When dealing with refrigeration or air conditioning compressors that employ an oil pump, many service technicians confuse net oil pressure with oil pump discharge pressure. However, it is of utmost importance to understand the difference between these two pressures when servicing compressors with oil pumps.
Many larger compressors in the refrigeration and air conditioning field have forced oiling systems. These compressors are usually over 5 hp, and they contain an oil pump located at the end of the compressor’s crankshaft. The crankshaft is actually connected to the oil pump and supplies power, which turns the oil pump.