Air compressor in the cold

[Tech89]

So this may seem like a really silly question, but I'm thinking about buying a Belaire 216v air compressor. Here's a link to said compressor https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/BelAire-216V-Air-Compressor/p4839.html.
The garage I have isn't insulated and only heated by a torpedo heater while I'm out there working during the winter and the garage is quite large, right around ~40' X 50'. As I'm sure some of you know, it gets pretty cold in Minnesota during the winter. Am I going to have issues firing the compressor up when it's cold out? Anything I should do differently? I was okay with my last compressor in the cold. Just wondering if there something I should be doing or shouldn't be doing? With my old compressor I always made sure to drain it after every use and left the drain open.
Also, if anyone would like to suggest a different compressor I'm still looking around. Must be a 2 stage.

Thanks.

-Pat

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[Sycan]

Your compressor should be fine, but those heaters put a ton of moisture in the air. I tried it years ago and every tool and machine started to get rust

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[n20junkie]

I have a new compressor and it won't start in the cold. I suspect the piston to cylinder clearance is tight and the cold cylinders are grabbing the pistons.

I zip tied a hair dryer to my compressor blowing on the cylinders. I turn on the hair dryer 20 minutes before firing up the compressor when it gets real cold out.

 

[PoorOwner]

How cold are you talking about, is it inside the garage?
Just get a sunbeam heated throw and put it over the whole top. Just make sure the compressor doesn't accidentally start, so probably breaker off when you are not using it.

 

[chris142]

My old compressor would not start in the cold unless I ran 0w30 in it.

 

[Kaizen]

Never had a problem on my 60 gal starting. Problem was moist air hitting the tools and freezing. So use piping or a dryer.


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[Tech89]

Thanks guys. Yes it will be inside, out of the elements.

-Pat

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[Schurkey]

Find a compressor with twice the motor and twice the pump, that runs at half the RPM.

Mine is a 5 hp, 80 gallon. Motor runs at 1725 rpm, pump runs at about 800--900 rpm.

You'll want to warm it before use. I can't imagine that cold-starts will be healthy in the long run.

 

[Lelandwelds]

That problem is foreign to me but...

Have you tried synthetic compressor oil? It handles heat better and is supposed to pump better in extreme cold. There are two different types of base stock and one is much better for reciprocating compressors. With annual changes, the cost difference isn't that bad.

If you really need that kind of hassle with auxiliary heat, you should consider some way to automate it.

Google says it gets cold enough there that propane can liquify at atmospheric pressure. I couldnt take it.

 

[Ggg]

I have an old Quincy low pressure 130psi 80gal. horizontal (early 1970's) it's in an old barn no heat at all. It starts up just fine no matter the temp. The garage is very close to the barn. So close the eaves of both buildings touch. So I ran copper 1" up to the peak (15') of the barn, then horizontal between the two buildings. The long vertical leg has a drain at the bottom. The long vertical leg keeps any moisture from getting to the tools.
Having the compressor in a different building has completely eliminated the compressor noise in the garage. When I turn it on, I need to open the garage service door so I can hear it running.

 

[peter2772000]

I think that a combination of a thinner synthetic oil along with a crankcase heater would work fine. In the HVAC field, most outdoor compressors have such heaters, mostly to boil off any liquid refrigerant. If you could find one that screws into your oil drain plug, that might do the trick. Something around 40-80 watts.

You could also wire it into your existing control so that it's only powered up when the compressor isn't running

 

[fireguy]

My shop compressor is outside, and is protected by a sheet metal cover. No heat, no light bulbs. It starts every time and runs for 1/2 hour to all day. Never any problems. I do try to tip the cover and drain the compressor a couple of times a year. This winter, the temp got to -25°. I could move the compressor inside, but the temp in the shop is what the outside temp is. It takes about an hour to heat the shop to comfortable working temp.

 

[peter2772000]

I just bothered to check the OP's post more closely and then to go to the Bel Aire site for specs. Nowhere does it mention minimum operating temps, just no more than 100*F as a max.

I'd say Fireguy is on the money...

 

[Jazz1]

It should not be a problem since you drain compressor daily. I have no experience with working mine in cold since I heat my garage religiously.

 

[rlitman]

That problem is foreign to me but...

Have you tried synthetic compressor oil? It handles heat better and is supposed to pump better in extreme cold. There are two different types of base stock and one is much better for reciprocating compressors. With annual changes, the cost difference isn't that bad.

If you really need that kind of hassle with auxiliary heat, you should consider some way to automate it.

Google says it gets cold enough there that propane can liquify at atmospheric pressure. I couldnt take it.

I use synthetic 5w30 in my compressor. It starts up just fine in the winter.

It should not be a problem since you drain compressor daily. I have no experience with working mine in cold since I heat my garage religiously.

