Air Compressor Oil ?

MarkF48 · Sep 8, 2015

Figured it's time for an oil change in my air compressor and Google research tells me my air compressor should have a non-detergent oil. I can get a quart of non-detergent for less than $4 or lower in a viscosity recommended for the compressor I have. If I look at "Air Compressor Oil" in the area where air compressors are sold, a quart jumps up to $8-$10 and no viscosity seems to be shown on the container. What am I missing here? Is there an additive in the air compressor oil that makes it more suited for the application or it just costs more to label the container "Air Compressor Oil"

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What ya'll using?

Bird · Sep 8, 2015

You're looking at cheaper oil than the one I use.:laughing:
FREE SHIPPING — Ingersoll Rand T-30 Select Compressor Oil — 1 Liter Bottle | Air Compressor Start Up Kits Oil| Northern Tool + Equipment

MarkF48 · Sep 8, 2015

Bird said:
You're looking at cheaper oil than the one I use.:laughing:
FREE SHIPPING — Ingersoll Rand T-30 Select Compressor Oil — 1 Liter Bottle | Air Compressor Start Up Kits Oil| Northern Tool + Equipment

Yup, I did see some synthetics around that price.

gsganzer · Sep 8, 2015

The IR oil that Bird shows is what I typically use. But I was in a bind the other week and I bought a gallon of plain old compressor oil at O'Reilly autoparts for $12.99. I don't expect any issues with it.

Air Compressor oil

GreenYellow · Sep 8, 2015

How much do you need? Surely not much...
If it were me, it would be worth buying the "good stuff" just for peace of mind.
Oil is cheap compared to a good compressor. I like to be able to run the heck out of it and not worry about whether it's right or not.

George2615 · Sep 8, 2015

The owners manual I have at work for our commercial and medical air compressors says to use Air compressor oil or equivalent SAE 30 Non-detergent. For my home air compressors I use SAE 20 Non-detergent because they live in a colder environment in winter time. If we buy compressor oil from the manufacturer for compressors at work it is synthetic.

gsganzer · Sep 8, 2015

GreenYellow said:
How much do you need? Surely not much...
If it were me, it would be worth buying the "good stuff" just for peace of mind.
Oil is cheap compared to a good compressor. I like to be able to run the heck out of it and not worry about whether it's right or not.

I know, I usually run the IR 30 wt that Bird uses. But the other weekend, I moved my compressor from inside my shop to outside and I lost a bunch of oil when I leaned it over during the move. I needed some oil quick and bought the gallon, figuring I'll probably need to change more frequently due to the potential for moisture, rather than the oil wearing out. I'll probably change it once a quarter to see how it looks, until I get a feel for the wear and tear it see's.

Does anyone else have their compressor mounted outside under an overhang? It's pretty well protected, but would see more temperature extremes then when it was indoors.

kenmac · Sep 8, 2015

I either use Amsoil or Mobil 1 Rarus Oil in my compressor. Oil is cheap..My compressor wasn't cheap

meos1 · Sep 9, 2015

Whats the service interval for compressor oil assuming residential use (reads like on weekends and not frequently)?? Anyone?

Bird · Sep 9, 2015

meos1 said:
Whats the service interval for compressor oil assuming residential use (reads like on weekends and not frequently)?? Anyone?

That's a good question. I'm currently using just a 30 gallon upright Coleman Powermate compressor; 1.8 hp, 155 psi. It's 10 years old this month. The manual only recommends a 10W-30 synthetic oil and recommends 100 hour change intervals. But you may notice the oil I'm using says it's good for 2000 hours.

I've no doubt that I use a compressor more than most homeowners. In fact, almost every day. I have 3 different length air guns, including 2' and 4' lengths. I use it instead of the leaf blower to blow off the clippings from the drive and sidewalk, blow off the debris from the mower every time I use it, blow out the debris from the rain gutters, blow the clippings from my electric razor every time I shave, blow the clippings from our hair clippers every time my wife gives me a haircut, etc., etc. This morning I used it to blow the water off the steps at each end of the patio (we finally got some rain) and I just now heard my wife using it to blow the dust and such from her vacuum cleaner.

I changed the oil once a year for the first 3 or 4 years, but the oil always looked as good as new when I changed it so now . . . I've gotten pretty lax about it. So your question made me go look and it appears the last oil change was 11/2/2011, almost 4 years ago. Maybe I ought to do that.:laughing: