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Lotus Service Notes Section PN
4. All joints should be coated with refrigeration oil before making any connections, to aid seating.
5. Great care must be taken to prevent damage to the pipe fittings and connections, since due to the high
pressures involved, a leak can be caused by the slightest imperfection. Always use two spanners of the
correct size when releasing or tightening any pipe joint so that the fixed part of the union may be prevented
from twisting and damaging the component. This is especially important with the aluminium condenser.
6. All pipes and hoses must be free from any kinking. The efficiency of the system can be impaired by a
single kink, or restriction. Flexible hoses should not be bent to a radius which is less than ten times the
diameter of the hose.
PN.6 - REFRIGERANT OIL
The internal working parts of the compressor are lubricated by refrigerant oil. This is a special type of oil
which has an affinity with the refrigerant, such that a proportion of the oil circulates with the refrigerant, around
the whole system. Under normal operating conditions, the oil never needs changing or replenishing, and if
the correct procedure for system depressurisation and re-charging is followed, minimal oil will be lost from the
system during these operations. If, however, the system suffers a major leak or sudden de-pressurisation, most
of the oil held in suspension will be lost as the refrigerant escapes, necessitating the addition of a specified
quantity of oil to the compressor on re-assembly (see section PN.7).
If a refrigeration component is to be replaced, the removed item will contain a certain amount of oil, and
a corresponding amount of new oil must be added to the system on re-assembly:
Condenser; 30 cm³
Evaporator; 30 cm³
Any major pipe or hose; 10 cm³
Receiver-drier; 30 cm³
Approved Oils
Use only Denso ND-OIL 8 low viscosity (ISO46) PAG oil or equivalent (Sanden SP10; Four Seasons 59007).
Refrigerant oil absorbs water and should not be exposed to the atmosphere for any longer than is strictly
necessary to perform the operation. Never return decanted oil back into the storage container.
PN.7 - COMPRESSOR
The a.c. compressor is mounted at the left hand front of the crankcase, and is driven from the crankshaft,
together with the alternator, PAS pump and water pump, by a multi-rib, serpentine, synthetic belt. A maintenance
free belt tensioner takes the form of an idler pulley mounted on a sprung eccentric hub, which mechanism
applies pressure to the smooth, back side of the belt between the crankshaft and water pump, and provides a
generous belt wrap around the crankshaft pulley.
The belt itself should be inspected for condition at each service interval, and if it exhibits any evidence of
physical damage, cracking, fraying, perishing, abrasion, contamination or any other deterioration, it should be
replaced. In the case of oil or coolant contamination, the cause must be identified and rectified, and each of
the pulleys must be thoroughly degreased before the new belt is fitted.
Compressor Removal
1. Remove the RHF wheelarch liner and recover the refrigerant using equipment connected to the service
ports at the rear of the wheelarch.
2. Remove the driver's seat and cabin rear bulkhead trim. Remove the bulkhead access panel.
3. Remove the RHR wheel and wheelarch liner. Using a hexagonal 14mm socket applied to the auxiliary
belt tensioner bolt, relieve the tension on the auxiliary drive belt by turning counterclockwise, and insert a
5 mm locking pin in the hole provided in the tensioner hub.
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