Well, you will still accumulate moisture in the tank, though it might be in the form of snow or ice that won't come out the drain until it melts.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My old compressor would not start in the cold unless I ran 0w30 [synthetic] in it.

This is the best solution ! If the compressor does not run continuously, you could even use 0W20 synthetic. If you are real paranoid, swap it out for 10W30 synthetic in summer.

 

[PoorOwner]

My compressor says not to use synthetic until 30 hrs. I only have 10 hrs on mine after 10 years. Check before you put full synthetic. Mine doesn't use motor oil. I think calls for non detergent 30w. Can still get synthetic compressor oil from redline.

 

[CafeTools]

For some reason I think I get less water out of my air hose when there is water in the bottom of my compressor.

 

[99LeCouch]

Synthetic compressor oil should be a good first step. IIRC Amazon sells Dewalt synthetic compressor oil for a reasonable price. My little 30 gallon sitting in a corner of the unheated garare starts up fine in sub-freezing weather with the syn oil.

 

[JohnnieMo]

Google says it gets cold enough there that propane can liquify at atmospheric pressure. I couldnt take it.

This reminds me of a story.

I grew up in Saskatchewan and worked at a gas station. When someone would return an old propane cylinder we had to empty it by venting out a stack.

One night when it got really cold I had someone exchange a propane cylinder (why they were doing this at -40, I don't know know). I hooked it up to the stack but it wouldn't vaporise. So I got a bright idea. I took the tank, opened it, and tipped it upside down. Propane ran out of the tank and on to the frozen ground. It ever so slowly boiled off.

Propane boils/liqufies at around -43C so it just have been just slightly warmer than that. It was pretty cool (and likely pretty stupid )

Back to the topic at hand. I run my compressor in a cold closet and it never has issue. I drain it about once a decade. It's oil-less. Not sure if that helps. Keep in mind that in a pressurised cylinder, water won't likely freeze.

 

[ford33]

This question was asked many times on GJ. Do a search and you will find detailed solutions.

I have my compressor outside in Chicago for the last 5 years. No issue working in the cold. I do use Amsoil for lubrication.

 

[driz]

My shop compressor is outside, and is protected by a sheet metal cover. No heat, no light bulbs. It starts every time and runs for 1/2 hour to all day. Never any problems. I do try to tip the cover and drain the compressor a couple of times a year. This winter, the temp got to -25°. I could move the compressor inside, but the temp in the shop is what the outside temp is. It takes about an hour to heat the shop to comfortable working temp.

Yup. I never heard of a air compressor locking up at any temp regardless of the cold.
I’m guessing if anyone has issues like that there is something wrong with the motor. Starting capacitor or even the unloaded valve most likely.


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[Firebrick43]

You should never be using motor oils in your compressor. Detergent oils keep contaminates in suspension because they assume you will have a filter to remove them. Non detergent oils allow for these particals to fall out.

In a compressor(or really old motor without filtration) only non detergent oil should be used. I am not saying a there are no multi grade oils non detergent oils but I don't know of any. Most manufactures recommend a 10w oil in the winter and a 20w or 30w oil in the summer.

 

[larry_g]

In the case your buying a brand new compressor I would contact the dealer AND the manufacture and ask their recommendations on how to handle this situation. Ask about the issues above such as when to change to synthetic lube, do they have a block heater, what is the break-in procedure and any other issues you may have.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[bob15]

I like using RP compressor oil. Good to -61°

http://www.royalpurpleconsumer.com/wp-content/uploads/PS_Synfilm_Recip.pdf

 

[driz]

Yup. I never heard of a air compressor locking up at any temp regardless of the cold.
I’m guessing if anyone has issues like that there is something wrong with the motor. Starting capacitor or even the unloaded valve most likely.


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[Bretny]

In my fathers machine shop he had a 25gal compressor up in the unheated part of the attic. It was there for about 15yrs, never changed the oil. Went to take it down out of the attic one day and found the tank 3/4 full of water....guess he forgot to do that too. Lol. Well that compressor lasted about another 5yrs until the tank rotted out. Point is if not changing the oil and having a air tank full of ice cant kill it then a little cold womt hurt.
We live in NY. Generaly dosnt get above freezing dec-feb

 

[dkmc]

You should never be using motor oils in your compressor. Detergent oils keep contaminates in suspension because they assume you will have a filter to remove them. Non detergent oils allow for these particals to fall out.

In a compressor(or really old motor without filtration) only non detergent oil should be used. I am not saying a there are no multi grade oils non detergent oils but I don't know of any. Most manufactures recommend a 10w oil in the winter and a 20w or 30w oil in the summer.

