fridge leaking oil

tugger

Member
Nov 11, 2019
69
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boatless
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boatless
my 2007 30 sundancer has a small norcold refrigerator outside and is leaking oil. Looks and feels just like motor oil. I'm pretty sure it's coming from the fridge because there isnt anything around it. Any ideas and can it be fixed, these things are $800-$900. By the way, it still seems to be working well.
 
The only oil would be mixed in the refrigerant and if its leaking then the refrigerant will be low for sure. I'm surprised that it still works if you see significant oil puddling.
CD
 
Aren't those ammonia based fridges? 12v elements for heating ammonia so I can't think of any oil used on those. Or is this a freon type system?
 
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It has to be R134a. Same stuff used in your car AC. It may be cooling now, but if it continues to leak, the compressor will run continuously and it will not cool. They are not made to be recharged, but if you can find and stop the leak, you can put a bullet-piercing valve on the low pressure line and put just a minimal amount of refrigerant in it. A HVAC tech has the gauges and tools. Pressure should be -1 to +1 PSI.

Bennett
 
my 2007 30 sundancer has a small norcold refrigerator outside and is leaking oil. Looks and feels just like motor oil. I'm pretty sure it's coming from the fridge because there isnt anything around it. Any ideas and can it be fixed, these things are $800-$900. By the way, it still seems to be working well.
The only oil would be mixed in the refrigerant and if its leaking then the refrigerant will be low for sure. I'm surprised that it still works if you see significant oil puddling.
CD
It has to be R134a. Same stuff used in your car AC. It may be cooling now, but if it continues to leak, the compressor will run continuously and it will not cool. They are not made to be recharged, but if you can find and stop the leak, you can put a bullet-piercing valve on the low pressure line and put just a minimal amount of refrigerant in it. A HVAC tech has the gauges and tools. Pressure should be -1 to +1 PSI.

Bennett

X10 to all above, don't let it run too long with a low charge and an oil leak. Partial recharge with a dye kit (dye, light and glasses/cheap at HF or else where) will reveal the leak. Pull the unit and get it repaired and save some boat $'s.
 
If you have a leak and lost oil in a refrigerant system then oil and refrigerant will need to be replaced. Refrigerant is the easy part, but the oil lost can't be measured. Compressor oil amount is critical and the only way to measure is to completely remove all oil from compressor and refill with factory specs. Clamp on valves are ok for temporary use, but will eventually leak due to rubber oring as seal. If you are going to put the effort in to do oil and refrigerant IMHO why not go ahead and do it right with a brazed in schrader valve?
 

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