Lubricating hydrovane

[Mte320]

When running my hydrovane, for short periods. The chances for
Corrosion due to water moist is increased.

My question is:

What if i spray oil in through the air filter, with an spraycan
Creating af fume of oil inside the vanes. And barrel lubricating it.
In the process stopping the compressor so the oil gets stuck., until next time.

 

[Mr shiney]

I have a Hydrovane. Lubrication is not your issue it is not burning the moisture out of the oil that turns it into a mayonnaise that is the problem. It needs to run for around 1hr on a frequent basis to get the temperature up to 65c to burn it off.

So either use it or get a Maintanance run unit fitted to it that will make and vent air in order to get it up to temperature.

 

[stef1]

With my hydrovane, before I plan on running it I open the drain valve and run it for 5-10 mins without any pressure before I need it. It's surprising how hot it gets. Another 4 mins to fill the tank after that.

I have just recently drained the oil and changed the filter, no signs of mayo in there.

Don't go spraying oil in there though!!

 

[Mte320]

If its just a matter of tempeture, my hydrovane reaches
75degrees in 15 min. I chance the oil every 3 months.

I hope i dont get problems?

 

[Mr shiney]

If you get up to temperature then the oil only needs changing every 2000hrs. You are just wasting money doing it before then. It's not a combustion engine.

 

[Mte320]

I gets up to temp. Yes

But still don't run for longer Then 20 min at a time.
And Then standing still for maybe 2 weeks.

I dont use hydrovane 2000 Oil. So i believe the service time is Down to
500 hours. What i been informed

 

[Mr shiney]

Why are you not using the correct oil? It costs £14 for a litre of it and it lasts for 2000hrs so not exactly an expensive item.

When I bought my Hydrovane I was advised to only use the Hydrovane 2000 oil and follow the standard service schedule and the unit would give me years of service.

You can easily check the state of the oil by opening the fill plug. If the oil is clear red its fine, if it is pink then its mayonnaise and will need either the unit running for an hour to clear it or worse case an oil change.

If you run the unit on a regular basis to get it properly hot then it won't be an issue. Running it for 20min at a time is not really enough. These are workhorse compressors designed to by used a lot.

I use mine in in the same way but tend to allow it to make air which is vented for about 20minutes before I start doing jobs with it. I then use it for an hour or so and then it does not get used for a few weeks. This profile works well and I have no problems with moisture in the oil.

If you can't get it properly hot through use then you have probably over specced the compressor!!

 

[stef1]

I wouldn't use anything other than hydrovane spec oil, I paid £30 for 5 litres just weeks ago so not expensive.

 

[Mte320]

I can remember i complained About the oil beeing to expensive?
But if you look in the users manual of my hydrovane you will find a list of
Different makes of oil that can be used. And af temp. Chart that indicates that hydrovane 2000 oil is best suitet for long runs i hot conditions. And the sae 20 to 30 for colder conditions.

I bought the oil throug a compressor shop that sell and service hydrovanes.

And yes of course the compressor is to big, its a 10kw 40cfm. But i Got
Nearly for free. Still Want to use it!!

 

[Mr shiney]

Then you are going to need to make air and vent it to keep it inside the operational parameters.

 

[Mte320]

Okay, i will try to went it.

How does the hydrovane compare to a similar size screw
Compressor, in a matter of reaching the correct oil temp.

Does a hydrovane create more heat?

 

[Mr shiney]

i use a thermal imaging camera on mine to check its temp. Normal running temp for mine is 65C. It reaches this after about 30 min of constant running.

When I first got it I read about the moisture in the oil being an issue for infrequently run units and when I checked my oil was pink. I ran it for an hour and it cleared just fine. I now make sure I get it properly hot now and have no problems. The hydrovane is actually a 100% duty unit. The versions without receivers which are exactly the same pump don't have cut off valves they just constant run.

They are actually very energy efficient. When not running under load the motor consumes less energy so if you run them with the vent valve open they get up to heat quickly. This is how the automatic run units that you can fit to combat the problem work.

 

[Mte320]

What model is your hydrovane?

Does it get hotter if it just blow air out with no pressure?

Dosn't Sound like a screw compressor Would last longer on these Working condtions

Even thou the hydrovane is a old mashine

 

[Mr shiney]

Mine is the VO2. Mine seems to get up to temp fine if its just bleeding air. It pressurises to about 2bar before the dump kicks in.

According to hydrovane they get better the more they are used and are good for several hundred thousand hours with needing anything more than service parts.