Parallel flow consenser oil - w123?
 

Converting to a parallel flow condenser. In the kit's installation manual it says to add a small amount of oil to the drier during installation, but the FSM calls for some amount added to the condenser as well drier when replacing. Is there any reason why I shouldnt add oil to a parallel flow condenser? Or should i add the whole amount to the drier?

I think it has to do with volumnes of the condensers. If the PF condenser has the same volumne as the old condenser, no adjustment of oil or refrigerant qty is required? What kind of oil are you putting in? When I re-do with R12, i will prob use Behr Hella PAO 68, a non hydroscopic synthetic oil compatible with most refrigerants, incl 134 & 12..

Using Pag 150 to match what is in the new compressor, running r134a

the oil being in the dryer wont hurt the system at all, the system flow will mix it up anyway.

The dryer is designed to have oil covering the desiccant crystals or beads...
this is why it is impossible , once they have been saturated , to dry them by pulling a vacuum , no matter how good or how long , on the system.

So just put the oil required for the drier + condenser into the new drier and let it circulate? I have no idea the volume of the old condenser vs the new.

Follow the instructions with your new condensor.... perhaps call them for the reason they suggested that..
but the FSM says to spread the oil around....
I suspect that oil will make it to the receiver and the correct amount remain there... and the rest be mixed with the refrigerant and circulate as designed....

Fill the condensers with oil. make sure no bubbles, pour oil into measuring cup.

Are you sure you are communicating what you suggest he does ?

How much total oil have you determined your system needs ?

I dont have the chart handy, i think about 230ml - but I will check the FSM before i wrap it up.
Oversized parallel flow is a really tight fit. Had to shim it a little to avoid the metal behind my drivers side headlight. The aux fan shroud is not touching the new condenser since its so much thinner. Probably have room to go to a w126 or even a dual fan system now.

so are we to assume the liquid refrigerant after the condenser cannot mix with the oil in the dryer? If oil is put in the condenser - it will be shot into the dryer along with refrigerant anyway.

I think I misread how the FSM wants you to add oil. It provides an amount to add when replacing components, but I dont think it specifies that you need to fill those components - it should all get mixed in and distributed. I am still waiting on my equipment to pressure test the system, so I havent installed my new drier - but I plan on adding the oil to the drier, as the tool used to inject oil in the system under pressure is pricey.

Did get the new condenser installed this weekend. The 16x24 unit is a pretty tight fit, I needed to add some shims, or could have adjusted the brackets a bit if I had been thinking. Apparently I won't have my nitrogen regulator until next monday, so we won't know how well the system works until then.

Will the system be dry (of oil) when you do the pressure test? It's a better test when there is no oil in the system since the oil has viscosity and could block some pores. A trick to inject oil without a pricey oil injector is to fill the yellow hose completely with oil, cap it of and let gravity do its work. As long as the hose is completely filled, no air gets in.

I already have some oil in the system, mainly at the compressor and evaporator. I was planning on adding the remainder of the oil directly to the drier, which really should not be leaking except possibly the seals. I am not going to break the system apart just to drain the fresh oil I added a couple weeks ago though. (System was flushed, compressor, txv, drier, condenser, lines to condenser, and all seals have been replaced now)