New Condenser - How to add oil?

[Metallo]

Hi all,

last year, my condenser had a big leak, and after 3-4 days all the fluid was gone.
I could see every morning the fluid on the garage slab.

Of course, I did no run the A/C since then.

Today, I removed the old condenser, when I disconnected the two pipes, no fluid at all came out. I cleaned the pressostats and I am now ready to put on the new condenser.

One simple question:
I know that I must fill the condenser with 20ml of PAG46 (before taking the car to the garage to recharge with R134).
The only port I see is the one I circled in the attachment, I mean through one of the two holes where the pipes connect.

Is this the right way to add the oil to the condenser?

If not, how do I add it?

Thank you,
Alessandro

[volvo always]

I undid one of the bolts holding the AC pipes on top of the compressor, once new condenser was fitted and used a funnel and poured it in. You want the oil in the compressor to lubricate it initially.

Not sure but the AC filling machine may also add the oil. I just said to add R134A only as have added the oil myself.

An AC specialist would be better to come to your car and give it a thorough pressure and sniffer test, as my experience of garage type with AC machine has been very poor as AC leaked out in less than a week, money wasted.

James.

[griston64]

Originally Posted by volvo always

I undid one of the bolts holding the AC pipes on top of the compressor, once new condenser was fitted and used a funnel and poured it in. You want the oil in the compressor to lubricate it initially.

Not sure but the AC filling machine may also add the oil. I just said to add R134A only as have added the oil myself.

An AC specialist would be better to come to your car and give it a thorough pressure and sniffer test, as my experience of garage type with AC machine has been very poor as AC leaked out in less than a week, money wasted.

James.

Agree with James on the specialist. I got mine refilled at ATS and it had all gone in less than a week

[Laird Scooby]

You can't add oil to the condenser separately because it means opening the gas-tight system. Whoever adds the gas will add the correct amount of oil for the whole system when it is regassed.

Have you renewed the reciever-dryer? If fluid was dripping out of the condenser, this will have been water due to the system previously not being vacuumed down/evacuated completely previously and/or a failed/old reciever-dryer - many manufacturers stipulate a 2 year renewal interval on the reciever-dryer.

They're cheap for the 7/9xx models so no reason to skimp on this important part, get a new one, take it with you when the system is going to be regassed and get them to fit it and also explain you've replaced the condenser due to the old one being damaged. It will likely take about an hour to fully evacuate all moisture from the system before they can pressure test it and then vac it down and regas it with the right amount of oil.