Bled my Air Compressor and got rust. Now What?

[JohnMcD348]

I have a small Sears brand compressor that I've only had for a couple of years give or take. I've always kept it empty when not using it except maybe once by accident. The other day I was using it and when I bled the air from the bottom I got a little rusty water out of it as the air came out.

Is there something I could do to clean and preserve the tank and stop it while it's still early? This is my first tank storage air compressor and I'd like to keep it around for awhile until I can afford a large tank compressor.

Thanks

 

[Zrexxer]

It's normal for condensate to be a little rusty, the inside of the tank is bare steel. The best thing you can do for it is drain it often.

 

[JohnMcD348]

OK, I just didn't want to end up with a rusted through tank and find out the hard way with a 125lb psi failure. I try to make it a point to drain the tank after I finish with it every time. I guess I really need to get an inline filter for it before I go to use it for anything more than airing up my tires.

Thanks for reassuring me it was OK.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. You sound on top of things and it won't end up being a problem for you.

 

[e-tek]

I always think it would be good to "invent" a sealer or lube that could be sprayed into compressors that would seal the tank and decrease rusting. But I guess - although it LOOKS like it could be a problem - it isn't. Tanks last 50 years or more without rupturing. In fact, has anyone ever heard of one rupturing due to rust? I don't think they go !BAM! - they likely just go pffffft!

 

[the spyder]

I was speaking to a few compressor shops about tank failure as I have a older (1940's) tank on my largest compressor. In a combined 30 years experience, only 4 catastrophic failures have been reported locally. When a tank does rust through, it pinholes and causes the tank to bleed down. The 4 failures all had pressure switch/ relief valve failures which over pressurized the tanks to 150psi-250psi+.

I would continue to drain your tank, and if you are worried, install a inter-cooler between the pump head and your tank.

 

[Identaltech]

I always think it would be good to "invent" a sealer or lube that could be sprayed into compressors that would seal the tank and decrease rusting. But I guess - although it LOOKS like it could be a problem - it isn't. Tanks last 50 years or more without rupturing. In fact, has anyone ever heard of one rupturing due to rust? I don't think they go !BAM! - they likely just go pffffft!

E-tek some of the dental aircompressors coat the inside. but I think it more for the quality of the air not for the tank (some of that air goes into you mouth.)
we have had old tanks rust though when the Dr will not drain them.
(at lest once very couple months I go to an office because the Dr had water coming out of his high speed drill. the fix is draining the 40 gals of water out of the tank.)
when they rust out its just a pfffffffft no kaboom.

 

[mrjsl]

I just got done servicing my old Kellogg American compressor. It has a pretty heavy tank compared to most rollaround compressors I see nowadays, but it's 50 years old.

I don't know when it was drained last - likely more than ten years ago - it's only used occasionally.

It had a 1/8 npt draincock in the tank, and I could hear water in there, so I opened the draincock... nothing. So I closed it and pressured up to 40# and opened it... nothing. So I bled the pressure out, removed the draincock (took a large pair of visegrips) and still got nothing. So I took a punch and ran it up in there, and that broke it loose and I got about a pint of nice orange water out of it. Put a new brass plug in there, and works fine. I do have a filter/trap on the downstream side.

I changed oil in it as well, and I expect to use it for a long while to come, although I need to put a new elec. cord on it because the old one is getting ragged.

My old compressor doesn't have a great filter on it, but if you want to prevent rust, I'd suggest using something like a K&N filter and keeping it oiled religiously.

 

[Bolster]

I've always wondered why you couldn't unplug the tank, pump Evapo-Rust into the tank, let it sit, drain it out?

 

[KenS]

Go and drain a little water from your hot water heater tank.

By comparison, your compressor condensate will appear pristine-- and you're not taking shower in it.

 

[dieseldodge01]

We have an 80 gal two stage compressor, we may drain it every couple months, usually clear, haven't seen any rust yet, and its about 13 years old.

 

[JohnMcD348]

Different question and didn't want to create a new thread.

I searched and couldn't find anything on actually cleaning a tank. My Dad just got an older Devilbis compressor that hadn't been used in awhile and I've got it over at my house right now. It seems to have lots of oil in the tank. When I put a little air in it and drained the bottom tap, it had a green oily congealed gunk in it.

There's a large pipe plug fitting with the drain tap so I've got easy access to the tank. I was wondering if Just using lots of hot soapy water in the tank would be the best or if there were any other suggestions on the best way to clean this tank out? It's a ProAir 5525VP compressor.

