What oil for air compressor do i need ?

[vw1]

I have just brought a compressor off DrNik on here but have noticed it is low on oil but am unsure on the correct oil I need to buy ? also I have drained the tank and what came out was very thick rusty water , can I flush the tank out with clean water ? or am I just been stupid ?

Thank you..

 

[Bill Edwards]

Find out the make/model if you can, and it should be possible to find the correct oil for it. There are different weights available.

As to the water in the tank, just drain it regularly. You don't need to flush it out, you need it to be dry as it will rust the tank to the point where it can become dangerous.

 

[vw1]

Ok shall check on model and make tomorrow .

 

[pedrobedro]

I have just brought a compressor off DrNik on here but have noticed it is low on oil but am unsure on the correct oil I need to buy ? also I have drained the tank and what came out was very thick rusty water , can I flush the tank out with clean water ? or am I just been stupid ?

Thank you..

You don't need to flush the tank, just keep draining it down after use. What kind of compressor is it ? Most use SAE30 or 40 and you can get a litre from Halfords for about £7 or 5 litres from MM for about £20 but my compressor only holds about 2/3 of a litre.

 

[vw1]

just been in garage and on the tank it says... nu-air , hp-3 , 150ltr , cfm 14 , made in England ?

Any help on servicing etc would be great as in the passed I have only had oil free 50ltr compressor and all I have done with that was drain it down after use ...

 

[rtbcomp]

My Nu-Air (SIP) uses SAE40, my Clarke uses SAE30

 

[normspanners]

I allways tend to use a thinner oil in the winter to help the starting, because thick oil causes drag but if yours is going to live alongside that radiator then that shouldnt be a problem.

 

[simplysimon]

motor oil is better than no oil.
because compressor pumps don't have an oil pump and more importantly a filter detergent motor oils should be avoided, IIRC motor oils also have a high sulphur content which absorbs water and can cause emulsification

some people prefer hydraulic oil
this is better than most
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370552557621
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250914885733

the thing that looks more worrying to me is that the pump looks dry on the outside so the only way oil has gotten into tank is through worn pump internals.

 

[anjum]

Probably a rip off but I bought this last time
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/synthetic-compressor-oil

 

[daleyd]

the thing that looks more worrying to me is that the pump looks dry on the outside so the only way oil has gotten into tank is through worn pump internals.

I don't think there was a ref to oil in the tank?

 

[vw1]

I allways tend to use a thinner oil in the winter to help the starting, because thick oil causes drag but if yours is going to live alongside that radiator then that shouldnt be a problem.

It will not live alongside radiator just ther temp till I find a space for it and radiator is off lol

 

[MattF]

motor oil is better than no oil.
because compressor pumps don't have an oil pump and more importantly a filter detergent motor oils should be avoided, IIRC motor oils also have a high sulphur content which absorbs water and can cause emulsification

some people prefer hydraulic oil

Hydraulic fluid absorbs water too. Several on here mentioned that when I asked regarding hydraulic in the past. The whole detergent thing is a non point in reality too, IMHO. If there's enough crap floating about in a compressor sump that you have to worry about crap in suspension, you likely have bigger problems, and if it is getting crappy, then it's a good reason to drop the oil and replace it. Frequent oil changes, (within reason), are far better for most things than type of oil used. Running crappy old oil will eventually kill anything.

 

[vw1]

How about olive oil

 

[pedrobedro]

How about olive oil

That's not how you spell it. It's Olive Oyl

 

[rtbcomp]

Actually I tried vegetable oil in a fridge motor setup I built, it just gunged everything up.

 

[vw1]

Have emailed fps compressors.co.uk about oil for my nu-tool compressor , while I wait for reply I have drained the tank and got two washing up bowls full off rusty water not good but now the hand screw type plug is crap would like to replace with leaver valve ?

Can anyone advice me what I need or what you have done for better axess for draining ?

 

[rtbcomp]

I fitted an elbow > hose tail > 1m hose > hose tail > lever operated ball valve.

This means I don't have to scrabble around on my hands & knees to drain the tank.

 

[MattF]

Actually I tried vegetable oil in a fridge motor setup I built, it just gunged everything up.

Still trying to decide whether that's a wind-up or not?

 

[rtbcomp]

Still trying to decide whether that's a wind-up or not?

No, it was electric.

 

[vw1]

Still trying to decide whether that's a wind-up or not?