Refrigerant compressor oil like automotive engine oil is the lifeblood of the mechanical equipment it protects. Over the years I have seen different oils used in the ammonia refrigeration applications. Each equipment manufacturer supplies the original oil charge at start up of the new equipment. Warranty on equipment is contingent upon using the manufacturers oil or a manufacturer approved oil. (If you are using a mfg. approved oil make sure you have it documented in writing on manufacturers letterhead and not from a salesman or factory rep).

After warranty expires many plants change to a lower cost oil which can be purchased locally. While this seems practical from a bookkeeping standpoint it costs the plant efficiency and money in a variety of ways.

1) Premature failure on wear parts

2) Different oil bases and additives congealing, sludging and clogging filters and strainers. This can starve the equipment of lubricant and cause a refrigeration system to shut down for low oil. This as well may cause a potential accident when a technician tries to remove and clean a clogged strainer.

The arrival of the “new generation” oils has been somewhat of a sore subject with some manufactures and warranty on their equipment. Be sure to do your homework before changing and mixing oils.

We have just had an experience where a client bought a new screw compressor and had the following situation occur. At start up the oil used was a “new generation oil” similar to ISEL2033 or CAMCO 717HD. The compressor started up without any problems and ran for two weeks without incident. Soon the unit shut down due to low oil pressure. After finding the primary oil filter clogged the technician changed the filter and the unit ran fine. This happened frequently. The manufacturer came to the facility and hooked up a laptop computer to the micro to track the operation and find out what keeps shutting down the compressor. We came to the conclusion that after years of running the old kinds of oil and mixing several different oils, deposits and sludge were distributed throughout the system as well as in the bottom of the vessels. When the new compressor charged with the new oil was put on line the new oil was actually dissolving the deposits and sludge and cleaning the system and clogged not only the compressor filters but strainers and filters throughout the plant After doing a complete oil and filter change the plant is now running clean and the system is now running more efficient than in many years prior. If you are interested in more information on this subject e-mail me at nh34756@accessatc.net