Air compressor/chain saw bar oil?

[George Marsh]

Some places say to use 30w non-detergent oil in a reciprocating air compressor.

Chain saw bar oil is also said to be 30w non-detergent oil.

So are there different additives in straight 30w non-detergent oil that you buy in the quart vs buying a gallon of cheap $6/gallon 30w bar oil?

I think I also found at Rural King a winter bar oil that is 10w. I think I'm going to get some thinner oil for when it's cold. Yesterday when it was around 20, it's like the 30w oil was too thick and wasn't coming out the saw as fast as normal.

Would it hurt to use 10w or 20w in the compressor when it's cold?

George
 

[Ted in NE-OH]

In cold weather a 10w or 20w would be fine in a compressor. DON'T use chain saw bar oil, it is formulated to be sticky so that it stays on the bar. Different oils may have same viscosity.
 

[guido]

Hello George Marsh,

Chain saw oil is designed to be a bit stringie I think, just like open chain oil. I have never use it. I do always use clean oil. 30W is the norm, but 20 or 10W will do anytime. The last few (10) years i have had the opporunity to cut many cords of wood. I vote for 20W or less. I had 10 cords to cut this year. I ran out of 30W I was using, and had some ATF. So that is what I put in the saw. It was cheap when I bought it, and wao !It works fine. The chain and bar are wet when I get done with a cut, it stays sharp, so plenty of oil is going there. For the air compressor, I would invest on a syythetic oil. Those things work pretty hard, so the synthetic is the way to go.

Guido.
 

[hd6gtom]

put air compressor oil in it
 

[George Marsh]

Guido,
From what I've read, I should use a straight weight non-detergent in the air compressor because detergent oil will foam when it comes in contact with moisture. So, won't synthetic oil foam too? My compressor has a sight glass for the oil, so I guess I could see if the oil foams. I drained the oil and it was thick and dark looking. Also, for the first time, the 30a 220v breaker was tripped, so I'm definately going to put thinner oil in it for the winter.

Is there a special oil for air compressors? If so, where can I get it? Is it muli-weight?
George
 

[Dean]

Yes.

Use air compressor oil. Available at any good auto parts store and most farm stores, etc.

DO NOT use chain saw bar oil.

Dean
 

[guido]

Hello George Marsh,
Some manufacurers of air compressors like IR will double the warranty if you buy the synthetic oil start up kit. You could see what kind of synthetic they use. I use Mobil1 on everything. Just happen to be there in 1976 were the oil was beeing developed. Tested it without knoing what oil i was using.
I don't own any stock in ExxonMobil
We ran the diesel version for 100.000 miles in the pan before changing. No oil related engine break downs the whole fleet. Filters at proper intervals and make up oil, of course. No, it should not foam! GOOD STUFF FOR SURE!
Guido
 

[Jon Hagen]

I livge in ND, where winter temps in the unheated shop can hit - 30. I had problems starting compressors at that temp where the compressor oil was so stiff it would blow the motor breaker as It struggled to start. I put Mobil 1 synthetic 10-30 motor oil in both my shop and portable compressors.
Been doing that for 20 + years with no compressor problems, summer heat or winter cold.
I change compressor oil once per year.
 

[Jack345]

M1 works great
 

[greygoat]

Warrenty instructions on my (10 year old)ECHO
chainsaw, say, for chain oil,#30 motor oil !
 

[George Marsh]

I changed the compressor oil to 10w30 synthetic. Had to take motor apart and sand the points on the end switch. Works just fine.

Next time I'm at Rural King, I'm going to pick up their winter blend for bar oil. What I have is like thick STP. Chain is sticky, but not oily like it should be.

Thanks U-ALL's ( U-ALL's is plural)
George
 

[guido]

Hello Gearge Marsh,

Good choice!, thanks for the grammar lesson.

Guido.
 

[scotc]

Detergent oil foams when it is used in hydraulic systems, not when it comes in contact with moisture. I don"t see it foaming in a compressor.
 

[moresmoke]

One comment on synthetic oil in compressors. Be careful of any polycarbonate bowls on water separators that you may have. Over time the syn. oil will make the plastic brittle to the point it may shatter under pressure.

BTW My compressor has rotella T6 5w40 in it.