How do I check the oil level in this compressor?

[BerBer5985]

I bought this compressor used and I have no idea how to change the oil, or more importantly, how to check the oil level or how much oil to use. It's a devilbiss 20 gallon 4 hp 110v oil lube compressor. Here are some pics below. Can someone tell me how to check the oil level or how to change the oil. I ordered some amsoil compressor oil that I'm gonna change in.



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[jayoldschool]

2nd pic: vertical square bolt to check, horizontal square bolt to drain. Just guesses...

 

[BerBer5985]

Id guess that too, but I believe one is a drain valve and one is the fill. But I'm still not sure about how to check the oil level or the right amount.

 

[dj spanners]

yes thats correct, square bolt pointing out is drain, the other one is the fill, i would guess with it being so low down you would fill till the oil is level with the neck of the filler hole, you can view repair/service manuals at www.devap.com

 

[Skin]

since there is no combustion the oil doesnt usually go anywhere once the rings have broken in.

anyway to answer your question if there is no obvious fill point you fill and can check the oil level via that circular brass cover on the front of the casing that you took a picture of. It should pop right off, do not deform it. Behind it is a bearing and a fill hole. I'd probably fill it until i could see the oil level at the base of the fill hole.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

since there is no combustion the oil doesnt usually go anywhere once the rings have broken in.

anyway to answer your question if there is no obvious fill point you fill and can check the oil level via that circular brass cover on the front of the casing that you took a picture of. It should pop right off, do not deform it. Behind it is a bearing and a fill hole. I'd probably fill it until i could see the oil level at the base of the fill hole.

That circular brass cover on the end of the crankcase is the plug at the rear crankshaft bearing. You WOULD NOT want the oil anywhere near this level, and should not be removing it for any purpose.

The filler port is the square plug on top at the bottom of the crankcase. Fill it close to the top of that port, install plug, you are done. It doesn't get any simpler.

Charles

 

[tjmonsen5]

I have the same compressor. The bottom bolt is drain, the top one is fill. I just fill it with oil until it is about half way up the threads. You need to pour the oil very slowly, as it takes a while to fill for some reason. It needs to equalize with the oil inside the case.

 

[Skin]

That circular brass cover on the end of the crankcase is the plug at the rear crankshaft bearing. You WOULD NOT want the oil anywhere near this level, and should not be removing it for any purpose.

The filler port is the square plug on top at the bottom of the crankcase. Fill it close to the top of that port, install plug, you are done. It doesn't get any simpler.

Charles

i have a similar setup all-be-it a different brand and i can assure you the brass cap is where the oil goes in. At least on mine. I'd still suggest filling through it if there is a visible hole, which there is on mine, and using the oil plug as a guide to determine when its reached capacity. Obviously it would take a long time to fill that otherwise.

 

[BerBer5985]

Perfect. Approx how much oil does it take?

 

[imok]

I have a very similar old Sears compressor and the vertical plug is the filler and the horizontal plug is the drain.

 

[lipadj46]

i have a similar setup all-be-it a different brand and i can assure you the brass cap is where the oil goes in. At least on mine. I'd still suggest filling through it if there is a visible hole, which there is on mine, and using the oil plug as a guide to determine when its reached capacity. Obviously it would take a long time to fill that otherwise.

By brass cap do you mean the round brass disc? That is not the fill hole, I guess if you can pop it off you could fill through there but like others have said the horizontal tube with the square square plug is the drain and the vertical tube with the square plug is the fill. Fill until he oil is near the top of the tube.

 

[Skin]

By brass cap do you mean the round brass disc? That is not the fill hole, I guess if you can pop it off you could fill through there but like others have said the horizontal tube with the square square plug is the drain and the vertical tube with the square plug is the fill. Fill until he oil is near the top of the tube.

yes, that is how the oil is filled on mine, again its a different brand though so ymmv. The one i have is from the 40s and has no tee fitting like that nor did it come with one, just a simple drain plug directly into the base of the crankcase. Oil is refilled via removing the brass bearing cover i pointed out. There is a hole going straight into the crankcase. Again thats mine. I imagine if he removed his he'd find something similar.

Perfect. Approx how much oil does it take?

if you're filling through the tee fitting you'll know when its full when it starts cresting over the threads.

 

[JASTECH]

+1 to fill until on threads. The older model would fill via the brass cap until they added the verticle fill/site plug. The older model manual would tell you the maximum amount to use. Too many consumers will not read the max so they just fill it up, lol

Thanks, JASTECH