This air conditioning article applies to all Honda Civic 1992-1995 models.
COMPRESSOR APPLICATION
DO NOT exceed AC system refrigerant oil capacity when servicing system.
Refrigerant Oil
Only NEW, moisture-free refrigerant oil should be used in the air conditioning system. This oil is highly refined and dehydrated so moisture content is less than 10 parts per million. The oil container must be tightly closed at all times when not in use, or moisture from the air will be absorbed into the refrigerant oil.
SERVICING PRECAUTIONS
Discharging System
Discharge AC system using approved refrigerant recovery/ recycling equipment. Always follow recovery/recycling equipment manufacturer’s instructions. After refrigerant recovery process is completed, the amount of compressor oil removed must be measured and the same amount added to AC system.
Disconnecting Lines and Fittings
After system is discharged, carefully clean area around all fittings to be opened. Always use 2 wrenches when tightening or loosening fittings. Some refrigerant lines are connected with a coupling. Special tools may be required to disconnect lines. Cap or plug all openings as soon as lines are removed. DO NOT remove caps until connections of lines and fittings are completed.
Connecting Lines and Fittings
All R-134a based systems use 1/2″-16 ACME threaded fittings. Ensure all replacement parts match the connections of the system being worked on.
Always use a new gasket or “O” ring when connecting lines or fittings. Coat “O” ring with refrigerant oil and ensure it is not twisted during installation. Always use 2 wrenches to prevent damage to lines and fittings.
Placing System in Operation
After component service or replacement has been completed and all connections have been made, evacuate system thoroughly with a vacuum pump. Charge system with proper amount of refrigerant and perform leak test. Check all fittings that have been opened. After system has been leak tested, check system performance.
Most compressors are pre-charged with a fixed amount of refrigerant (shipping) oil. Drain compressor oil from new compressor and add refrigerant oil to new compressor according to amount removed from old compressor. Always refer to underhood AC specification label or AC compressor label while servicing AC system.
CHECKING COMPRESSOR OIL – SANDEN/SCROLL
- Discharge system. Remove compressor from vehicle. Drain oil from removed compressor and measure amount drained.
- Subtract the volume of oil drained from removed compressor from 4.0 ounces (4.3 ounces on Prelude), and drain the calculated volume from the NEW compressor. Even if no oil is drained from removed compressor, DO NOT drain more than 1.6 ounces from new compressor.
- On Civic and Civic Del Sol, add 1.5 ounces of refrigerant oil when replacing evaporator. Add 0.6 ounce when replacing condenser. When replacing receiver-drier or hoses, add 0.3 ounce per component replaced. Add 0.8 ounce of refrigerant oil if an oil leak occurred.
- On Prelude, add one ounce of refrigerant oil when replacing evaporator. When replacing other AC components, add 0.3 ounce per component replaced (including hoses).
MANUAL AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS
- Civic Compressor Type: Sanden Scroll
- Compressor Belt Deflection (With 22 lbs. (10 kg) pressure applied to center of belt.)
- Used: 1/4-13/32″ (6.5-10.5 mm)
- New: 13/64-9/32″ (5.0-7.0 mm)
- Compressor Oil Capacity
- Civic: (2) 4.0-4.7 ozs.
- Civic Del Sol: (2) 4.0 ozs. (Use SP-10 oil (Part No. 38899-P13-A01)
- Refrigerant for 1992-1993 Civic (R-12) Capacity: 17.0-21.0 ozs.
- Refrigerant 1994-1995 Civic (R-134a) Capacity: 17.0-21.0 ozs.
Got questions and comments on the air conditioning system for Honda Civic 1992-1995? Let us know below!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I am trying to find out what type of oil is in the a/c system of my ’93 civi lx so it can be converted to r134a from the original r12. Do you know if it is mineral oil or something else?
R12 uses mineral while r134a uses PAG oil. Hope this helps.
when recharging air con system how much pressure should i put in?
If your ac system is completely out of refrigerant then you’d use the whole bottle. Usually it contains just enough to fill the ac.
i got (2) new canisters of refrigerant, which among the two valves is for the refrigerant or “low”and what am i suppose to put on the other one since both of them is not releasing any air when i tried to press the pin.
There should be directions on the canister that tells you what to do. I believe the low side is the blue cap.