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How much compressor oil?
BenB - 1/12/08 at 11:17 AM

On my compressor it's got a little glass window so you can see the oil. In the middle of the glass circular window it's got a red dot (presumably some kind of recommended level). Only question is this-

is that max? min? average?

My compressor didn't come with any instructions and the box was quite oily so I suspect a fair bit had come out!! Now I'm getting worried to run the compressor!!

I know there probably isn't an industry standard(!) but has anyone got anything with anything similar?

thanks in advance!

Mr Whippy - 1/12/08 at 11:19 AM

when switched off the oil should be at the level of the red dot

too much and it might get sucked in with the air and be a pain

BenB - 1/12/08 at 11:33 AM

Excellent! I've leave it as it is then! Do you ever need to change the oil in the compressor (ie do you get left with thick gunky oil at the bottom of the tank?).

Mr Whippy - 1/12/08 at 11:42 AM

The oil will brake down just as it does in a car engine but at a much slower rate, if it becomes dark and mucky then it needs changed.

You need to drain the air reservoir now and again (I do mine once a year but it depends on how often it is used, there should be a plug on the bottom) to remove water so it doesn’t rust inside. Oil tends to stay in particulate form and without a filter can make paint spraying impossible.

r1_pete - 1/12/08 at 12:14 PM

I change mine about 3 yearly, the tell tale seems to be the compressor gets sluggish to run in really cold weather untill the oil warms up.

hobbsy - 1/12/08 at 12:31 PM

I thought you were supposed to drain the air down more often than once a year - especially if its only used occasionally (i.e. not daily or even weekly).

Do you leave yours at pressure but switched off for any length of time then?

Mr Whippy - 1/12/08 at 12:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by hobbsy
I thought you were supposed to drain the air down more often than once a year - especially if its only used occasionally (i.e. not daily or even weekly).

Do you leave yours at pressure but switched off for any length of time then?


Nope I always switch it off after use incase a hose bursts and it ends up running for days or weeks. Afraid all my stuff eventually leaks all the air away given a day or so but I'm not happy with the idea of leaving it pressurized at all, might be involved in a garage fire or something and it goes off like a bomb etc...very dangerous to Mr fireman who would not appreciate a jet propelled missile coming at him

as for draining it all depends on the machine, mine is quite large and takes a long time to collect water so after a few draining you should be able to judge what it needs.

02GF74 - 1/12/08 at 01:24 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
You need to drain the air reservoir now and again (I do mine once a year but it depends on how often it is used, there should be a plug on the bottom) to remove water so it doesn’t rust inside.


TIP. do not drain the tank in your carpeted garage asthe waer that comes out isvery rusty in deeed.

Mr Whippy - 1/12/08 at 02:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
You need to drain the air reservoir now and again (I do mine once a year but it depends on how often it is used, there should be a plug on the bottom) to remove water so it doesn’t rust inside.


TIP. do not drain the tank in your carpeted garage asthe waer that comes out isvery rusty in deeed.


oh dear oh dear that could be very nasty and people might think you have had a violent and unexpected bowel movement of the runny kind, probably after a particularly bad curry, but as they say better out than in…