Air compressor oil is specially formulated for air compressors. It performs many important functions, such as cooling the compression, lubricating the compressor, and acting as a sealant. Without air compressor oil, the compressor would heat up faster. For many compressors, overheating causes an automatic shutdown, so the way the oil removes heat allows the compressor to run longer without overheating.
Your air compressor could also leak more air without the oil in the air compressor serving as a sealant to prevent leaks. Leaks reduce compressor efficiency and the maximum pressure it produces. Compressor oil also lubricates the moving parts of the compressor, which saves wear on the engine. Most of the time, compressor manufacturers will recommend a compressor oil for 20 or 30 pesos.
This works the same way engine oil works and if you live in an environment where you have colder winters, you may need to change from a 30 oil to a 20 weight oil, during the middle of the year. Air compressor oil is a standard or synthetic oil manufactured specifically for air compressors. Unlike engine oil, air compressor oil is detergent-free and generally has lower amounts of carbon, sulfur, and other contaminants that can cause buildup. Usually an engine oil (for your car or truck) will have some type of detergent, which is beneficial for an internal combustion engine, but for a compressor it won't be the best option because it will actually cause a lot more carbon to build up in a fairly short period of time.
Traditional lubricated compressors also have lower lifetime operating costs and enjoy greater durability and low environmental impact thanks to filtration systems that mitigate condensate discharge. Read your air compressor manual or contact the manufacturer directly to find out how much oil your air compressor system will need. Oil-free rotary screw air compressors are typically only used in industrial applications where oil contamination cannot occur, such as food processing or medical oxygen. Because compressor oil is used for cooling and sealing, it must be a high-quality special oil and cannot be replaced by alternatives such as engine oil.
A quality compressor oil reduces wear on rotating parts by using various additives to prevent the metal from rubbing against the metal; in other words, the oil cools the system so that the element does not overheat. Ideally, operators should consider the total cost of changing oil per hour of operation and be wary of compressors whose oil life is much shorter than the industry average. There are specific oils for compressors, but deciding between standard and synthetic blends, different weights and different manufacturers is where it is confusing. A synthetic compressor oil is going to be aimed at professionals or people who use their compressors on a more regular basis, especially for people who use their compressors at least three times a week.
As you can see, service hours and periods vary significantly between different air compressors, even when they are designed by the same manufacturer. Compressor oils tend to be the best option, especially if you want to comply with the compressor manufacturer's warranty guidelines and if you accept them and find that you've been using an unspecified oil, this could void the warranty and any benefits that warranty might have had. When the temperature drops, a 30 weight oil will be too thick to use in some cases and can cause the compressor to not start right away, so this is where a 20 weight oil would work best and really help in these types of cold start conditions. At the same time, oil-free compressors cannot remove air pollution resulting from water aerosols, rust, pipe fouling, atmospheric dirt, water vapor, or various microorganisms.
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