Compressor oil for Craftsman

[Jason280]

Any recommendations on a lubricant for a Craftsman 5hp/240v 30gal horizontal air compressor? I have two of these compressors, and its time to do a little maintenance and change the compressor lubricant. Any recommendations?

 

[michaelwoodcock]

I use amsoil in all my compressors, treats me just fine! What weight oil do you need? you might be able to get some great oil here:
http://www.amsoil.com/a/synthetic-compressor-oil-lubricants?zo=5044651

My old cambell hausfeld took about 3/4 of a bottle. You might want to play it safe and get two bottles. Remember, you can always use a full synthetic car motor oil in most compressors. If you compressor calls for a 30w, you can use 10w-30 full synthetic. A conventional oil contains detergents and additives that will gunk up your valves & other parts: steer clear!

 

[jjjrmx5]

Has to be detergent free as mentioned above.
Be careful.

Craftsman carries thier own that is obvioulsy a rebrand for $4.99 a quart.

 

[BLACK DEATH]

Just buy a quart of mobile 1, 5w30. Its what i use

 

[darkzero]

I use amsoil in all my compressors

+1

 

[scottybaccus]

I wish someone could explain why it should be detergent free. I had to use some standard detergent 10w30 as a last resort a couple of years ago. It's still doing just fine and I've had no ill side effects. I use it almost daily. I've painted with it. I've primed, blasted, grinded, sanded, torqued, you name it.

 

[darkzero]

With non detergent oil, the dirty particles in the oil settles to the bottom of the pan & gets drained out when you drain the oil. There is no filtration system.

With detergent oil such as conventional motor oil, the dirty particles are suspended in the oil & gets filtered out through an in line filter.

The damage caused by using the wrong oil in a compressor won't be noticeable short term or with symptoms. If there is a good amount of dirty particles in your detergent oil, it's like you're constantly running dirty oil throughout the pump. With non detergent oil, the oil circulated tends to be "cleaner" as the dirty particles have settled to the bottom of the pan when it's not running. Well in theory anyway.

With my old Craftsman/DeVillbiss air compressor, I did not change the oil for almost 10 years. The majority of the oil came out looking surprisingly clean especially considering how many years it had not been changed.

 

[Jason280]

Any reason I couldn't simply use Ingersoll Rand badged synthetic compressor oil in the Craftsman? I'll have to use it once I change the oil in the IR I just bought, so it would be easier to buy one fluid type for all three compressors.

 

[michaelwoodcock]

No reason, if it's the same weight, do it! If not, get the recommended weight for the other compressors.

 

[blue2golf]

Harbor Frieght sells oil. I've thought about using it in my Craftsman twin piston 25 Gallon. Any thoughts?

 

[pipsters]

Harbor Frieght sells oil. I've thought about using it in my Craftsman twin piston 25 Gallon. Any thoughts?

I have that same compressor and I use the synthetic blend from Lowes. It's like $7 but makes me feel better, although I doubt it's much different.

I've read that you can also use M1 full synthetic oil as well from CH compressors, not sure why the Craftsman would be any different.

"There are two recommended oil options. First you can use single viscosity SAE 30 ISO 100-non-detergent compressor oil. Campbell Hausfeld model ST126701AV is recommended oil. The second option is to use 10W30 synthetic oil such as Mobil 1 ®."

 

[DHCrocks]

I use M1 5W30 in my compressor, it just so happens to be the same oil I use in my car so it's what I have on hand. In the manual (husky) it said synthetic oil could be used it didn't say anything about non-detergent.