Refrigerant Oil Distribution

If the refrigerant charge is abruptly lost due to a large refrigerant leak, approximately 90 ml (3 fluid ounces) of refrigerant oil will be carried out of the system suspended in the refrigerant. Any failure that caused an abrupt refrigerant discharge will experience this oil loss. Failures that allow the refrigerant to seep or bleed off over time do not experience this oil loss.

Upon replacement of a component which caused a large refrigerant leak, add 90 ml (3 fluid ounces) of new polyalkylene glycol (PAG) synthetic refrigerant oil (GM P/N 12345923 or equivalent) plus the required amount of oil for the particular component (as outlined above) Add the oil directly to the replaced component if possible. If the oil cannot easily be added to the replaced part, add the oil to the accumulator.

New oil must be added to the system when components are replaced, as follows:
^ Compressor - The compressor requires 240 ml (9 fl oz) of PAG refrigerant oil. Replacement compressors will not have any oil in the compressor. The correct amount of oil needs to be added to the replacement compressor before installation.
^ Evaporator - Add 90 ml (3 fl oz).
^ Condenser - Add 30 ml (1 fl oz).
^ Accumulator - Add 105 ml (3.5 fl oz).

The accumulator should only be replaced when a physical perforation to the shell is found resulting in a leak, the O-ring seat is damaged, or the inlet/outlet line fitting threads are damaged.