What is compressor oil

Now that you understand the purpose of your compressor oil, the next step is to choose the right produc t for you. The problem is that there are many different lubricants available these days, and you may think that they are all alike.

In truth, you need to be very careful. As mentioned above, you need an oil that is capable of both lubricating and cooling. Many traditional oil products do not have the proper additives to handle the task of cooling. Either they provide no relief at all from the heat, or they separate and break down under extreme heat conditions, which means you will have to constantly change your oil to keep things running smoothly.

In general, you will want to select an oil that is specially formulated for use with the refrigerant being used in your commercial compressors. These lubricants are usually labeled distinctly to let you know that they contain additives for cooling, foam control, sludge control and more. They should also say that they have high oxidation stability to prevent rust and corrosion. While many of the commercial compressors use refrigerants designed to run with mineral oil, the newer refrigerants will usually run with a synthetic oil.

Again, select an oil that matches the refrigerant used to insure proper lubrication for your commercial compressor. Examples: Ra used in car air-conditioning systems and Ra. Ammonia R NH3 : Although ammonia is environmentally friendly, pure ammonia gas is highly toxic to people. Ammonia is used extensively in large industrial refrigeration plants. How to select the appropriate refrigerant?

The most important properties of refrigerants are: boiling point heat required to vaporize the liquid densities in liquid and vapour phase Selection of the right refrigerant is mainly based on the suitability of its pressure-temperature relationship in the range of the particular application. Refrigeration oils requirements 1.

Thermal stability Refrigeration oils must function correctly over a wide temperature range. Chemical stability Refrigeration oils should be chemically stable to avoid reaction with the refrigerant. Vapour pressure When a liquid boils, the added heat is used to increase the kinetic energy of the molecules until they can no longer remain in the liquid phase and shift to form a vapour or gas.

Need help selecting the best refrigeration oil? Contact our experts. Which oil types are used for refrigeration systems? Alkylbenzenes AB : these refrigeration oils have a good thermal and chemical stability.

The miscibility with refrigerant is high. Alkylbenzenes are completely soluble with mineral oils and PAO, which makes it possible to produce mixtures in order to improve the lubricant properties. Polyalphaolefin PAO : these refrigeration oils have a good chemical and thermal stability. PAO also has excellent viscosity temperature characteristics. The miscibility with refrigerant is low, which is why the major use of PAO in refrigeration is in applications where miscibility is not a concern.

Polyalkyleneglycols PAG : these refrigeration oils have a high viscosity index and thermal stability. However, PAG is hygroscopic, which means it can attract water. PAG is soluble with ammonia. Mineral oil : Naphtenic oils have a low pour point, which make them more suitable at lower temperatures. Ask Suggest a topic. Related Posts. Energy Turbine oils for the long run 31 May Read article. Energy The value of performance evaluation tests for gas engines 31 May Read article. Energy Understanding the viscosity index of a lubricant 17 April Read article.

Energy How can contaminants enter lubrication systems? Energy Whitepaper: Urban legends about gas engine oils 4 November Read article. Energy What causes nitration in gas engine oils and how to avoid it? Energy Oxidation rating of used gas engine oils samples 20 September Read article. Energy How sealants and anti-rust fluids affect lubricant anti-wear properties 16 August Read article.

Energy Lubricant compatibility testing 8 August Read article. Energy Gas Engines: Analytical tools, oil sample results and field testing 20 April Read article. Energy Prevent varnishing by choosing the right turbine oil 1 November Read article. Energy How to avoid varnishing in turbine oils 28 September Read article.

Energy Case Study: Performance evaluation test for stationary gas engine oils 28 September Read article. Energy Keeping your gas engine components clean 14 September Read article. Viscosity is a very important feature to look into. If the consistency of your oil is too thick or too thin, it will not only delay work, but it may also damage your air compressor. The temperature range of your air compressor oil is another feature that must be looked into.

Oils with high viscosity can function unpredictably when exposed to different temperature ranges. Usually, the temperature range of your air compressor oil is mentioned in its packaging. So, if you live in an area with extreme temperatures, you need to make sure the viscosity and the temperate are appropriate for your area.

Another thing to consider is the fact that your compressor also produces heat. It needs to withstand the temperature range in order to work efficiently. All oils contain some sort of additives. You need to pay special attention to the sort of additives that are present in your oil. At times, some of the additives in the oil may be beneficial in one scenario but may be harmful to another.

For instance, detergent additives in diesel oil help clean diesel engines, but it can also ruin your motor over time and reduce its lifespan. The more beneficial additives in air compressor oil will help prevent corrosion and rusting of the motor.

These types of additives can be very useful and can often be found in various commercial varieties. Oil lubrication can be made using either a mineral oil base or a synthetic base. Standard air compressor oil is a mineral oil-based while Synthetic air compressor oil is made using a synthetic base.

It is more refined as it undergoes quite a lot of processing. Both synthetic and standard air compressor oils are suitable. To choose between the two, you need to take into consideration the type and amount of work you intend to do with your air compressor.

This is the best pick for light to medium duty compressor work. Moreover, these oils are cheaper than synthetic blends. For professionals who regularly use their compressors, synthetic air compressor oil is better. So, if you use your compressor at least thrice a week, then you require a synthetic blend. According to various online user reviews, your air compressor can run a lot smoother and quieter on synthetic blends.

In addition, synthetic oil also offers protection for overheating and has an overall wider temperature range. Are there any substitutes for air compressor oil?

In short, the answer is yes. Though, if you have to use an alternate, we have discussed below some possible options. This oil has certain characteristics that make it suitable to use in air compressors. They generally have low viscosity at lower temperatures, these means they can flow more freely given their low density. Hydraulic Oil is best to use in compressors in colder temperatures. As these oils are immune to oxidation, they can also prevent your compressor from rusting.

Mostly used in car transmissions, ATFs can also potential options for air compressors. They reduce wear and tear, resist breakdowns, and cools parts, among other things. Given the ability of ATFs to resist breakdowns, they can ensure your compressor works efficiently without breakdown because of overheating.

However, most ATFs are not compatible with air compressors and can damage them. Motor oil commonly contains some sorts of detergents, which may be beneficial for the internal combustion engine but can be harmful to air compressors as it often causes more carbon build up in little time.

You can find air compressor oil at any of the well-known online shops such as Amazon. Be sure to check availability in the store to save yourself the hassle. The answer to this question depends on the air compressor you are using as the time after which the oil needs to be changed varies from a compressor to a compressor.