratio of Theoretical Compression Energy/Actual Energy.
AMAZON.com: How To Air Condition Your Hot Rod

Edited: Mon September 19, 2011 at 2:47 PM by ice-n-tropics