Changing compressor oil ?

2CRUZ · Feb 26, 2016

Hey Fellas I have a question. do you change the oil in your compressor? If so how often? I did a search on here and couldn't find any thing. If so please let me know. Thanks
Mike

Capt Chrysler · Feb 26, 2016

At work, every 6 months. Home shop, every fall.

Capt. Chrysler

Boilerhouse · Feb 26, 2016

good practice is probably once a year, but if you do it once every five years, you are likely with the majority.

fastbike02 · Feb 26, 2016

Usually when my compressor starts making the god awful knocking sound I know it's time to change (add) the oil :bounce:

99LeCouch · Feb 26, 2016

Once a year. With synthetic oil.

JJThrasher · Feb 26, 2016

Annually

brownbagg · Feb 26, 2016

never

atty5420 · Feb 26, 2016

Amsoil.......when I think of it.

ford33 · Feb 27, 2016

Change it every two years but add some oil every year in the fall. I use amsoil. I use the compressor only 3 times a week on average.

woody6904 · Feb 27, 2016

Every winter. Just switched over to Mobil 1 10w-30, just like the CH sticker recommended.

tinker rick · Feb 27, 2016

Once a year along with air filter.

rexer · Feb 27, 2016

I had a 2hp 20 gallon Campbell-Haufield (cast iron) bought back in 1974 used it just about everyday. It served me well....

I would check to oil level every month after it had it like 15 yrs on it. I might have added oil (a little) a few time in the life of it and the only reason I bought a new compressor after 40yrs is because the tank was getting some rust holes in it. I did keep the compressor pump and motor, it was not cost effective to replace the tank.

I don't know if the new ones will last that long, I just got a Dewalt 2hp 30 gallon to replace it a few months back.

New compressor, I would run it for 20 minutes or so and then dump the oil and change it with recommended oil (synthetic blend as per the mfg)..

sberry · Feb 27, 2016

Run it a year or 2, change to synth, tight the belts a pinch and forget about it. No routine, would get changes if it needed other work. About the time it could use a new belt.

Cyberbear · Feb 27, 2016

Depending on the amount of recent use, I check the oil color and level, then change the oil as needed. I have no set schedule, but like the mileage on my car, I have an hour meter, and also use that to remind me how often to change the oil.

Tree Cutter · Feb 27, 2016

brownbagg said:
never

Same here, 25 years on the original and still working great.

countryroad82 · Feb 27, 2016

Every 3 months. Running DAs, paint guns, blast cabinets, etc makes the compressor run a lot.

LS6 Tommy · Feb 27, 2016

Compressors at work are annual, but they run 24/7. My cheepo in the garage is oiless...

Tommy

SMB47 · Feb 27, 2016

Interesting. Most manufacturers suggest 3 months or 300 hours, knowing that's not reality.

Vette10R · Feb 27, 2016

I got a new 60 gallon this winter and its been hooked up for a couple months now, it says to drain the oil after break in to Synthetic Blend Non-Detergent air compressor oil.

What brands do you guys recommend? And what weight?

Steevo · Feb 27, 2016

Note to self: Change compressor oil this year . . .

gaston9mm · Feb 27, 2016

never but maybe one day.

sberry · Feb 27, 2016

Vette10R said:
I got a new 60 gallon this winter and its been hooked up for a couple months now, it says to drain the oil after break in to Synthetic Blend Non-Detergent air compressor oil.

What brands do you guys recommend? And what weight?

The easiest is at auto parts stores. Amsoil is great.
Most of the mfg ratings, 300 hrs and 500 hrs is a long fuggin time in a common garage. They have to say something but its not uncommon for compressors to see 5000K hours or more on oil changes with synthetic comp oil in them.
I had Purple Purple in mine, no idea how many hours but it has to been in the 2000's-4000s range. It runs in a nice environment but I dam near felt guilty about tossing it away.

brownbagg · Feb 27, 2016

the oil not really getting dirty because there is no carbon combustion in the piston, its just lubrication all its doing, and most compressor might run 10 hours a month. its not like there running 8000 rpms 12 hours a day. Mine might not run two hours in a months time.

rodm1 · Feb 27, 2016

At home I try to do it annually but it seems like every 3 to 5 years it gets changed. It probably runs lease then two hours a year.

