Compressor Lubricating Oil: It Can Be Cheap, But Not Outrageous

Compressor lubricating oil: It can be cheap, but not outrageous

The importance of compressor lubricating oil as a key consumable during the operation of the compressor is self-evident. However, in practical operation, we sometimes overlook the details of using lubricating oil. Due to the fact that most manufacturers specify the brand when using lubricants, and the compressor itself has a certain degree of stability, it is difficult to directly observe the problems caused by lubricants. Moreover, each manufacturer has their own set of methods for the use and maintenance of lubricating oil, which has led to various problems.

In the use of lubricating oil for air compressors, most manufacturers will specify the use of original or designated lubricating oil based on the characteristics and operational requirements of the equipment. This is done to ensure the safety and stability of equipment operation, as original or designated lubricants are typically rigorously tested and validated to best match the operating conditions of the compressor.

However, the prices of these original or designated lubricants are often relatively high, leading some air compressor users to seek alternatives in the market in order to reduce costs. Among these substitutes, although some are cheaper and of decent quality, there are also many whose quality cannot be guaranteed. Some users have suffered huge losses due to equipment malfunctions and even serious accidents caused by choosing mismatched or inferior lubricants.

Of course, there are also some users who have chosen relatively good alternative oil products and have not experienced any abnormalities in equipment operation in a short period of time. But this does not mean that using these oils is completely problem free, as some potential issues such as coking and wear are long-term accumulation processes that may be difficult to detect in the short term. Therefore, we cannot judge the quality of lubricating oil solely based on short-term operating conditions.

There are also many professional lubricant brands on the market, and their quality and performance are equally guaranteed. As long as the selection is reasonable and used appropriately, these lubricants can also become a good choice for air compressor users. Regardless of which lubricant is chosen, users should respect the manufacturer's suggestions and requirements, ensure that the selected oil matches the operational needs of the equipment, and avoid potential safety hazards.

1、 Types and selection of lubricating oil

There are many types of lubricating oil, mainly divided into three categories: mineral oil, non mineral oil, and mixed oil. Different types of compressors usually choose suitable lubricating oil based on their operating characteristics and manufacturer requirements. Most compressors commonly use 80 mesh lubricating oil, which has a certain level of fineness and quality assurance.

In practical applications, compressor lubricants from different manufacturers also vary in color, such as pink, white (transparent or light yellow), light yellow, and dark yellow. These color differences not only reflect the different components of lubricating oil, but also reflect the personalized needs of each manufacturer. For example, the lubricating oil used in the Grundfos compressor is pink transparent, while the lubricating oil used in the Sullair compressor is yellow but slightly darker in color (only taking the lubricating oil used in the models I have seen as an example, not representing all models or other new types of lubricating oil). It can be seen that the color and requirements of lubricating oil used by each compressor manufacturer may vary to some extent. However, deep yellow compressor oil is more common. The transformer oil is No. 36, and the piston compressor is No. 19. Its color is particularly dark, indicating that there are also many impurities and the mesh size is low.

When choosing lubricants, several main performance requirements that need to be considered include:

1）. High temperature stability: It can maintain stability at high temperatures without decomposition or deterioration, ensuring the safety and reliability of the machine during high-speed operation;

2）. Antioxidant performance: Not easily oxidized, maintains stable performance, and extends machine life;

3）. Corrosion resistance: It can fully cooperate with metal materials without corrosion and wear, ensuring the service life of the machine;

4）. Low temperature performance: It has good low-temperature fluidity and can effectively lubricate even in low-temperature environments, reducing wear during machine start-up.

2、 Precautions for using lubricating oil

The use of lubricating oil mainly focuses on the replacement of compressor oil. The oil change cycle for different compressors varies, with some changing every few months and others requiring more frequent replacement due to oil leakage. Oil leakage is a common problem in compressors, and its causes are complex and difficult to quickly locate. Therefore, the existence of oil leakage has brought certain difficulties to the maintenance of compressors.

During the use of lubricating oil, some manufacturers may replace substandard lubricating oil due to profit motives, which will have a serious impact on the performance of the compressor. Unqualified lubricating oil not only reduces the energy consumption level of equipment, but also may cause scratches or other damages inside the compressor, thereby affecting the normal operation of the compressor.

In addition, there are numerous lubricant manufacturers in the market, including some research institutions and distributors. The quality of lubricating oil produced by these manufacturers varies greatly, and some may have lower prices but the quality cannot be guaranteed. Some small compressor dealers will purchase compressor oil with slightly guaranteed quality and no problems under normal circumstances, but at a much cheaper price, in order to obtain more profits through a low input and high output approach. Therefore, users should carefully consider when choosing lubricants to avoid purchasing substandard products due to the desire for cheap prices. It can be cheap, but it cannot be unreasonably cheap.

3.Maintenance of lubricating oil

In the maintenance process of lubricating oil, we need to regularly check the condition of the lubricating oil, including indicators such as color, viscosity, cleanliness, etc. If the lubricating oil is found to have blackened color, decreased viscosity, increased impurities, etc., it is necessary to replace it with a new lubricating oil in a timely manner. At the same time, attention should be paid to the storage and replacement methods of lubricating oil to avoid introducing impurities or contamination during the storage and replacement process.

In addition, the usage environment of the compressor also needs to be considered. If the compressor is in a high-temperature, humid, or dusty environment, it is necessary to check and replace the lubricating oil more frequently to ensure its stable and long-lasting performance