A poor match in a relationship leads to endless conflicts over time. In a refrigeration system, mismatched oil and refrigerant will sooner or later cause serious equipment failures.
Refrigeration oil and refrigerant really need a perfect match.
Mineral oil works with R22. However, eco-friendly refrigerants such as R134a, R404A and R410A require POE synthetic ester oil. Ammonia refrigeration systems adopt AB oil, while CO2 systems use dedicated PAG or POE oil.
The wrong oil causes poor lubrication and compressor wear in mild cases. In severe cases, chemical reactions occur between oil and refrigerant, resulting in coking and copper plating, which completely destroy the compressor.
Before selecting oil, confirm which refrigerant your equipment uses. Proper matching is the golden rule.