Draining compressor oil

[ollie]

I hated changing the oil in my compressor so I just made this setup which makes it easy.
A right angle brass airline fitting
Short drain hose with fastener at end
Old aluminum water flask with two magnets stuck on it.

Now I can just loosen the drain hose, put it in the flask and go and do something else instead of watching oil splash everywhere

 

[BurtEggley]

how often do you change the oil? I think in the 30 years I have owned two of those pumps, I've changed the oil maybe twice, and it is due again. The oil is always clean when I drain it, and the level is always full.

 

[mikedodge]

For the rare time they need to be drained I cut up an old oil container or drink container to fit under the drain hole.

 

[Torque&Recoil]

I did something similar with a pipe ****** and elbow. Sure, the oil doesn't get changed often, but I got tired of the GD mess it made when the oil dribbled everywhere. Actually, now that I think of it, what is the recommended oil change interval for IR compressors? Isn't it like once a year ?

 

[MileHighRover]

Does that contraption stay on all the time? If not, you have to pull the drain plug and install this before draining? Trying to figure out how you get the drain hose on without making a mess.

 

[Worsedog]

Does that contraption stay on all the time? If not, you have to pull the drain plug and install this before draining? Trying to figure out how you get the drain hose on without making a mess.

Fairly confident the hose assembly is now one with the compressor.

 

[johninct]

That is the same way I do my Devilbus.

 

[djbmw]

Nice setup! Changing compressor oil absolutely ***** as it drips all over - even with a pop-bottle-plastic oip drip tray/funnel.

For everyone asking - mineral oil should be changed every two years. The primary concern is moisture getting mixed with, or trapped under, the oil which can lead to rusting of the pump.

Synthetic oil.. every 3 to 4 years.

These intervals reflect the hours/use of most hobbyists - and not volume shops where the compressor is continuously running.

 

[mm08822]

One of these with the same pipe thread as the oil plug. And buy the cap as a safety.

I like the OP's idea of the magnets with the bottle.

 

[908Jim]

how often do you change the oil? I think in the 30 years I have owned two of those pumps, I've changed the oil maybe twice, and it is due again. The oil is always clean when I drain it, and the level is always full.

It won't get dirty like motor oil because there aren't any combustion byproducts. You still need to change the oil because it can oxidize from heat and it will pick up microscopic metallic particles in use. I don't know what other additives are in compressor oil but they most certainly have a finite life.

 

[matt_i]

Lol. I don't think I have 1 hour of motor-on compressor runtime in 5 years. I've changed it once in 30yrs. It's non detergent so solids settle out to a quiet place in the sump. There are no hydrocarbons.

 

[ollie]

Original poster here. The bottle can stay held on the side by two magnets but I usually just keep it with the oil. The hose is permanent.
I hadn't changed my oil for years and it was black so I got some decent synthetic merlin from HF to replace. The beauty of this setup is you can leave it draining overnight knowing it's not going to dribble everywhere, then easy to pour out into the used oil container to take to auto parts store.
I've been painting cars so I want my air supply to be reliable.

 

[MovingAlong]

Short drain hose with fastener at end

Are you talking about just having a bolt inserted as a plug? Curious how/where the hose is supported when not draining into the bottle.

I've been painting cars so I want my air supply to be reliable.

When I bought mine 15-20 yrs ago, I swapped out the steel pipe ******* for brass. In the photo, it would appear this one is vertical (probably less trouble than horizontal) but might still give some consideration to replacing it.



Not sure why - but I missed one on my setup. Took just a few years before It started to blow chunks of rust and ate up a couple regulators before I knew what was happening. Was kind of embarrassed at the time but they are all brass now.

 

[ollie]

Are you talking about just having a bolt inserted as a plug? Curious how/where the hose is supported when not draining into the bottle.



When I bought mine 15-20 yrs ago, I swapped out the steel pipe ******* for brass. In the photo, it would appear this one is vertical (probably less trouble than horizontal) but might still give some consideration to replacing it.



Not sure why - but I missed one on my setup. Took just a few years before It started to blow chunks of rust and ate up a couple regulators before I knew what was happening. Was kind of embarrassed at the time but they are all brass now.

 

[ollie]

Brass Pipe Fitting 90 Degree Elbow 3/8" NPT Male x 3/8" NPT Female into an engines Drain Oil Drain Hose STAN1438 Replacement B-ri & S-tra 29, 30, 35 & 38 40, 44 & 49 54-61 Series Engines (3/8 NPT male threads fits NPT female threads with around 0.6" ID.)​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0DMZC7G59?tag=atomicindus08-20

The drain hose has a bolt on the end to remove to drain.