BMWED · Feb 27, 2016

Once a year, oil is cheap, also use a magnet in the bottom of the sump.

sberry · Feb 28, 2016

brownbagg said:
the oil not really getting dirty because there is no carbon combustion in the piston, its just lubrication all its doing, and most compressor might run 10 hours a month. its not like there running 8000 rpms 12 hours a day. Mine might not run two hours in a months time.

I like this, very simple. To add to it there is no coolant can leak in to it.
I like the assessment of the duty cycle. Home and small biz is very intermittent very sporadic.
Its why a small leak like I have in one of my feeders is bad, if a guy was using it daily and shutting it off its not relevant but I walked away without restoring the place at the end of te day last week, havnt welded a thing since but the bottle was on and its the second time I did it in the last year.
We see guys installing hour meters, it would be interesting to see what the meters say vs our guessing and speculating
. Its a little like pulling an oil sample on a tractor. It tells how good the guesses are.
I entered work in 80 or so, already thought we were changing oil way too soon as it was and that it needed to be greases twice in between changes. I do a lot of estimating, some data helps. My neighbor is a top hand compressor mechanic, doesn't panic about oil in his own, has stainless pipe,,, ha.
From reliable accounts,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, this is the theme in most of my threads,,,,, I change mine every year cause its cheap is not much of a fact but from some experience in this fild from my own and others and real accounts from qualified people say it doesn't matter much.

mbret2004 · Feb 28, 2016

On my 80-gallon Quincy I change annually. I use it to work on farm equipment, auto, whenever I can. Redline synthetic lubes it's guts, also a shot of grease for the electric motor. I would say it runs, on average, 15-hours per month.

engineer2 · Feb 28, 2016

The manual with my compressor said every 100 hours. I put an hour meter on it. That'll probably work out to about every other year or so assuming I run it 1 hour a week. If it looks dark through the sight glass, I'll change it sooner.

srr · Feb 29, 2016

I do mine once a year. I priced the pump for mine and it's $750. so spending less than $10.00 on some oil seems to be worth it. I also drain it into a clean pan and inspect it. I did see traces of water in it...so

coljar · Feb 29, 2016

brownbagg said:
the oil not really getting dirty because there is no carbon combustion in the piston, its just lubrication all its doing, and most compressor might run 10 hours a month. its not like there running 8000 rpms 12 hours a day. Mine might not run two hours in a months time.

Like sberry said, I like this explanation, too. The one in my old garage, a 1946 Kellogg-American, was changed in the 90's. The one in the new garage, a 1969 Curtiss, was changed in the 70's. Neither have ever been apart.

sberry · Feb 29, 2016

There is nothing wrong with changing but one really doesn't "need" to very often. Its not something to atop in the middle of the job for. It also doesn't hurt the mfg to recommend changes, no loss to them.

RacerRick · Feb 29, 2016

I do mine yearly or so. For the $8 for the oil, its cheap.

dlcwent · Mar 1, 2016

Oil and air filter = less than $15.

New compressor = ??????

:dunno:

you decide

sberry · Mar 1, 2016

dlcwent said:
Oil and air filter = less than $15.

New compressor = ??????

you decide

So, it's oil change or new compressor?

Cyberbear · Mar 2, 2016

Just like your car, oil is cheaper than a new compressor.

Jason280 · Mar 2, 2016

Cyberbear said:
Just like your car, oil is cheaper than a new compressor.

This...I change mine at least once a year.

The hard part for me is remembering to drain it....why didn't I simply install an auto drain when I mounted it??

NewShockerGuy · Mar 2, 2016

I've been using synthetic for a while now and it's funny because it looks exactly the same coming out as I put new stuff in. Change it once a year. I could probably go longer since it's just my garage and isn't used like a shop would. I'd feel better if it changed color or at least was a different shade as it was draining...lol

I use the IR brand and it seems to last quite a LONG time for me.

-Nigel

stihlntime · Mar 2, 2016

40 years never changed prolly should get around to it.

TractorJeff · Mar 2, 2016

Interesting?
I was given a compressor that through a rod, opened it up to find lots of water from condensation. If the PO had bothered to check the oil, he would have seen this. Then maybe changed it? Anyways I salvaged the tank, motor and controls as I had an identical compressor pump I bought at the fleamarket. Put it all together and loaned it to a buddy 10 years ago. He hasn't had any issues with it as he maintains it.
Oil is cheap, changing it once a year will not break the bank!

sberry · Mar 2, 2016

Cyberbear said:
Just like your car, oil is cheaper than a new compressor.

How come the guy that didnt change for 40 yrs doesnt need a new unit then?

Changing compressor oil ?

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