Reeeeeeeealy dumb question about fridge compressor oil/freon

Searched but didnt find what I was looking for here or yonder, so here goes. I know the freon is a gas and that freon is in the same compressor as the motor and oil correct? If so, I saw in another thread a poster said that he used the oil for cooling tools. Now, wouldn't some of the freon be mixed in with the oil even just a little bit or do the two items stay totally separated and the oil would be clean? I've been saving the oil and not sure why this ?? popped into my head but it did. I think because if I am going to use the oil I wasn't sure if any freon mixed in would catch fire or something lol.



Told ya it was a dumb question

The freon is in the cooling lines to and from the compressor but the oil is in the compressor itself. If that makes sense.

Ok, thank you Mechanic! I think it might even have been you that I saw post using the oil that way.

I disagree..... The 2 are mixed in the same line... HOWEVER!!! as long as the unit hasn't been turned over, you may be fine... when I cut the ends off the "fins" (thats what my yard calls the a/c coils), somtimes oil comes out.... Also.... if you lay the compressor on its side, oil comes out the freon line..

That being said... I think you have as much chance as lighting the freon/oil mix on fire as you would any other type of oil.... so all in all... I think your safe from catching it on fine unless you get it really hot... My only concern would be, do you really want to be breathing in the fumes from that oil as even with just using it to cool drill bits, the oil will produce smoke....

Destructo, both my dad and I had to back off cutting the latest compressor apart from the acrid smoke it produced. So I had to cut a small bit at a time and let it cool off so I dint have to smell it so much. Thats why I wondered if it was just oil that was producing that or some of the freon too.

so I'm going to assume that even with the freon removed there is still some mixed in with the oil to be on the safe side.

Can you cut the compressor outside? Maybe in front of a fan to blow the smoke away?

I disagree..... The 2 are mixed in the same line...

Sorry, I stand corrected.

Refrigerant + Fire = Mustard Gas
Not a good mix but if you do use the oil as a coolant make sure you read the label on the unit to see what kind of oil it is. The PE type of oil is dangerous to use because the oil sucks the moisture out of anything it comes in contact with.

Ah geez, you just scared me enough that I am not going to save the oil to use any more, I will have it disposed off. Geez and yikes.

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Can you cut the compressor outside? Maybe in front of a fan to blow the smoke away?

Definitely stand upwind.

ScrapperNJ26 is very close. Burning even trace amount of any type of freon creates phosgene gas....quite lethal. I cut open the cases with the torch...always upwind.