Just like cars, when it comes to compressors, air compressor maintenance is key and should be factored into the buying process as part of life cycle costs. An important aspect of maintaining an oil-injected air compressor is changing the oil.
One important thing to note is that with oil injected air compressors, the size of the oil tank does not determine the frequency of oil changes.
As a coolant, oil plays a vital role in oil-cooled screw air compressors. The oil removes the heat generated during compression, and also lubricates the rotors and seals the compression chambers. Because compressor oil is used for cooling and sealing, it is important to use a special, high-quality oil that is made specifically for this application and cannot be replaced by substitutes such as motor oil.
There is a cost to this particular oil, and many people think that the bigger the tank, the longer the oil will last, but this is very misleading.
①Determine the oil life
Heat, not the size of the oil reserves, determines how long the oil lasts. If the compressor oil life is shortened or a larger oil reservoir is required, the compressor may generate more heat than expected during compression. Another problem could be excess oil passing through the rotor due to unusually large clearances.
Ideally, you should consider the total cost of an oil change per hour of operation, and be aware that the life expectancy of an oil change is shorter than the industry average. The compressor's operating manual will list the average oil life and oil capacity for an oil-injected screw compressor.
②Large fuel tank does not mean longer oil usage time
Some manufacturers may imply that they will have longer oil life, but there is no correlation between the two. Before buying a new compressor, do you research and stick to an effective maintenance plan so you can catch potential problems early and avoid wasting money on compressor oil changes.
Post time: Jun-29-2023
