the Workshop Compressor
  • Home
  • Air Compressor Info
    • Compressor Types
    • Compressor Parts
    • Compressed Air Uses
    • Systems and Components
    • Compressed Air Quality
  • Buying Guide
  • Calculators
    • Running Cost Calculator
    • Bar and Psi Calculator
  • Home
  • Air Compressor Info
    • Compressor Types
    • Compressor Parts
    • Compressed Air Uses
    • Systems and Components
    • Compressed Air Quality
  • Buying Guide
  • Calculators
    • Running Cost Calculator
    • Bar and Psi Calculator
the Workshop Compressor
  • Home
  • Air Compressor Info
    • Compressor Types
    • Compressor Parts
    • Compressed Air Uses
    • Systems and Components
    • Compressed Air Quality
  • Buying Guide
  • Calculators
    • Running Cost Calculator
    • Bar and Psi Calculator
  • Home
  • Air Compressor Info
    • Compressor Types
    • Compressor Parts
    • Compressed Air Uses
    • Systems and Components
    • Compressed Air Quality
  • Buying Guide
  • Calculators
    • Running Cost Calculator
    • Bar and Psi Calculator
Home » Compressed Air 101 » Air compressor parts: about the things you will find on your compressor. » Air compressor oil

Air compressor oil

Keep your compressor in top condition by usuing the right air compressor oil. Make your compressor run nice and smooth.

Using the right air compressor oil for your compressor is very important.

This is true for both rotary screw compressors and reciprocating piston compressors.

You can’t just use your cars oil or hydraulic oil (believe me, I’ve seen it)!

Compressor oil isn’t there just for lubrication, it has a few important functions:

  • It removes heat from the compression (number 1 function)
  • It works as a sealing to prevent air leakage (which would lower the efficiency of the compressor)
  • It lubricates all moving parts
  • It’s used to cool important parts of the compressor element.

Air compressor oil is specifically designed to do the above jobs well.

If you would use oil from your car or hydraulic oil (I’ve seen it both) the compressor will definitely die a slow (or quick) death.

Compressors (and the oil) can get very hot.. normal maximum outlet temperature of a rotary screw compressor element is set at 120 degrees Celsius (when it gets hotter, the compressor will shut down).

The oil should be able to survive these kinds of temperatures.

Oil failure

If you would operate your compressor on a too high temperature for a too long time, the oil will form a thin layer on the entire inside of your compressor (piping, compressor element, oil cooler).

When this happens to your oil-cooler, it won’t be able to cool the oil as effectively as it used to, with as result: even higher temperatures (and in the end an automatic shutdown of the compressor).

When this happens to your compressor, the ‘contaminated’ parts and especially the poor oil-cooler need to be chemically cleaned or replaced by new ones.

So it’s important to prevent this. Don’t let your compressor run too hot, and use the right kind of oil.

Special compressor oil is designed to resist these high temperatures.

Compressed Air 101 Topics
  • Compressed Air 101
  • Compressor types: different ways to compress air
    • Rotary screw compressors
      • How oil-injected rotary screw air compressors work
      • How oil-free rotary screw air compressors work
      • Screw air compressor elements (air-ends)
    • The Reciprocating air compressor
      • Single stage reciprocating air compressors
      • Two stage reciprocating air compressors
    • The Scroll compressor: quiet and easy
    • Portable air compressor
      • Portable air compressor parts and maintenance
      • Portable air compressor operation
      • Best Portable air compressor
  • Air compressor parts: about the things you will find on your compressor.
    • Compressor Air filters
    • Air compressor oil filter
    • Air compressor oil
    • Air compressor pressure switch
      • How a compressor pressure switch works
      • Setting your air compressor pressure switch
      • Air pressure switch models and options
      • Buying a Compressor pressure switch
    • Air compressor unloader valve
    • Air compressor inlet valve
    • Air compressor check valve: what it does, why it’s there and how it works.
  • Air compressors are everywhere! Overview of top air compressor uses
    • Scuba diving and the scuba air compressor
    • Paintball compressor
    • Dental Compressor
    • 12 volt air compressor
  • Compressed air systems and Components
    • Compressed air filters
    • Inline compressed air filter
    • Compressed air piping
      • The best compressed air pipe for you
      • Compressed air pipe sizing
      • Compressed air pipe sizing calculation
    • How to select a compressed air dryer
      • Refrigerated compressed air dryer
      • What you should know about your desiccant compressed air dryer.
      • Compressed Air Dryer Manufacturers
  • Compressed air quality: how clean do you want your compressed air?
    • Clean compressed air
Subscribe

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Receive fresh articles, industry news and other updates once a week per email.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

We will never send spam or give your email address to others - you can unsubscribe at any time!

Recent Articles
  • New: Compressed Air Calculators!
  • A little history

Let me help you with your workshop compressor setup :

  • Compressed Air 101
  • Buying Guides
  • More coming soon…
Scroll to top
Skip to content