Emkarate RL68H is a synthetic polyol ester (POE) refrigeration compressor oil manufactured by Lubrizol (formerly Croda/Uniqema). As an ISO VG68 lubricant with a viscosity index of 120 and flash point of 270°C, it is the industry-reference POE oil specified by compressor OEMs worldwide for HFC and HFO refrigeration systems. Qishanr is an authorized distributor of Emkarate RL68H, providing factory-sealed packaging with full batch traceability.
RL68H has been the factory-fill lubricant in commercial and industrial refrigeration compressors for over 30 years. Its combination of thermal stability, low-temperature fluidity, and broad refrigerant compatibility makes it the default specification in OEM maintenance manuals across BITZER, Carrier, Copeland, Danfoss, and Hitachi compressor platforms.
| Property | Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Oil Type | Synthetic Polyol Ester (POE) | — |
| ISO Viscosity Grade | VG 68 | ISO 3448 |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 40°C | 66.6 cSt | ASTM D445 |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 100°C | 9.4 cSt | ASTM D445 |
| Viscosity Index | 120 | ASTM D2270 |
| Density @ 20°C | 0.977 g/ml | ASTM D1298 |
| Flash Point (COC) | 270°C | ASTM D92 |
| Pour Point | -39°C | ASTM D97 / ASTM D5950 |
| Total Acid Number (fresh oil) | 0.03 mg KOH/g | ASTM D974 |
| Water Content (fresh oil) | 25 ppm | ASTM D6304 |
| Color | 0.2 | ASTM D1500 |
| Miscibility with R134a (low temp) | -26°C | — |
| Available Packaging | 1L / 5L / 20L / 208L Drum | — |
A senior HVAC service technician shares practical observations from years of RL68H use across commercial refrigeration sites:
"I've been servicing BITZER semi-hermetic reciprocating packs and Carrier screw chillers for over a decade, and RL68H is the oil I reach for when the maintenance manual calls for VG68 POE. The flash point is the real story. At 270°C, it gives you headroom when a condenser coil is fouled and discharge temperatures creep up. I've pulled oil samples from a BITZER screw running R-407C in a cold storage facility after 8,000 hours — TAN came back at 0.08 mg KOH/g, well below the 0.3 change threshold. The oil was still serviceable. That's what thermal stability buys you: fewer oil changes, less downtime, lower lifetime cost."
"The tradeoff is the pour point. At -39°C, RL68H is fine for medium-temperature commercial refrigeration — your typical walk-in cooler or dairy case running -10°C to +5°C SST. But I've seen it struggle in low-temperature rack systems where the evaporator sits at -35°C. At that temperature, you want a pour point of at least -45°C for a comfortable margin. If you're servicing blast freezers or cold storage below -30°C, I'd recommend moving up to a PAG-based lubricant. For everything else — chillers, rooftop units, commercial AC — RL68H does exactly what it says on the tin."
"One thing that catches newer techs: you cannot leave an RL68H container open. POE absorbs moisture fast — I've seen water content jump from 25 ppm to over 200 ppm within 20 minutes on a humid day. Use it straight from the sealed container, transfer with a clean, dry pump, and reseal immediately. If you're retrofitting an old R-22 mineral oil system to R-407C with RL68H, three flush cycles minimum — don't skimp, or you'll be back in six months replacing a seized compressor."
Emkarate RL68H is fully miscible with the following refrigerants:
For a complete compatibility matrix covering all major HFC refrigerants and oil types, see: Complete Guide to Refrigeration Oil Compatibility with HFC Refrigerants.
Emkarate RL68H is approved or recommended for use in compressors from the following manufacturers:
For a cross-reference comparison with Qishanr QSL-68H (a direct equivalent POE oil), see our QSL-68H vs Emkarate RL68H vs CPI Solest 68 Cross-Reference Guide.
Emkarate RL68H is available through Qishanr in the following factory-sealed packaging formats:
All packaging is factory-sealed under nitrogen blanket with moisture content verified at ≤25 ppm ex-factory. Batch numbers and certificates of analysis are available upon request.
As with all POE refrigeration oils, RL68H is hygroscopic and absorbs atmospheric moisture. Key handling requirements:
When retrofitting a mineral oil system to RL68H, perform a minimum of three flush cycles and verify residual mineral oil below 5% by refractometer or laboratory analysis before returning the system to service.
Emkarate RL68H has a kinematic viscosity of 66.6 cSt at 40°C and 9.4 cSt at 100°C, tested per ASTM D445. It is an ISO VG68 grade POE oil, within the specification range of 61.2-74.8 cSt at 40°C. The viscosity index is 120 (ASTM D2270), providing stable viscosity across the compressor's operating temperature range.
Yes. Emkarate RL68H is fully miscible with R134a from -26°C to above 80°C, covering the entire normal operating range of R134a chillers and medium-temperature refrigeration systems. R134a is one of the primary refrigerants for which RL68H was formulated.
Emkarate RL68H (Lubrizol) and Qishanr QSL-68H (Qishanr) are both ISO VG68 synthetic POE refrigeration oils. The key technical differences: RL68H has a flash point of 270°C vs QSL-68H at 252°C, and a pour point of -39°C vs QSL-68H at -45°C. Both are within ISO VG68 tolerance and are mutually miscible. QSL-68H offers a lower pour point for low-temperature applications; RL68H offers a higher flash point for high-discharge-temperature systems. For a full spec comparison, see our cross-reference guide.
RL68H is technically compatible with R-410A as a POE lubricant. However, R-410A operates at approximately 60% higher pressure than R-22 and most compressor OEMs specify POE VG32 or VG46 for R-410A scroll compressors, not VG68. RL68H is better suited to R134a, R404A, R507, and R407C systems. Always match the viscosity grade to the compressor nameplate specification.
Converting from R-22 (mineral oil) to R-407C with RL68H requires a complete oil change. Drain mineral oil, charge with RL68H, run for 4-8 hours, drain, and repeat for 2-3 flush cycles until residual mineral oil is below 5%. Replace the filter-drier with a molecular sieve type. Evacuate below 500 microns, then charge with R-407C. For the complete step-by-step procedure, see our R-22 Retrofit Oil Conversion Guide.
Emkarate RL68H is available through Qishanr, an authorized distributor. We supply factory-sealed RL68H in 1L, 5L, 20L, and 208L drum packaging with full batch traceability and certificate of analysis. MSDS documentation is provided with every order. Contact Qishanr for current pricing, lead time, and bulk order discounts.
For pricing, bulk orders, or technical support, contact the Qishanr team.
