Compressor

Barrington White

Lets say you didnt have enough oil for the compressor in your system what would happen to your compressor and how fast would it happen.

How much oil is too little and can you tell by just looking at a system, if that was a problem.

Mitch_4

depends

Scroll compressors are more suceptible to loss of oil in the sense that when you loose it (not that they are more prone) they fry easier that recip.

Eventually in either case it will seize. How fast depends on how much is lost.

Kinda like your car..drain 1/2 the oil and run it..might go for several thousand miles...drain it all..might go around the block.

You cannot tell by looking if there is sufficient oil, unless the terminal block blows out and there is oil all over :-}

As for how much is too little? goo question...manufacturers of hermatically sealed compressors do the weigh in..the larger compressors that look like car engines will have sight glasses, and oil content instructions. There is no real way if checking the oil in a hermatic unless you drain it into a measuring cup..more effort than its worth.

Techman

Nate?

It DEPENDS!Any comp that is "low" on oil will be damaged.BUT define "low on oil"! Any comp that has an "oil sight glass" is regulated by the mfrg of the comp.Lennox,Trane, Carrier ,Copeland,Bristol,Grasso,Victaulic,Schnacke,Tecumseh and so on.Years back Copelands were supposed to have 1/2 to 3/4 of a glass,now it's "as long as there is oil in the glass".If the comp is low on oil,where did the oil go?It's my understanding that the oil level can be determined,in welded comps, by a warmer temp where the oil level is ,and a somewhat cooler temp where the suction gases are above the oil level the oil.Do you want to save comp's or kill them?????????????????????

Mitch_4

I amend

my statement...unlike units with sightglass, there is no 100% absolutely sure way to tell short of draining it and measuring. there are some tests that can indicate the potential for being "low" in heramtics.

Again as techman said "low" is relative..99% si low because it should be 100, but may not adversely affect operation.

AND as previously mentioned, wher is it going?