On Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:30:35 -0600, with neither quill nor qualm,
Richard J Kinch quickly quoth:

bear writes:

Anything special about the compressor oil or its characteristics?

Old R-12 or R-22 units used mineral oil. Like you buy to drink at the
pharmacy. Not hazardous.

No, you can't buy it at the pharmacy, Richard.
It's a specially formulated, light, anhydrous (mineral)oil.


Newer R-134a units use PAG or POE lubricant. Not so nice.

30 years old indicates an old R-12 oil.

--
An idealist believes the short run doesn't count. A cynic believes
the long run doesn't matter. A realist believes that what is done
or left undone in the short run determines the long run.
-- Sydney J. Harris