Trane Recommended Oil

Issue:

Trane oil lubricant

Resolution:

• RTHA and RTHB R-22 Chillers manufactured in Pueblo are nameplated for either of two types of oil
  • Trane OIL00015 (Oil 15)for standard temperature applications 
  • Trane OIL00031 (Oil 31) for low temperature processes (leaving water temperatures at or below 38 deg F).
  • Because Oil 31 has more favorable performance characteristics, all R-22 chillers manufactured at Trane-Pueblo are charged with Oil 31 regardless of nameplate specification.
• Historically, Oil 31 has been harder for the field to get, therefore, when servicing, it is best to follow the nameplate recommendation of each specific unit (provided that the chiller is operating under the conditions for which it was designed).
• Mixing the two types of oil will have no adverse effects and will yield performance characteristics somewhere between the two extremes except as noted above for RTHA and RTHB only.
• The rule of thumb is this:
  • Oil 31 can be used in all R-22 Helical Rotary chillers regardless of application. Also, for chillers with DX evaporators such as RTAA, RTWA, and RTUA, Oil 15 can be used regardless of leaving water temperatures.
• Water Cooled R-22 Pueblo chillers (RTHA and RTHB), on the other hand, have flooded evaporators. This evaporator design requires Oil 31 when the leaving water temperature is 38 deg F or less. Therefore, when in doubt, use Oil 31 on RTHA and RTHB chillers.
• Without exception, RTHC, RTWD and RTAC chillers use Trane OIL00048 (Oil 48) which is a Polyolester Oil specifically formulated for use with R-134a. This oil is used regardless of leaving water temperature.
• RTHD requires one of two oils, depending on the type of compressor starter on the chiller:
  • OIL48  oil type (wye-delta starter)
  • OIL315   oil type (AFD) 
    • OIL00311 (bulk) 
    • OIL00315 (1 gal) 
    • OIL00317 (5 gal)

• RTAE and RTAF use OIL315, even if it uses the same R-134A refrigerant.

• Oil 48 is not compatible with Oil 15 and Oil 31 and can NEVER BE INTRODUCED INTO R-22SYSTEMS. SIMILARLY, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WILL RESULT IF OIL 15 OR OIL 31 IS INTRODUCED TO R-134aSYSTEMS. For this reason, it is recommended that gauges and recovery equipment be purchased and dedicated to a particular refrigeration system, and not mixed between the two.

Scroll Chillers:

All Pueblo-built R-22 scroll chillers (CGWD, CGWE, CGWF, CCAD, CCAE, and CCAF can use either Oil 31 or Oil 15 regardless of water temperatures.

Refer to publication PART-SVB12B-EN [see attachment below] for oils used in large equipment (chillers and large commercial products).  This bulletin replaces HCOM-SB-4.

PLEASE VERIFY OIL TYPE STAMPED ON THE CHILLER NAMEPLATE.

Notes:

Always refer to the nameplate when adding or replacing oil.

See appropriate Installation Operation Maintenance manual for oil quantity.

OIL ADDITIVES:

Various additives have been created, and all claim to provide multiple benefits for centrifugal and screw chillers including improved performance, lubricity, prevent or enhance foaming, improve oil separation/return and leak checking.   It is our opinion that these are risky at best and catastrophic at worst.   Several have been seriously looked at over time.  None of them has ever been shown to improve performance or reliability, and many that have been looked at have serious negative chemistry effects and therefore as a matter of engineering principle we are always cautious of the use of additives of any sort in our lubricating oils.  For this reason, no additive has ever been endorsed or approved by Trane. 

Please refer to CTV-SB-93 for more information on this subject.

As a matter of policy Trane recommends the following:
1.  Trane oils are the only oils approved for use in our equipment.
2.  We do not endorse the use of oil additives or other performance additive of any sort in our chillers other that those specifically provided by Trane.
3.  Any customer asking for an endorsement or approval of any commercially available product should get a strong caution that he is proceeding at his own risk.  Should a failure of the equipment occur during the warranty period  and it is linked to the use of additives, the warranty is null and void, and no claim should be honored. (and I would check the oil chemistry for any failure where oil additives are suspected).

Before this policy would change, Trane would need to carry out a legitimate evaluation of any specific product.  Such evaluations are expensive and divert resources from new product development, and at this time, we have no plans to do so.

Original HUB Document:  DOC-76893, DOC-87117, & DOC-75410

Click the e-library symbol for the latest version

WARNING:

Information in this article is intended for use by individuals possessing adequate backgrounds of electrical and mechanical experience and who comply with all federal, state, and local laws, rules, orders, or regulations related to the installation, service, or repair of a heating or central air conditioning product. Any attempt to install, service, or repair a heating or central air conditioning product may result in personal injury and/or property damage. The manufacturer or seller cannot be responsible for the interpretation of the information contained herein, nor can it assume any liability in connection with its use.