Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

Dave in Texas on Wed February 08, 2012 6:29 PM

Year: 1981
Make: Ford
Model: F100
Engine Size: 300cid
Refrigerant Type: R12

York compressor. Ford SM specs compressor oil at 10 oz. Before beginning install of new system parts, I followed compressor installation instructions, which state: pour ½ oil amount into the suction-side of the compressor and rest into accumulator. 5oz in each. Being a curious lad, I decided to drain the new compressor to see what comes from the factory and how much. Tag on compressor indicates the compressors are shipped with assembly lube or ICE 32. ICE 32 is a 'lubrication enhancer' from what I've been able to find.

Anyway: I wanted to drain the compressor overnight, so I added the 5oz mineral oil into the accumulator. Next day I had 5oz of oil drained from new compressor. This oil is clear and the color of motor oil....darkish brown. Maybe a 10w oil. Is this what ICE 32 looks like? (It certainly is not a clear/yellow-tinted liquid like mineral oil is)

Hmm....decided to drain as much as possible from the accumulator, which got me 2oz from the overnight draining. It was drained inside at room temp, so there are still 3oz in the accumulator.

Now I'm wondering what to do? Pour this 5oz from the compressor back into it plus the 2oz from the accumulator (which still contains 3oz)? That would make the oil 50% ICE32, if that is what was in the compressor, and 50% mineral oil. Or should I pour a smaller amount of the compressor oil back in and make the mix closer to 70% mineral and 30% ICE 32, assuming that is the product.

Is a compressor coming from the factory with half(5oz) the total system amount(10z) of oil in it, normal?

Did my being curious get me in trouble with this oil charge? Best thing to do?

Thank you for knowledgeable advice. I appreciate it.

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At 2, I went home with a 10. At 10 I woke up with a 2 !!

TRB on Thu February 09, 2012 9:58 AM

I would suggest calculating what you think you might still have in the system Then add the difference needed using Mineral oil. Not a fan of Ice32. Think it might be OK as a lubricant. But it nothing more than another magic oil product. As I was once told a long time ago. Compressor usually don;t fail if they have oil in them. Even ICe32 is not going to do any good if its not in the system anymore.

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Dave in Texas on Thu February 09, 2012 3:47 PM

There is 0 lube in the system. Condenser and evaporator flushed with HECAT flush, and new(reman) compressor, accumulator, hoses .....

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At 2, I went home with a 10. At 10 I woke up with a 2 !!

Edited: Thu February 09, 2012 at 3:48 PM by Dave in Texas

TRB on Thu February 09, 2012 3:50 PM

I would use mineral oil (R12) and nothing else.

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Dave in Texas on Thu February 09, 2012 4:49 PM

Good enough for me, will do that. Thanks

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At 2, I went home with a 10. At 10 I woke up with a 2 !!

mk378 on Fri February 10, 2012 2:42 AM

Dark brown is what you get upon mixing PAG oil with R-12. Is this "ICE32" a PAG based product?

Edited: Fri February 10, 2012 at 2:43 AM by mk378

Dave in Texas on Fri February 10, 2012 11:03 AM

"Is this "ICE32" a PAG based product?"
I don't think it is. From what I've read about it, it is compatible with Mineral and Ester oils and was patented by a DuPont chemist quite awhile ago. I believe it is sold though the 4-Seasons company and is installed in their compressors, both new and reman. I've seen PAG w/ice32 sold everywhere that sells AC supplies. It is very expensive too. In the neighborhood of $12/1.5oz. which cyphers out to about $1000/gal. I believe the folks in the AC business didn't see any of the claims proved out over the years.
My options became clear last night when the dog tipped over the container of drained compressor oil.
My F100 has had 2 compressors since I bought the truck in 1981. New factory installed unit lasted until '1996. I replaced it with a reman and it was still going up until this past summer.....although noisy as all get-out. It had been noisy for a number of years but kept performing. Decided to ditch it before it broke. Both had mineral oil as the lube, as will this next unit.

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At 2, I went home with a 10. At 10 I woke up with a 2 !!

Cussboy on Fri February 10, 2012 7:54 PM

I still use R-12 in my 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, with 525 "mineral-based" oil, Arizona. I would never add anything besides refrigerant (and optional UV dye) into an AC system.

bohica2xo on Sat February 11, 2012 3:20 PM

Uh, Dave if it is a York compressor, the oil goes in the Sump.

Here is the service manual for the compressor:

York compressor service manual

Scroll down to page 7, and you will find the blueprint for the dipstick, and the oil checking procedure. You should check & maintain oil level in the crankcase, very little oil circulates in that arrangement.

B.

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"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

Dave in Texas on Sat February 11, 2012 4:24 PM

Great! Thank you very much for the SM.
Reading under "inspection": Ford SM sez 10oz oil in the compressor. York SM sez 12oz oil. I have 2oz captured in accumulator (I drained another ounce from it in a warm environment) and I poured 8oz in the compressor (mineral oil from ACKits). It wouldn't bother me to add another 2oz into the compressor to make the 12oz. Which SM should I follow?
I appreciate your reply!

Dave

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At 2, I went home with a 10. At 10 I woke up with a 2 !!

Edited: Sat February 11, 2012 at 4:26 PM by Dave in Texas

bohica2xo on Sun February 12, 2012 6:56 PM

Dave:

Think of the 10 oz / 12 oz difference as "Ok" & "Full" on a dipstick. Run the system a bit, then check the sump. That is why old York units had service valves, to isolate the compressor for an oil check or repair.

If you have 10 ounces in it after running a week or so, you should be fine. 12 ounces is the max fill, and 8 ounces is considered "low" - so 10 ounces is the mean. Easy enough to check with a dipstick. Saves a lot of guesswork on a repair.

B.

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"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

Dave in Texas on Mon February 13, 2012 7:13 PM

Thanks B. I understand. I very much appreciate your help!

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At 2, I went home with a 10. At 10 I woke up with a 2 !!