Compressor oil

[SCOOTTER]

What oil does everyone run in there compressors? Mine runs pretty hot and hard(it is currently undersized) lol I am going to change it and wondering what to put in it. Thanks!!!

[cgoodyear]

Because I live in a small town, air compressor oil is hard to come by. Whenever I can find it I buy three times more than I think I will need.

The oil I have been able to purchase was poduced by "Porter Cable"; it's their (Compressor oil) item number PAS1 and comes in 32 fl. oz. containers.

Other manufactures offer the same product produced under their name brand. Shop arround at your local auto parts store or farm supply.

I think "NAPA", "Quality Farm & Fleet" and "Tractor Supply" has compressor oil.

CG

[Capepowder]

Hey Scootter:
Last year I purchased a new electric air compressor. (7.5 hsp., 2 stage, 80 gal., vertical 220v). The directions called for a compressor oil or "Mobil 1" oil. I opted to use Mobil 1. I bought 1 gallon for $20.00. It holds about a 1/2 gallon. So I get 2 oil changes out of one gallon. I change the oil every 6 months. It has run great.
Bob
ww.capecodpowdercoating.com

[SCOOTTER]

What weight mobil one do you run Bob? THanks!

[Ultra Al]

you can buy small bottles (about a qauart i think ) of campbell hausfeld oil at walmart. Al

[ram1]

I'm not sure what weight oil my compressor uses, but go to your nearest Lowe's store and they sell compressor oil in a few different grades. Go where the air tools are and it's in pint bottles I believe...

[SCOOTTER]

Yea, I found some at a local tractor supply, THanks!

[fstrx_7]

I've got a 60gl Cambell Hausfeld, 6.5 hp running, moves ~13.5 CFM @ 90 PSI. I run nothing but Mobil One, full Synthetic, 10w30. Those are CH's reccomendations, or thier brand of air compressor oil. Change every 3 months.

[Capepowder]

What weight mobil one do you run Bob? THanks!
Hey Scot:
Sorry I am so late to reply (I just saw this post) Whe I get to the shop tomorrow I will check to see what weight Mobil one I have used.
Good Luck
Bob

[Ultra Al]

Changing compressor oil every 3 months certainly won't hurt it but in my humble opinion it is definitely overkill. They are not internal combustion engines. I have rebuilt many huge compressors in hydo electric dams and non electric dams, either way the gates are raised by compressors. They run on basicly the same compressor oil available at Wally mart and other places. Sometimes that oil (depending on the dam) is changed annually, sometimes not. I have disassembled 50 year old compessors and the cylinders and rings are basically like new, even after a year the oil still looks clean and has not lost apprecialbe viscosity. Having said that I would follow the manufacturer's reccommendations so as not to void any warantees, and I would keep a log and receipts, just like I do in my motor vehciles. PS thanks for reminding me I have a Devillbiss 7hp 2 stage that I haven't changed oil in for a couple of years at least, not that many hours on it though. Just my thoughts. AL

[2003z]

thanks for even making me aware of this. I never even thought about it. Better check mine out!

[fstrx_7]

I don't think the manufacturers are so much worried about the oil losing it's viscosity so much as they are worried about contamination and metal filings. With no way to filter the oil, the only way to clean it, is to change it. I use my compressor every weekend, sometimes during the week. It's not abused or used that much, but I am surely going to spend the $1.67 a month ($5 every 3) to change it every 3 months & protect a few hundred $$ part. I even plumbed in a gate valve with a barb so I can hook up a length of tube, open the valve & walk away for 20 minutes while it drains out. Just my $.02

[GJM]

Changing compressor oil every 3 months certainly won't hurt it but in my humble opinion it is definitely overkill. They are not internal combustion engines. I have rebuilt many huge compressors in hydo electric dams and non electric dams, either way the gates are raised by compressors. They run on basicly the same compressor oil available at Wally mart and other places. Sometimes that oil (depending on the dam) is changed annually, sometimes not. I have disassembled 50 year old compessors and the cylinders and rings are basically like new, even after a year the oil still looks clean and has not lost apprecialbe viscosity. Having said that I would follow the manufacturer's reccommendations so as not to void any warantees, and I would keep a log and receipts, just like I do in my motor vehciles. PS thanks for reminding me I have a Devillbiss 7hp 2 stage that I haven't changed oil in for a couple of years at least, not that many hours on it though. Just my thoughts. AL
Gotta agree. I think the basic clue if your comp oil has had its day is if it's gone dirty or discoloured as viewed from the glass. I havent changed the oil in neither of my small compressors for several years and they run just as strong as when new. The oil in the glass is still sweet, so as said above by Ultra Al..... leave it be unless it needs it.

[William McCormick]

Changing compressor oil every 3 months certainly won't hurt it but in my humble opinion it is definitely overkill. They are not internal combustion engines. I have rebuilt many huge compressors in hydo electric dams and non electric dams, either way the gates are raised by compressors. They run on basicly the same compressor oil available at Wally mart and other places. Sometimes that oil (depending on the dam) is changed annually, sometimes not. I have disassembled 50 year old compessors and the cylinders and rings are basically like new, even after a year the oil still looks clean and has not lost apprecialbe viscosity. Having said that I would follow the manufacturer's reccommendations so as not to void any warantees, and I would keep a log and receipts, just like I do in my motor vehciles. PS thanks for reminding me I have a Devillbiss 7hp 2 stage that I haven't changed oil in for a couple of years at least, not that many hours on it though. Just my thoughts. AL

The exceptions might be when the humidity is high and the unit is over worked. Then you can get those nasty little rust carbon balls that build up and clog the check valve. I had this happen and the compressor guy, knew what it was, and said I needed to change the oil. Sure enough, it stopped. This reminds me it is due again.

I have only had this happen to one compressor an over worked three phase shop compressor. The others were not worked as hard and never developed this problem.
We have an under powered IngersolRand compressor in the basement, I believe a model 30 pump that is run by a five horse single phase motor. It runs rather constantly, and that one, if you miss a yearly oil change will slightly burn or darken the oil.

I am for changing the oil every six months on severely over worked compressors. And yearly for heavily over worked compressors for myself. But I would recommend three and six months for someone else if I was selling them the compressor.

Sincerely,

William McCormick

[GJM]

Got me thinking, i might check my two out in light of the carbon ball matter. I live in a sub tropical part of the country and it does get very humid during summer and even in winter the daytime temps dont fall much below 20c. (60-70F)
Better to be safe than sorry!

[Tackweld]

Hello Folks, thought I'd jump right in here for my first post...At work this week we (Bubba & I) got the Maintainence work order for Oil/Filter change & Oil bath Air filter service on the 2) Joy 350HP 2000 cfm Air compressors. And what a Joy it is too! Each holds 15 Gallons in the sump and 10 in the oil bath filters ( up on the roof). Anyhow, we do the PM's every 6 months (both comps. run 24/5) and use Mobil Rarus #427 for sump, filter and cylinder injectors. The oil from the sump is analyzed and "looks" as new. It and the real nasty oil from the roof filters are dumped on the chain conveyors around the forge plant where I work. My shop compressor gets an oil change once a year with the 427. Best Regards, JA Swann