With an onslaught of EVs due to hit the independent aftermarket in the near future, Waeco is utilising its involvement with industry body OESAA to share essential advice on A/C servicing with more independent workshops than ever.
Back in March, the Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA) welcomed air conditioning specialist, Waeco, to the organisation. Its territory sales manager for workshop equipment, Andrew Bastable, has called the group’s determination to prioritise education in the automotive aftermarket “refreshing”.
Waeco wants to align itself with the organisation’s membership, in order to better prepare workshops for the onset of electric vehicles coming through their doors. Fortunately, the firm has more than four decades of A/C engineering and manufacturing experience to call upon.
Changes on the horizon
According to Andrew, A/C systems have, traditionally, been billed as an “easy fix”, but that is all set to change; the days of simply using PAG 46 or universal compressor oil, then recharging the refrigerant during a service, are numbered.
He argues: “Focusing on EVs or hybrids, it’s vital that moisture is removed from the system. That is why the correct, specific compressor oil must always be used when replacing old oil from the vehicle whilst servicing the A/C system. Always bearing in mind that the correct refrigerant and vacuum is carried out on the system as per any A/C service.
“However, the most commonly seen A/C service format from technicians is to unscrew a bottle of compressor oil, pour it into a plastic bottle on their service unit, then allowing that moisture to go back through the system. Exposing this oil to moisture in the atmosphere undoes all their hard work, so technicians need to understand the consequences of this format with future vehicles, along with the right specification of oil!”
The moisture issue got Waeco thinking; it now provides a patented Profi Oil canister, and these have laminated bags inside them – Andrew expanded: “there is no way of allowing any exposure of moisture into the system. These canisters click onto the machines. We produce them in 150ml and 500ml bottles for manufacturers.
“We’re able to reuse that oil too; previously, once the oil seal was open, air and moisture would mix in with the oil and would likely be redundant in less than three days. Oil used after that has the potential to cause severe damage to the vehicle and also the A/C service unit – we’ve seen a huge increase relating to electric compressor failures.”
Working with technicians to offer solutions
Andrew said: “I believe that it’s going to become increasingly difficult to obtain A/C items in the years to come, especially within the EV A/C sector due to demand from servicing and fitting errors; on the other hand, this will present a fantastic opportunity for those garages carrying out the A/C repairs and services correctly.
Internal combustion engines
All of Waeco’s A/C machines come with the ability to add on a flush kit to the bottle, so they are able to jump between EV and ICE powertrains. It completes an internal three-flush cycle and removes any potential dangers of cross contamination.
Andrew added: “That flexibility allows technicians to look at vehicles that are 10- years-old and cars that will be filtering through into the aftermarket over the next few years. We also sell hybrid flush kits.”
