Used compessor oil.

[kelpaso1]

I have a Force 3.5 HP 60 gal twin piston compressor I bought about 17 yr's ago. I don't think it would have more than 200 hours on it. It still looks new and I drain the tank water twice a week (a bit of water and a few drops of oil come out). It gets used about 3-4 times a week for 5 mins at a time. Just using impacts, die grinder, blow gun etc.

I change the oil every year and the oil that comes out is just as clean looking and smelling as the new oil going in.

Anything I can do with this used oil? Hate to throw away a clean $10 liter of oil to the waste bucket. Anyone have some uses for this?.. other than starting bonfires

 

[malibu101]

I see it this way------
Used oil is used oil. There was a reason to change it.
OR
Increase your drain intervals until it's worthy of changing it and disposing of it without worrying about the cost of it.
OR
enjoy the piece of mind without worrying about cost.

EDIT-
4 times a week for 5 minuites = 20 minuites
which means
20 (minuites a week) X 52 (weeks per year) = 1204 minuites = 17.33 hours per year.
You could go a decade on one oil change.

 

[kelpaso1]

I see it this way------
Used oil is used oil. There was a reason to change it.
OR
Increase your drain intervals until it's worthy of changing it and disposing of it without worrying about the cost of it.
OR
enjoy the piece of mind without worrying about cost.

EDIT-
4 times a week for 5 minuites = 20 minuites
which means
20 (minuites a week) X 52 (weeks per year) = 1204 minuites = 17.33 hours per year.
You could go a decade on one oil change.

Heheh, ok maybe I will let it go to 2 years. I just do it as a matter of habit. Everything I own gets the oil changed at least once a year whether it needs it or not.

BTW thanks for the math lesson. I didn't feel like doing it right now.

 

[Jere]

I am pretty sure the problem with oil and a lot of other fluids is they absorb water, and make acid that eats metal. That can wear out compressors that get lots of use.

I use old oil in squirt bottle oiling cans for general purpose oiling. Examples would be on threads of a cars bolts like lug nuts on reassembly, or to coat rusty surfaces to stop oxidation. I use oil mixed with atf on sheet metal that is being stored or worked on my planisher. I have burnt oil on steel that is to be left unpainted outdoors, (like some season cast iron pots)so metal sculptures and outdoor fireplaces and the outside of grills.

 

[nehog]

I take old, clean, oil and save it (filtered) in a gallon jug. Then I fill an oil squirt can and use it on things that need oil can oil such as non-critical hinges, etc.

 

[MScott]

Do you have a chain saw? I'll probably get flamed for this, but I have used clean, used oil as bar oil in a pinch and have seen no difference from the purchased variety. I actually think that some of the cheaper chain oil I have bought appears to be used oil and sometimes not all that clean.

 

[sberry]

You would never need to change it at that rate.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yeah you could probably go a lot longer between oil changes. But if it still looks okay you could probably use it for general oiling metal surfaces to prevent rust, or when you are drilling holes or something I guess.

$10 a year is cheap insurance though compared to a new pump?

 

[kbs2244]

Leave it in.
Most of our oil change experience comes from IC engines.
But this is an entirely different application.
Much lower pressures and no combustion by products.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd increase the oil change intervals and put the old oil in with the regular used motor oil.

 

[G_P]

It would probably work as bar oil. I just dump my used compressor oil in with my used motor oil.

 

[sberry]

$10 a year is cheap insurance though compared to a new pump?

If it was insurance it would be.

 

[littleponderosa]

i'm with MScott - i run my compressor oil thru a coffee filter and put it in the saws. ran used atf as well. kinda mix match lubes for a decent viscosity and let it go.
Bill