Which condition is most consistent with an acidic oil found in a hermetic compressor, requiring action?

Which condition is most consistent with an acidic oil found in a hermetic compressor, requiring action?

• A. Change the system filter driers repeatedly.
• B. Add more refrigerant oil immediately.
• C. Replace only the compressor.
• D. Ignore until next service.

Answer: (A)

Acidic oil means moisture and acid byproducts are present in the refrigerant circuit, which can corrode bearings, seals, and even the compressor itself. The filter drier’s job is to remove moisture and acids from the system. When the oil is acidic, the drier is usually saturated, so simply leaving it in place won’t stop the contaminants from circulating. Replacing the drier removes the accumulated acids and moisture, and doing it more than once helps ensure the system is properly dried and free of residual contaminants before recharging. Adding more oil won’t fix the underlying contamination and could spread acids through the system, while replacing just the compressor or ignoring the issue won’t address the ongoing corrosive condition.

Acidic oil means moisture and acid byproducts are present in the refrigerant circuit, which can corrode bearings, seals, and even the compressor itself. The filter drier’s job is to remove moisture and acids from the system. When the oil is acidic, the drier is usually saturated, so simply leaving it in place won’t stop the contaminants from circulating. Replacing the drier removes the accumulated acids and moisture, and doing it more than once helps ensure the system is properly dried and free of residual contaminants before recharging. Adding more oil won’t fix the underlying contamination and could spread acids through the system, while replacing just the compressor or ignoring the issue won’t address the ongoing corrosive condition.