Proper method to change POE oil

**timevacuum** · 10-08-2010, 02:35 AM

I was watching over the shoulder of my HVAC service tech who was attempting to get the old POE oil out before putting new in. The system is a 3.5 ton Goodman heatpump on 410A. The reason for the new oil is that both the flowrater and the TX have jammed up over a period of about 4 years. The flowrater had a waxy residue on it when it was removed a while back. That just isn't right. So they are completely flushing the system and replacing the oil and 410A.

-Trouble is only about 2 tablespoons of POE oil came out. He was pushing nitrogen into the valve on the large diameter line and venting through the valve on the small diameter. This would require the oil to travel from the compressor all the way through the coils in the outdoor unit to get out? This just seems like the difficult way to get the oil out to me. But IANAHVST. Any comments?

**hvaclover** · 10-08-2010, 03:52 AM

Yes.

Trust your contractor.

**beenthere** · 10-08-2010, 05:22 AM

Ain't gonna get the oil out that way.

**badbillr** · 10-08-2010, 06:58 AM

Not the correct way to remove the oil from a system. Click on the link below to watch a video on how a system is to be flushed. The guy in this video has made several HVAC videos and does a pretty good job.

**timevacuum** · 10-08-2010, 12:13 PM

2 out of 3 say this isn't the right way
-so what is the right way to get the poe oil out of the compressor?

That was an excellent video but he had the compressor removed. My guy is doing this without replacing the compressor.

**just_opinion** · 10-08-2010, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by timevacuum

-so what is the right way to get the poe oil out of the compressor?
.

Take it out and flip it.

**Shophound** · 10-08-2010, 01:59 PM

You have other problems if in four years your system has a waxy residue jamming up your metering device.

Do you get your condenser coils thoroughly cleaned every year?

**mgenius33** · 10-09-2010, 12:49 AM

uhh, replace the compressor, and flush the system properly without the compressor or TXV's connected....
Good luck with that system lasting it's expected 10 years.
The new compressor comes shipped with proper amount of oil in it.

**timevacuum** · 10-09-2010, 01:54 AM

I don't clean the coils yearly. Curious though. How would this create stuff to jam a valve sealed in the system?

On the topic of trusting your installer, I've been down that road. And it wasn't fun. I have a new installer now and he's doing a good job. But he's dealing with issues left behind by the last guy.

So going back to the OP, other than ripping out the compressor, there's not much that can be done to replace the oil in the system?

**kevinnn** · 10-09-2010, 02:46 AM

I think he is inquiring about the coil cleaning because; a dirty condenser coil will cause excessive head pressure and thus an abnormally high refrigerant temp which may have broken down the oil (I am not too familar with POE) but this is probably the case, I am guessing. The only way to get the oil out is to flip it(the comp) and liquid flush the lines with a product designed for that purpose. Bypassing the metering devices on the indoor and outdoor units.

**timevacuum** · 10-09-2010, 03:48 AM

Alright that makes sense. I'll have a good look and give it a clean. Dr.Zarkloff's got a pretty good description of the basic cleaning process. Thanks.

**hvaclover** · 10-09-2010, 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by timevacuum

Alright that makes sense. I'll have a good look and give it a clean. Dr.Zarkloff's got a pretty good description of the basic cleaning process. Thanks.

Did you hear he got busted for suspicion of child perversion?

He is in lock up right now.