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Are you using the right oil – compressor oil, that is? Lubricants, especially oils for compressors that are designed for industrial use, are specifically developed and tested for the respective compressor type and requirements. The main tasks of a compressor oil include reducing typical wear and tear, cooling, sealing, and cleaning. There are also a few more fun, relevant facts about compressor oils that you should be aware of when planning for maintenance of your compressed air system.
Compressor oil is a critical component of maintaining a healthy compressed air installation. Primarily a coolant, oil removes the heat generated during the compression process. A quality compressor oil reduces the wear and tear on rotating parts by using various additives to prevent metal from rubbing against metal; in other words, the oil cools the system so that the element doesn't overheat.
Oil also lubricates the rotors and seals the compression chamber. Because compressor oil is used for cooling and sealing, it must be special, high-quality oil and cannot be substituted with alternatives such as motor oil. Essentially, as the oil flows around between the screw elements, it seals the space in which the air is compressed. Another important task is cleaning. In some situations, dust enters the machine through the air filter. The oil picks up these particles, carries them to the oil filter, and flows back. Keep in mind that if your compressor oil fails, or doesn’t lubricate as it should, the internal compressor components can be quickly destroyed.
There are two main types of compressor oil: standard oil (also called mineral oil) and synthetic oil.
Some compressed air manufacturers will recommend one oil for multi-purpose applications (piston compressors, screw compressors, etc.). However, different machines have different requirements, which means that one universal and alternative oil cannot achieve the highest performance of the specific compressor. The result is a significantly lower efficiency and protective property.
Heat, not oil reservoir size, determines how long oil lasts. If a compressor is experiencing shortened oil life or requires a larger oil reservoir, the compressor may be generating more heat during compression. Another possible problem is that excess oil is passing through the rotors because of an unusually wide gap. Ideally, operators should consider the total cost of changing oil per running hour and be wary of compressors with oil life expectancy far shorter than the industry average. To find out the average oil life expectancy and oil capacity of an oil-injected screw compressor, refer to compressor’s operator’s manual.
Questions on what type of compressor oil is best suited for your compressor installation?
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