Compressor Oil for R1234yf

The benefits of R-1234yf are simple: the new refrigerant lasts only 11 days in the atmosphere, compared to 13 years for R-134a. This is why the EPA requires that R-1234yf be installed in all new systems by 2021.

So what does this mean for independent shopkeepers and technicians? It’s not a question of whether, but when, your shop should deal with one of these systems. While working on the R-1234yf system isn’t that different from the R-134a variation in operation or theory, identifying the refrigerant and recharging the system has some new twists.

CREDIT AND MANDATE FOR TRANSITION R1234YF

R-1234yf began appearing in 2014 in select vehicles. Early adoption allows OEMs to get EPA credit for transitioning to new refrigerants. The next set of vehicles making a change are new platforms that start with a clean sheet of paper.

After that, the world’s platform vehicles sold in North America and Europe made a jump. For 2023, most OEMs have switched over on most of their vehicle platforms, but there have been some minor exceptions. Overall, the industry change to R-1234yf was completed well before the 2021 deadline.

This “staggered” transition to R-1234yf created problems for the repair shops servicing these vehicles. The problem is the possibility of contamination of R-1234yf vehicles with R-134a or other refrigerant mixtures. Although the service port is different for the two refrigerants, that doesn’t prevent someone from finding out how to contaminate the system. If a technician doesn’t know the difference or doesn’t have the proper tools to identify the refrigerant in a system, it can damage the A/C recycling/recovery machine.

If you persist in purchasing an R-1234yf recycling/recovery machine, you can still identify the R-1234yf and refrigerant present, along with possible contaminants. Refrigerant testing kits can help diagnose A/C problems in newer model vehicles, even if you plan to rent out the recovery and charging parts of the job.

New recycling/recovery machines have come a long way. The new SAE J2843 certified machines have automated processes that require minimal supervision. Some machines work with phone and tablet apps to let technicians know when a task is complete or if further checks need to be performed.

TRAINING FOR R-1234YF

Technicians are recommended to recertify under the SAE standard J609 Technician Training Certification Program. This training standard has been updated with new information to ensure that technicians understand handling and servicing the new R-1234yf refrigerant.

PRICE R-1234YF

One of the big issues in the past with the R-1234yf was price. Due to limited production capacity and inventory, the reported price at some new car dealerships was $60 to $100 per pound a few years ago. That price has dropped significantly due to greater availability in the aftermarket and manufacturer improvements. In general, R-1234yf costs twice as much as R-134a.

CHANGE THE COMPRESSOR OIL

However, just as the discontinuation of R-12 necessitated the use of certain ester and PAG oils, the introduction of R-1234yf brought with it new requirements for A/C compressor oils that engineers need to be aware of as manufacturers now require more varied and specific formulations of A/C compressor oils. for the cars they make.

The proprietary nature of these products has placed the onus on shop owners and technicians to be stocked with, and ready to use, the widest range of A/C compressor oils on the market to accommodate any vehicle that comes into their shop.

For hybrid-electric vehicles using electrically driven compressors, polyol ester (POE) oils are not only recommended, their use is mandatory in most cases.

Using PAG oil in hybrid cars can be dangerous for the vehicle, but it can also be dangerous for technicians because of the risk of electric shock associated with using the wrong A/C compressor oil.