Air Conditioning Compressor Replacement

GENERAL INFORMATION

03-26

Precautions for refrigerant recovery, recycling 
and recharging 
When the air conditioning system is recharged, any 
existing refrigerant is first recovered from the system 
and  recycled. The system is then charged with the 
required weight of refrigerant and volume of 
refrigerant oil.

WARNING: Refrigerant must always be recycled 
before re-use to ensure that the purity of the 
refrigerant is high enough for safe use in the air 
conditioning system.

Recycling should always be carried out with 
equipment which is design certified by 
Underwriter Laboratory Inc. for compliance with 
SAE J1991. Other equipment may not recycle 
refrigerant to the required level of purity.

A R134a Refrigerant Recovery Recycling 
Recharging Station must not be used with any 
other type of refrigerant.

Refrigerant R134a from domestic and 
commercial sources must not be used in motor 
vehicle air conditioning systems.

CAUTION: The system must be evacuated 
immediately before recharging commences. 
Delay between evacuation and recharging is not 
permitted.

Air Conditioning Compressor 
Replacement

A new compressor is supplied filled with a full charge 
(X cm

3

) of refrigerant oil. 

 + 

 CAPACITIES, FLUIDS, LUBRICANTS 

AND SEALANTS, Capacities.A calculated quantity 
of oil must be drained from the new compressor 
before fitting. To calculate the quantity of oil to be 
drained:

1 Remove the drain plug from the old 

compressor.

2 Invert the compressor and gravity drain the oil 

into a calibrated measuring cylinder. Rotate the 
compressor clutch to ensure the compressor is 
completely drained.

3 Note the quantity of oil drained (Y cm

3

).

4 Calculate the quantity of oil to be drained from 

the new compressor using the following 
formula:

X cm

3

 — (Y cm

3

 + 20 cm

3

) = Q cm

3

5 Remove the drain plug from the new 

compressor and drain Q cm

3

 of oil. Fit and 

tighten the compressor drain plug.