Which Oil Is Best For Air Compressors

We’ve all heard the ole adage “if you take care of it it’ll take care of you” right? Well, the same can be said in regards to your air compressor. The way you care for and maintain the compressor, or any tool or machine for that matter, can go a long way in how dependable and efficient it is for you. Much like a vehicle relies on good oil to help it run well, an air compressor requires the same thing. Using good oil can help reduce normal wear and tear,sealing, cooling and cleaning.

What Does Air Compressor Oil Actually Do?

Unless using an oil-free air compressor, quality oil is a key component in maintaining a healthy compressed air unit. One primarily feature that oil helps is in removing the heat created during the process of air compression. Using a good quality compressor oil helps in reducing the wear and tear on moving parts by using a variety of additives to prevent metal from rubbing against metal.

The compression chamber and rotors are lubricated and sealed and require high-quality oil specifically designed for air compressors. A simple way to understand this is as the oil flows around between the moving elements, oil seals the space where the air is compressed.

Cleaning is another important aspect that air compressor oil aids in. At times small particles, such as dust, can sneak in the machine through places like the air filter. As the oil circulates it picks up these particles and eventually carries them back to the oil filter. With a low quality oil this process can be hindered preventing proper lubrication to the air compressor internals and can essentially destroy the running parts.

Types of Air Compressor Oil

The two main types of compressor oil: standard oil, also known as mineral oil and synthetic oil.

1. Standard Compressor Oil: The standard compressor oil uses a mineral base and, just like normal motor oil, is less expensive than it’s synthetic oil counterpart. As standard oil tends to be more volatile it tends to evaporate more frequently than synthetic oil. So although it is cheaper than synthetic oil it is consumed at a greater rate causing you to use more of it as well as change oil filters more frequently. This type of oil is fine for compressors that are used periodically but not continuously.
2. Synthetic Compressor Oil: Synthetic compressor oil is a higher-quality product that tends to have a longer service life and many times can last twice as long as standard oil. Synthetic oils can also lengthen the life of the compressor with better lubrication and less build up. Air compressors that are run continuously greatly benefit from the perks of synthetic oil.
3. Universal Compressor Oil: Some manufacturers recommend using a universal compressor oil that can be used for several applications. As different machines have different requirements it is hard to promote the use of universal oil to reach peak performance and long-term durability.

Your Oil’s Life Expectancy

It is a common misconception that the size of the oil reservoir is the biggest determining factor in how long to expect the oil to last in one’s air compressor. In general the best way to know not only the oil capacity of the compressor but also how long to expect the oil to last is by looking in the owner’s manual. But if the oil is not lasting as long as it should there is a good chance the compressor is running hot. Pay attention to what’s expected in the manual compared to the lifespan of the oil and act accordingly to find out what the issue is.

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Trust the Experts

At AVP, we know a thing or two about air compressors. Call us for an expert recommendation at (281) 866-9700 or check out our store at shop.airvacuumprocess.com.