Air Compressor Oil Question

[Deere Dude]

I have a compressor for a John Deere garden tractor and is mounted in the front of the tractor. I am just getting it out of mothballs after 40 years of storage and it needs oil. It says to use 20 weight oil, non-detergent. I use to hear of that type of oil decades ago but never really knew what it was and what it wasn't.
I looked in Auto parts stores, Menards type stores, Farm type also and nobody has anything other than straight 30 weight oil. What else could I use instead and not wreck something.

 

[johnrex62]

You may have to order it off the internet. I have a Hunter Original ceiling fan that has the oil bath system. It specifies a 10W non-detergent oil that is no longer sold at the big box stores or automotive shops. Hunter wants $15 an ounce for it. I saw a few online sources that are selling it for under $5 a quart, so I am going that route. One quart should last me a lifetime or two. :thumbsup:

 

[CharlieS]

My shop compressor also spec's non detergent, which i found at the local NAPA store.

 

[daBear]

Don't know about straight 20 weight but non detergent oil is easy to find at any auto store. As long as you use non detergent and you are not in the artic I bet the weight will not matter that much.

 

[Bird]

The pneumatic impact wrenches with oil instead of grease in the impact mechanism call for 20W or 30W non-detergent motor oil, so when I was in that business in Texas heat, I only bought and used 30W, but I never had any problem finding it. Most air-compressors years ago used regular 30W motor oil, but my current air-compresor manual recommends 10W-30 synthetic which is what I buy from Northern Tool. I may be wrong, but I sure suspect the 10W-30 synthetic would be good for that old compressor, too.

 

[mlauk]

Tractor Supply has 10w-30 air compressor oil.

Campbell Hausfeld Air Compressor Oil, 16 oz. - 3434054 | Tractor Supply Company

 

[kelloggguy]

These days, most all manufacturers recommend using 30 weight, non-detergent (to prevent foaming) oil for most temperate climes. Extreme high temps (over 100F inlet temp) require 40 wt, and low temps might require 10W-30 or 5W-30.