Product Bulletin
Bulletin Number: 10-AC-2019-EU
Issue Date: 01/2020
What you need to know about
DENSO compressor oils!
Part 1 What exactly are ND-oil 8 & ND-oil 12?
There are many types of compressor oils offered to the
Independent Aftermarket. But how do you know if the
offered oil matches the requirements of the DENSO A/C
compressor? In a series of publications we will explain in
detail, the differences between DENSO ND-oil 8 and ND-oil
12 and -what we call- (ordinary) PAG oils. After reading
these publications you will understand why it is important
to choose the right type of DENSO oil.
In this first publication we will explain the basic differences
between ND-oil 8, ND-oil 12 and (ordinary) PAG oils. In our
next publications we will touch other important topics like;
• Properties of ND-oil 8 and ND-oil 12
• Storage and Handling
ND-oil 8 ND-oil 12 • Comparison with other Aftermarket offers
R134a R1234yf & R134a
www.denso-am.eu
www.denso-am.co.uk
Product Bulletin | Issue-Date 01/2020 Page 2/4
What exactly is ND-oil 8 and ND-oil 12?
ND-oil 8 and ND-oil 12 are premium quality compressor oils, produced by Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. This Japanese
oil company operates on a global level and is active in different business domains like fuel, oils, basic chemicals and
renewable energy. As a well-established specialist in mineral and synthetic oil based lubricants, Idemitsu ranks as the
world’s leading manufacturer of PAG oils for vehicle air conditioning systems.
Idemitsu developed and produces ND-oil 8 and ND-oil 12 according to the strict and specific requirements from
DENSO Thermal Systems. This makes ND-oil 8 and ND-oil 12 unique and is therefore exclusively sold by DENSO.
What makes ND-oil 8 & ND-oil 12 so unique?
Let’s start with the base oil. Polyalkyline Glycol (PAG) is a mixture of alcohol (R-OH), ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene
oxide (PO). The base oil for ND-oil 8 and ND-oil 12 is a unique formulation of these three components. ND-oil 8 and
ND-oil 12 differ from any other (ordinary) PAG oil due to the use of high quality alcohol (R-OH) and the specific chain
structure of [EO]n and [PO]n components. The production process of this chain structure and premium quality alcohol
used in this mixture, is more expensive when compared to (ordinary) PAG oils.
The unique formulation of the base oil (see below diagram) gives the DENSO oils the highest possible performance
properties. The DENSO oils provide unsurpassed lubricity, wear protection, chemical and thermal stability and proper
miscibility with R134a or R1234yf type refrigerants. In our next publication, we will further explain these unique
properties, like polarity, viscosity index, etc.
Base Oil
Quality
R - [EO]m [PO]n - O R = Double End Capped
ND-oils √
Excellent molecular stability, best properties,
chemically inactive
R - [EO]m [PO]n - O R = Double End Capped
Ordinary PAG X
Good molecular stability, fair/good properties
R - [EO]m [PO]n - O H = Single End Capped
PAG X
Low molecular stability, poor properties
The quality of the base oil of ND-oils (green), clearly exceeds the quality of the other (ordinary) PAG oils.
Product Bulletin | Issue-Date 01/2020 Page 3/4
The unique structure in detail explained
In below diagram this unique structure of the three main components (ROH / EO / PO) is visualised. The main chain
of copolymers (EO/PO) of ND-oil 8 & ND-oil 12 clearly differs from the (ordinary) PAG oils. Together with the premium
quality alcohol, this unique formulation requires a complex production process, which (also) explains why ND-oil 8 &
ND-oil 12 are more expensive then any other (ordinary) PAG oil offered to the Independent Aftermarket.
Polyalkylene Glycol Technology
Double End Capped
Catalyst
Monol Initiator + +
(ROH)
Unique DENSO copolymers of EO/PO
ethylene propylene
oxide (EO) oxide (PO)
Double End Capped
Catalyst
Monol Initiator + +
(ROH)
Ordinary PAG copolymers of EO/PO
ethylene propylene
oxide (EO) oxide (PO)
Single End Capped
Catalyst
Monol Initiator + +
(ROH)
PAG copolymers of EO/PO
ethylene propylene
oxide (EO) oxide (PO)
There is no equivalent of ND-oil 8 & ND-oil 12, due to their unique formulation.
What means Double End Capped?
The chemical structure of this unique formulation differs from (ordinary) PAG oils. PAG oils are mostly Single End
Capped oils. Denso ND-oil 8 and ND-oil 12 are Double End Capped oils. This means that the main chemical chain of
the formulation is capped on both sides, while with Single End Capped oil, the main chemical chain is only closed at
one side. The result is that the Single End Capped PAG oil is still chemical active, reacts with moisture, causing acid
formation. This process devaluates oil performance causing earlier defect to hardware parts. While the Double-End
Capped Denso ND-oil 8 and ND-oil 12 are chemically inactive and stable, resistant to moisture, keeping long-lasting
lubrication performance to the highest level.
R - [EO]m [PO]n - O H R - [EO]m [PO]n - O R
Single End Capped Double End Capped
Double End Capped versus Single End Capped
Product Bulletin | Issue-Date 01/2020 Page 4/4
Why you should choose ND-oil 8 or ND-oil 12
ND-oils
Base Oil = Polyalkyline Glycol (PAG)
R-OH Alcohol + [EO] Ethylenoxid + [PO] Propylenoxid
O H
RO
x R —[EO]m[PO]n—O R
Molecular Structure Double End Capped
6 Additives
By adding a specific DENSO additive package, the DENSO ND-oils will then have the best possible properties
and therefore maximum lubricity performance under all conditions and within a wide (extreme) temperature range.
Due to this unique formulation and structure, DENSO ND-oils can’t be compared with any other (ordinary) PAG oil,
available on the Aftermarket.
Further details of DENSO’s Thermal range are available online at www.denso-am.eu, on TecDoc or from your
local DENSO Aftermarket contact.
DENSO EUROPE B.V.
Hogeweyselaan 165 | 1382 JL Weesp | The Netherlands
Tel. +31 (0)294 - 493 493 | Fax. +31 (0)294 - 417 122
www.denso-am.eu
www.denso-am.co.uk
