GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Notice: Use only Polyalkylene Glycol Synthetic Refrigerant Oil (PAG) for internal circulation through the R-134a A/C system and only 525 viscosity mineral oil on fitting threads and O-rings. If lubricants other than those specified are used, compressor failure and/or fitting seizure may result.

If the refrigerant charge is abruptly lost due to a large refrigerant leak, approximately 90 ml (3 fl oz) 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 to bleed off over time do not experience this oil loss.

When you replace a component which caused a large refrigerant leak, add the following fluids:

    • 90 ml (3 fl oz) of new polyalkylene glycol (PAG) synthetic refrigerant oil (GM P/N 12345923 or equivalent)
    • The required amount of oil for the particular component

Add the oil directly to the replaced component if possible. If you cannot easily add the oil to the replaced part, add the oil to the accumulator.

You must add new oil to the system whenever you replace components, as follows:

    • The compressor -- The V-5 compressor requires 60 ml (3 fl oz) of PAG refrigerant oil. Replacement compressors will not have any oil in the compressor. Add the correct amount of oil to the replacement compressor before installation.
    • The evaporator -- Add 60 ml (2 fl oz)
    • The condenser -- Add 30 ml (1 fl oz)
    • The accumulator -- Add 90 ml (3 fl oz)

Replace the accumulator only when a physical perforation to the shell results in any of the following conditions:

    • A leak
    • A damaged O-ring seat
    • Damaged fitting threads to the inlet or the outlet lines