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I’m ready to finish installing my brand-new AC system. Every single component is new and un-oiled.
Unfortunately, because of where I’m living, I don’t have US-style auto parts stores within easy reach and the only PAG oil I’ve been able to find is a generic brand with no viscosity rating anywhere on the packaging. The counter staff at the store didn’t know and searching online hasn’t helped either.
OEM recommendation is PAG 46 (it’s a Denso 10PA17C), and for all I know this oil *is* 46, but what if it’s actually 150? What would be the actual real-world effect of using it? Are we talking likely compressor failure in mere weeks, or would it maybe fail in 5 years instead of 15?
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The compressor would fail, most likely fairly soon. I can’t rightly say minutes, hours, days, or weeks, but it will be pretty quick with improper lubrication. A much higher vis oil than recommended won’t flow the same and won’t fit into tighter clearances resulting in lack of lubrication causing catastrophic failure. This will likely void the warranty also. If you are not sure of the vis of this oil, don’t use it. Or, if you can get the manufacturer name and part number of the oil you may be able to find its specs online. It is most likely 100 vis.
As mentioned, there’s nothing online about this oil (which is Yokohama brand, but not necessarily the actual famous Japanese Yokohama).
I just checked to see if Mopar sells its own-brand PAG46, and it doesn’t. Or rather, it only sells PAG46 for use “specifically with Visteon AC compressors”. For other compressors you’re supposed to use Mopar’s “universal” R134a PAG, which doesn’t specify a viscosity anywhere.
EDIT – just for the hell of it I checked Motorcraft too, and it’s the same, they now sell a universal PAG that replaces their previous separate viscosities.
The universal oils don’t list a viscosity because they are compatible with all of them, sort of like a multi-vis engine oil. They were developed so that shops wouldn’t have to stock so many different vis of pag, ester, and mineral oils. You could probably use the universal oil just fine. The unknown oil you first posted about could be universal, but I wouldn’t trust it if the word universal isn’t on the packaging.
You will need to know the viscosity If you add to heavy of an oil it will not return
as it needs to. How long before failure? could be short or long. Not worth the final
step with all new expensive stuff. Try ebay if you cant find the oil or online and have
it shipped.[quote=”Dunebasher” post=137053]I just checked to see if Mopar sells its own-brand PAG46, and it doesn’t. Or rather, it only sells PAG46 for use “specifically with Visteon AC compressors”. For other compressors you’re supposed to use Mopar’s “universal” R134a PAG, which doesn’t specify a viscosity anywhere.[/quote]
I just looked in my Mopar catalog and what you are looking for is ND8, part #82300102AB. That is PAG 46.The A/C service machine at work is furnished with PAG 100 only. It is my shop’s “compromise” oil that has been determined to work in everything, using the logic that since they sell PAG 50, 100, and 150, then the 100 must work in everything because it’s the one in the middle. We’ve installed this oil in everything for years, and it is the correct oil for virtually nothing. The point, however, is that we’ve never had any problem with an A/C system that was thought to have been caused by the oil. Certainly none of our cars come back with blown up compressors after being serviced. It ain’t perfect, and it may not be that professional, but it’s what really happens when the wrong PAG oil is used.
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