Many industries depend on air compressors to ensure consistent productivity. While air compressors are designed for durability, they experience consistent, heavy wear. Lubrication helps reduce wear, but it can also lead to oil-related problems. From preventing air compressor oil carryover to stopping leaks, it’s critical to invest in regular servicing to prevent downtime.
Common Air Compressor Oil Issues
Oil plays a critical role in your air compressor’s performance. Some air compressors are oil-free, but many use oil to lubricate, seal and cool moving parts. The oil keeps friction down, preventing it from creating heat as moving components interact.
When the oil level gets low or other issues emerge, problems can arise. Your air compressor can wear faster, becoming inefficient and leading to expensive repairs. Knowing how to identify oil issues can protect your operation from downtime and extend your equipment’s life.
1. General Oil Problems
General oil issues include contamination, leaks and improper oil selection. Your compressor contains seals and gaskets, which keep oil in its proper areas. When these seals and gaskets fail, a compressor oil leak occurs. Contamination from water and particles is another concern for air compressors. Moisture will emulsify the oil, impacting its performance. It’s essential to choose the right oil and keep it contaminant-free to protect lubrication.
2. Eroded Oil
Oil erosion is the slow loss of oil from your compressor. The longer the same oil remains in the air compressor, the lower the levels get. High temperatures from the equipment can also eventually break down the oil, while contaminants reduce its effectiveness. When eroded oil in air compressors leads to too-low levels, it increases friction, wearing down components.
3. Excessive Oil Carryover
Oil carryover happens when too much oil enters the compressed air system. This sudden influx of oil can clog filters and damage equipment. It’s important to prevent air compressor oil carryover to protect compressor efficiency and condition. The most common culprits of oil carryover include overfilled oil reservoirs, worn piston rings and clogged separators. Businesses should get excessive oil carryover fixed as soon as possible to prevent air compressors from using too much energy.
4. Oil in Discharge Air
An air compressor pushes out what’s called “discharge air.” Finding oil in the discharge air is a serious concern, especially in industries with strict regulations around contamination, such as the food and beverage industry. As the discharge air powers tools and supports product development, any oil mixed in will compromise product quality, clog filters and damage pneumatic tools.
Oil in the discharge air can occur due to a failing separator element or degraded piston rings. If any oil makes its way into the air supply, it can lead to expensive professional servicing.
5. Clogged Oil Return Lines
Oil return lines assist in recirculating oil through the compressor. They help maintain consistent oil levels and carry oil from the oil separator, ensuring no oil is in the discharge air. Debris and sludge can block the return lines, preventing oil from moving through them. This blockage can lead to overheating and poor lubrication. If your air compressor has clogged oil lines, it lacks proper oil circulation, and the system can overconsume oil as it struggles to compensate for the blockage.
Why Is Your Air Compressor Losing Oil?
Air compressors are meant to keep oil contained. Sometimes, leaks or low oil levels due to time can affect performance. Inspect your air compressor for visible leaks, poor air pressure performance or unusual sounds. If you see these issues, you might be losing oil.
Additionally, check your oil refill frequency. Refilling the oil more often than normal likely means there’s a problem — especially if there’s excessive air compressor oil consumption. Your air compressor might be losing oil due to:
- High temperatures: Overheating leads to high temperatures, which causes faster oil breakdown. When oil breaks down, it loses viscosity and becomes less effective.
- Incorrect oil levels: Both over- and under-filling can also affect system lubrication. Air compressors need correct oil levels to operate efficiently. Low levels lead to friction and wear, while high levels might lead to excessive carryover and contaminated lines.
- Faulty oil return: Clogged or damaged return lines stop oil circulation, creating oil accumulation and loss in various areas.
Does Air Compressor Oil Go Bad?
Your air compressor can go bad when it becomes too old or external factors affect the oil. However, if contaminants get into the pump, it can affect the oil quality, leading to degradation. As oil becomes contaminated, it can’t lubricate effectively. This could lead to overheating and increased friction, which accelerates compressor wear.
Store oil properly and check compressor oil regularly. Make sure you’re investing in quality oil for your air compressor to prevent problems.
How Regular Servicing Helps You Maintain Your Air Compressor
Routine maintenance is highly effective at preventing oil-related air compressor issues. Getting scheduled servicing from a professional means minor issues are caught and corrected before they lead to downtime.
While daily inspections and minor upkeep help protect your equipment, professional support provides your air compressor with an expert eye. Technicians will carefully inspect the equipment, addressing air compressor oil discharge, blockages and other challenges.
Professional support helps resolve:
- General issues: Professionals will find and fix leaks while using the correct oil for your equipment. They’ll drain moisture from the system and replace oil to keep everything running smoothly.
- Oil erosion: Technicians also check oil conditions, looking for contaminants that lead to erosion. They can replace oil and inspect cooling systems to prevent friction and overheating.
- Oil carryover: If you’re experiencing excessive oil carryover, you need a professional. Technicians will replace any worn or clogged separators to prevent oil from entering the air stream. They can find and replace worn piston rings to seal the system further. Additionally, regular professional inspections monitor oil levels for better performance.
- Contaminated air: Regular servicing inspects separators and filters to ensure everything is clean. Skilled technicians will detect early signs of wear, replacing components before they affect the oil.
- Clogged lines: Schedule services to clean and inspect oil return lines to resolve or prevent blockages. With regular maintenance, businesses can monitor clog risks and keep oil circulating.
Minimize Oil-Related Concerns With Quincy Compressor
Oil-related issues can quickly lead to inefficient operation, compression damage and downtime. With high-quality compressors and regular servicing, businesses can keep their compressors operating at peak performance.
Quincy Compressor offers expert service solutions designed to prevent oil-related issues. Our factory-trained technicians use industry-leading diagnostics and standard parts to ensure your equipment operates reliably and efficiently.
Don’t wait until an oil issue disrupts your operation. Contact Quincy Compressor to schedule a service appointment or set up a customized maintenance plan today.