 

[GoBlue]

The compresor in my repair shop was built in 1966...says so right on the tag. Needles to say we use the heck out of it.

 

[Rico.]

I live by the sea side and when I fist got my compressor after just a few
times I would get dirty looking water out of the drain plug. I've had it for
4 years now and it's still fine.... I did treat only two days ago to a brand
new high quality pressure relief valve, it actually cost 10% of the compressors
value, and as long as that component is fine your compressor should last for
a long time.

Cheers,
Rico.

 

[redwrench60]

Remove the air filter, open drain valve, start compressor and spray short bursts of WD-40 in the air inlet. This will discourage a good deal of tank rust.

 

[Lewisthepilgrim]

Remove the air filter, open drain valve, start compressor and spray short bursts of WD-40 in the air inlet. This will discourage a good deal of tank rust.

is this going to be bad for the compressor parts at all ? reed valves or anything else?

I have an 80 gallon Ingersol Rand tank, and I just got done Swapping over a 5HP, 14SCFM single stage settup over from a Puma 60 Gallon tank settup. Both where early 1980''s. The 60 gallon tank had a pinhole leak that was anoying me, so I ditched it and threw everything on the 80 gallon.

In the process of moving everything over, the preassure switch is not really working all that great anymore (failed to shutoff at one point... 150PSI ) Now the compressor pump has a SLIGHT leak back through the intake at over 100psi... Needs a rebuild??

 

[JASTECH]

I would think a good cleaning and some sort of epoxy coating will help your tanks last a lot longer. Some areas are dryer so no moister comming out. I still filter air for my tires, rust particles will eat at the rubber over time. Empty and reinflate tires with fresh clean air now and then I beleive is helpfull, I could be incorrect though.

 

[sawbuck]

I would think a good cleaning and some sort of epoxy coating will help your tanks last a lot longer. Some areas are dryer so no moister comming out. I still filter air for my tires, rust particles will eat at the rubber over time. Empty and reinflate tires with fresh clean air now and then I beleive is helpfull, I could be incorrect though.

over time? how much time,decades ?

 

[chris fresh]

two things i have done in the past.

first small portercable i bought used was the same story with rust.i pulled the drain plug and poured about a half bottle of jasco rust killer in it and swished it around,drained and reinstalled plug.

second one i bought new,i pulled the plug and put a motorcyle gas tank repair kit in it.it's a two part kit.first you clean and prep the inside,then pour the liner in and swish it around.this coats the entire inside,same as it would with a gas tank.once it's coated,you will still get moisture,but it won't rust.and alway's run a good filter set up to keep it out of your tool's,paint,gun's,whatever.

but then again i have another small one about ten years old that i have done nothing with,and have zero concern's about it.

 

[redwrench60]

is this going to be bad for the compressor parts at all ? reed valves or anything else?

I have an 80 gallon Ingersol Rand tank, and I just got done Swapping over a 5HP, 14SCFM single stage settup over from a Puma 60 Gallon tank settup. Both where early 1980''s. The 60 gallon tank had a pinhole leak that was anoying me, so I ditched it and threw everything on the 80 gallon.

In the process of moving everything over, the preassure switch is not really working all that great anymore (failed to shutoff at one point... 150PSI ) Now the compressor pump has a SLIGHT leak back through the intake at over 100psi... Needs a rebuild??

Nah, won't hurt it. We are talking about the oil-less type the op asked about. The big oiled type seem to puke some crankcase oil into the tank to slow rust

 

[chris fresh]

over time? how much time,decades ?

i alway's change from summer time air to winter time air.

 

[1984Datsun]

I always think it would be good to "invent" a sealer or lube that could be sprayed into compressors that would seal the tank and decrease rusting. But I guess - although it LOOKS like it could be a problem - it isn't. Tanks last 50 years or more without rupturing. In fact, has anyone ever heard of one rupturing due to rust? I don't think they go !BAM! - they likely just go pffffft!

Yep... if the tank rusts through, it'll make pinholes on the bottom where the air simply leaks out of.

My neighbor's old little compressor is an example of that... got some pinholes in the bottom, he tried welding them shut but more pinholes simply showed up elsewhere on the bottom of the tank... so the tank is well past its prime, lol.

BTW, got any more pics of Mrs. e-tek?

 

[Steevo]

I was trying to follow this thread, but then I started staring at 1984Datsun's avatar and I forgot what the question was . . .

 

[chris fresh]

I was trying to follow this thread, but then I started staring at 1984Datsun's avatar and I forgot what the question was . . .

you aint kiddin!

just added it to the christmas list.