My system has been in place and never touched since manufacture. Now I have the AC apart to do a rebuild of the engine.

When I cleaned up the AC compressor and laid it down, in the morning there was a small pool of AC oil that came from the front of the compressor.

Do I need to get a new compressor? I did nothing to it other than clean with water. No high pressure.

 

no, just approximate the oil lost from the compressor and replace it.
I don'tknow what kind of comp oil they use probably pag or something.
Tal

 

Thank you for that response. Can you clarify why you think there is not problem?

A bit more clarification on my end: I put the compressor on its nose for a few weeks. All the oil would move to the seal area. My thinking is with no pressure on the seal, oil was able to leak by easily. Thinking correctly?

Ben

 

The oil circulates with the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle.
You could look at the Label on the radiator and see what the initial charge of oil\refrigerant was. Since you have the compressor removed you should be able to drain "most' of the oil from the compressor by tilting the compressor and letting gravity do most the work for you.
There will still be 'some' oil trapped in the system so you won't want to replace the whole initial oil charge, I'd guess 80-85%.

It would HOWEVER be easier to just replace what you lost but please be aware that refrigeration oil is hydroscopic, or it will suck water right out of the environment and attach to the oil.
Any time a refrigeration cycle is opened to the environment It is a REALLY good idea to be sure to pull a really, really good vaccum on the system when re-assembled to boil any h20 and non-condensables out of the system to prevent having to replace the compressor again.
Tal