Development and Application of J3112: A/C Compressor Oil Separator Effectiveness Test Standard

SAE Standard J3112 – “A/C Compressor Oil Separator Effectiveness Test Standard” - has been developed to provide an analytical means of determining if an a/c compressor with oil separator functionality meets the U.S. EPA criteria of a minimum 50% effectiveness in order to qualify for menu credits for greenhouse gas reduction, as specified in the U.S Government Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 40, §86.1868-12. At the start of the EPA’s a/c efficiency credit program in 2017 OEMs could qualify for greenhouse gas menu credits without providing data on the effectiveness of the product being implemented, but EPA regulations required supporting data from 2020 MY through the end of the current published regulations in 2026 MY. J3112 was developed by the SAE Interior Climate Control MVAC Supplier Committee (TEVBES2E) in order to provide a standardized procedure for determining oil separator effectiveness in order to comply with the EPA requirements for 2020-2026 model years. This paper provides background on how J3112 was developed, and how it is used in order to provide documentation necessary to apply for Oil Separator credits with the EPA, in conjunction with SAE Recommended Practice J3174, “Recommended Practice for an Engineering Analysis for A/C Efficiency Credits”.

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