Silent Compressor - Oil in air tank?

[lens42]

I went to look at compressor on Craigslist. It is one of those silent types that uses refrigerator style motors. All looked good except when I opened the drain valve, foaming oil came out along with the water and air. Is this normal or sign to stay away. The machine seemed to run fine otherwise and was VERY quiet (which I want). This is the type of machine I talking about:

http://www.terrauniversal.com/pumps-compressors/silentaire-compressors.php

 

[dadsEH]

Run forest, run!

 

[Thumper68]

I looked at your link and didn't see a model with above 3cfm output.

What in the world are you planning on using a compressor like that for?

 

[monkeyspanners]

Refrigeration compressors normally do pump a fair bit of oil in normal running, it doesn't matter normally as fridges and air con are sealed systems and the oil returns to the sump.
I'd expect fridge type compressors to pump more oil out than a conventional air compressor, so would not be overly concerned.

 

[redmondjp]

Refrigeration compressors normally do pump a fair bit of oil in normal running, it doesn't matter normally as fridges and air con are sealed systems and the oil returns to the sump.
I'd expect fridge type compressors to pump more oil out than a conventional air compressor, so would not be overly concerned.

^ Yup. So long as you periodically top off the compressor oil (using special oil for hermetic compressor, not for standard air compressor), everything is fine.