如果每一个制冷和空调系统都能在理想的条件下运行，那么今天可用的润滑油很可能会永远使用下去。数千台商用压缩机已经运行了20年或更长时间，没有任何故障迹象。但是，在过去的20年里，由于使用相同的润滑油运行时失去适当的润滑，更多的压缩机出现故障，其中一些在安装后的几个月内出现故障，这是一个悲惨的事实。润滑问题仍然是商业系统故障的最大单一来源，尤其是在低温领域。 如果我们今天列出冷冻油的理想特性，到明天它们可能就过时了，因为一些有成本意识的工程师会试图利用它们进一步扩大压缩机的工作范围。如果一种油能承受3华氏度（177摄氏度），我们需要375华氏度（191摄氏度）；如果它能承受37华氏度（191摄氏度），我们想要400华氏度（204摄氏度）。如果油会在零下50华氏度（-45摄氏度）下回流，我们需要零下60华氏度（-51摄氏度）；如果它将在-60华氏度（-51摄氏度）返回，我们需要-70华氏度（-57摄氏度）。在很大程度上，润滑油的许多问题都是我们自己造成的- -我们在不断地挑战现有技术的极限。如果我们选择在这些极限下运行，那么我们必须接受一定比例的润滑故障，这是一种不可避免的后果。只有彻底了解这些限制，并进行负责任的设计和操作，我们才能最大限度地减少现场问题。引文:华盛顿州西雅图ASHRAE学报第82卷第2部分研讨会

If every refrigeration and air conditioning system could always operate at ideal conditions, it is probable the lubricating oils available today would last forever. Thousands of commercial compressors have been operating for 20 years or more without indication of any malfunction. But it is a sad fact of life that much greater numbers of compressors have failed in the last 20 years, some within a few months of installation, due to loss of proper lubrication while operating with that same lubricating oil. Lubrication problems remain the largest single source of failurp on commercial systems, particularly in the low temperature field.If we were to list the ideal characteristics of a refrigeration oil today, they probably would be outdated by tomorrow, because some cost conscious engineer would try to take advantage of them to extend the compressor operating range a little further. If an oil can withstand 3S0F(177C), we want 375F(l91C); if it can withstand 37SF(191C), we want 400F(204C). If oil will return at -50F(-45C), we want -60F(-51C); if it will return at -60F(-51C), we want -70F(-57C). To a considerable extent many of our problems with lubricating oils are of our own making -- we are constantly pushing at the limits of available technology. If we choose to operate at those limits, then we must accept some percentage of lubrication failures as an inescapeable consequence. Only with a thorough understanding of those limits, and responsible design and operation can we minimize the field problems.