Anyone use an oil separator during recovery?

webbch on Thu July 18, 2013 2:46 AM

Ok, I know we've been over this a million times...how a fairly minimal amount of oil is removed during recovery. However, over the course of a number of recovery cycles into the same recovery tank, I'd think there'd be a build-up of oil in both your hoses and the recovery tank - not a substantial volume, but enough to be "not clean". In my mind, I'm wondering if using an oil separator right up front during recovery would minimize such oil buildup in both your gauge set hoses as well as the recovery tank.

Anyone use an oil separator in such a manner? Or do you flush your hoses and/or recovery tank periodically for that reason?

GM Tech on Thu July 18, 2013 7:36 AM

My ACR4 (Robinaire) has one built into it-- I drain it about every 50 cars or so- get maybe 3 ounces or so- If you want to pull oil out on purpose- meerly recover while system is running from the high side only- (and only if port is on the liquid line) Takea about half the charge out- then measure what is in your oil separator- works great on over oiled systems.

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The number one A/C diagnostic tool there is- is to know how much refrigerant is in the system- this can only be done by recovering and weighing the refrigerant!!
Just a thought.... 65% of A/C failures in my 3200 car diagnostic database (GM vehicles) are due to loss of refrigerant due to a leak......

webbch on Thu July 18, 2013 10:18 AM

That's an interesting technique for over oiled systems that I've never heard of. My concern isn't so much about removing oil from the A/C system as it is about avoiding getting a bunch of it in my recovery tank.

HECAT on Thu July 18, 2013 1:36 PM

Search for the Recycle Guard from Airsept.

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webbch on Thu July 18, 2013 2:46 PM

Thanks Hecat - that is exactly what I was talking about. Glad I'm not the only one who's thought about it. At $300+ price point times 2 for R12 and R134a, however, it may be awhile before I can spring for it.

I have to admit, I wonder how effective an air-oil separator (like this) would be, followed by a refrigerant filter on the output.

HECAT on Thu July 18, 2013 7:38 PM

I don't think that would work, its only a 5 micron element.

I believe the Recycle Guard device is built into GM Tech's machine.

The Recycle Guard works like a receiver/accumulator/separator and only allows the refrigerant in gas form to enter the Recovery Machine. A/C Pro's are required (EPA) to have this expensive Recovery Equipment to perform service for profit to the public. Since these tools are heavily relied upon and no A/C work is being done in the shop when they are down; the Recycle Guard has almost become required at protecting the A/C Pro's tool from the "A/C Pro" in a can and other such junk.

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