And even better than Non-Detergent, Compressor Oil is made to shed water.
ND oil will turn to milk if condensate gets in it (and it can when the compressor is operating in the cold). But an actual good brand of Compressor Oil (that's not just ND*) will not allow the water to stay mixed with the oil, and the water with the dirt will settle to the bottom of the crank case.
*It could be some of the cheaper "compressor oils" are really only ND motor oil.

FWIW.....Years ago in a machine shop I saw 2 IR 5hp compressors out in a non-heated shed. Both had heat tape wrapped all around the pumps. Owner said they woundn't start in winter.....but the heat tape solved the problem.

 

[Tech89]

Thanks everyone, running break-in oil that came with the compressor now. They recommend running the break-in oil for the first eight hours of operation. That may take a while. Been really busy and a little hard to find time to get out to the garage.

- Pat

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[Keith_MN]

I have run Amsoil SAE 20 Synthetic in two different compressors, a 3 hp and 5 hp. Both were in unheated spaces in MN. Never had one not start. Cannot comment on the durability though.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I ran a 20 gallon 2 HP portable compressor in the cold, down to -20C. I found it was much easier to fire up by wrapping a battery blanket around the cylinder head, tied on with tie wire. I would plug it in first when I got to site, and by the time I was ready to work the compressor would run with no effort.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I think that a combination of a thinner synthetic oil along with a crankcase heater would work fine. In the HVAC field, most outdoor compressors have such heaters, mostly to boil off any liquid refrigerant. If you could find one that screws into your oil drain plug, that might do the trick. Something around 40-80 watts.

You could also wire it into your existing control so that it's only powered up when the compressor isn't running

If the oil sump is shaped so that he would get good contact all around, he could use a "belly band" CCH. They get wrapped around the body of a hermetic compressor and secure like a giant hose clamp or with a spring and are wired to the line side of the contactor.

Metal/Hose clamp type:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rheem-40W-...539208&hash=item3f8ae4046a:g:KGgAAOSwr8xZ~Ah~


Rubber/spring type (I thing this would be the better choice for an odd shaped sump.):

https://www.ebay.com/itm/200-240V-S...hash=item4d459f245b:m:mpN7oij0M4huzRjzcyiEGSg

Tommy

 

[22george]

I have an Eaton 2 stage 10 hp 4 cylinder compressor with 10 hrs on it. I called Eaton Compressor Co. about cold weather operation. They said Their break-in oil and their compressor oil to use after the break-in period are both synthetic and good down to 10 degrees F. To change the break-in oil after 30 hrs of operation to their compressor oil and every 1000 hrs after that.

 

[peter2772000]

Pfffttt. +10*F? That's summer up here LOL

 

[T_R]

Mine has started as low as 0 F maybe a bit less. It doesn't sound too happy but it works. It has normal engine oil in it too. It's just a cheap one from harbor freight. If it breaks, oh well.

 

[TractorJeff]

Post 20 - Probably stupid but funny!

Air Compressor outside?
I run Synthetic in mine so it will start in the winter. Usually if its really cold I'll drain it down so it can get started and warm up while building air pressure.

 

[Notgrownup]

Use synthetic oil in the pump...

 

[pepi]

For some reason I think I get less water out of my air hose when there is water in the bottom of my compressor.

OH yeah keep thinking that ......you have found the secret compressor owns have come to know and covet.

 

[Gfanatic]

So this may seem like a really silly question, but I'm thinking about buying a Belaire 216v air compressor. Here's a link to said compressor https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/BelAire-216V-Air-Compressor/p4839.html.
The garage I have isn't insulated and only heated by a torpedo heater while I'm out there working during the winter and the garage is quite large, right around ~40' X 50'. As I'm sure some of you know, it gets pretty cold in Minnesota during the winter. Am I going to have issues firing the compressor up when it's cold out? Anything I should do differently? I was okay with my last compressor in the cold. Just wondering if there something I should be doing or shouldn't be doing? With my old compressor I always made sure to drain it after every use and left the drain open.
Also, if anyone would like to suggest a different compressor I'm still looking around. Must be a 2 stage.

Thanks.

-Pat

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

I can relate to the cold winters over there.Personally,I run a 20 gallon 2 HP portable compressor in the cold, down to -20C. During those times,it is much easier to fire up by wrapping a battery blanket around the cylinder head, tied on with tie wire.After lenghty operations however,and especially during the summer,the workshop gets too stuffy,this causes adverse effect in the operations of the compressor and make it uncomfortable to work.My technician adviced me to acquire the quality and affordable https://comparily.com/best-garage-fans/ garage fans.I now have a variety with one located near the compressor.I've come to realise that apart from creating a conducive work atmosphere,the fans also plays a role in maintaining efficiency of the compressor.

 

[peter2772000]

OH yeah keep thinking that ......you have found the secret compressor owns have come to know and covet.

ROFL