Compressor Oil

[Carl Wilson]

Quick one. Apologies if it's been asked a million times. I'm looking at servicing my compressor.

What oil should I use? Does it need to be something special or can I just use ISO 32? Or synthetic motor oil?

Thanks people.

 

[Seadog]

Piston compressor? Motor oils can (will) cause carbon build up. A compressor oil has none of the additives that cause this to happen. I use Clarke's ISO 100.

 

[Carl Wilson]

Yes piston compressor. I have ISO 32 and 68 hydraulic type oils and I wondered if the 68 would work.

 

[striker]

I've read, in several places, ATF makes fine compressor oil. Anyone tried it?

 

[frank horton]

I have only ever used synth "D" engine oil in mine.....never a prob.....
have 3 comps + 1 big-un.....
dread to think of the cost for a new pump....Atlas-CopCo.....

 

[cheb]

Look at it the other way. Why wouldn't you use the oil specified? It you don't use the compressor much it won't be that much of a ahrdship to buy the proper oil, and if the compressor is on all the time then it's worth feeding it what it should have.

 

[brightspark]

the compressor i built was of a leyland bus. the oil was pressure fed of the main engine . they run day in day out for thousands of miles and they dont coke up and the oil gets dirty and redhot . i just chuck in whatever ive got cheap and its been used regular for over 50 years

 

[Ashley Burton]

I just use compressor oil

You don’t usually need lots

I think it’s ISO68 the one I’ve got

 

[Bornfree]

Normally use iso 68 or 100

 

[Turbo]

If you use a monograde oil in our climate you will likely find the compressor sitting humming in cold weather, refusing to start, This is caused by the oil being thick due to the air temperature, it's well documented on the forum.

By using a good quality multigrade oil like 10w 40 it prevents this. I have been using it in several compressors for over 25 years & I've not had a pump seize yet!

 

[Carl Wilson]

Thanks for all the help.

 

[brightspark]

Be careful and use the correct oil as older or industrial compressors require this while newer direct drive units require car engine oils.

was reading up on engine oils my norton is suposed to use grade 50 none detergent oil .reason being theres white metal bearings inside and theres only a mesh filter in the tank so any crap just sits in the bottom of the tank and tends to stay there .using detergent oil it scours the engine and loosens all the crap and sends it round your engine ruining the white metal bearings . i bought a seperate oil filer kit that takes the screw on car paper filters . they are that fine and can filter out very fine crap i can now use fully synthetic detergent oil in it . learn something new every day

 

[Carl Wilson]

My compressor is a pretty bog standard generic piece of chinoiserie. I think 10w 40 will be just fine.