We service a fair amount of operations down here in south Florida, all of whom have an air compressor. There are two different locations that for some reason get a lot of water in the oil. We have to change it every month. these compressors are used almost every day, with average frequency. The tech people at the manufacturer are helpful, but clueless. The relative humidity here is probably around 60 to 70 % all year. Yet only these two do this. Both of these are large compressors with 60 to 80 gallon tanks. Inquiring minds want to know, so I'm asking for help from the experts. Any thoughts?
Waterl in air compressor oil
- Thread starter mac
- Start date
JustClean
Active member
Hi Mac,
I had the same problem in the same tropical environment. I had to change my oil every second month. Solution was to move the compressor off the concrete floor. I put it on my mezzanine floor and all has been good since.
Hope that helped.
I had the same problem in the same tropical environment. I had to change my oil every second month. Solution was to move the compressor off the concrete floor. I put it on my mezzanine floor and all has been good since.
Hope that helped.
PaulLovesJamie
rural 5 bay SS
I'm certainly not an expert, but I'll speculate for a minute.
The oil reservoir is an enclosed area, the only 2 ways I could understand water getting in is if the rings/pistons are getting some blowby into the oil, but I'd think you would see air bubbles in the oil if that was the case. Or #2, it must be getting in via the filler tube. Maybe a leak occasionally spraying/dripping water on the compressor? Condensed water dripping off pipes onto just the right spot on the compressor? The cap on the filler tube probably has a small vent hole in it to make sure you dont get any pressure or vacuum in the oil reservoir. Probably a long shot, as I said, just speculating.
The oil reservoir is an enclosed area, the only 2 ways I could understand water getting in is if the rings/pistons are getting some blowby into the oil, but I'd think you would see air bubbles in the oil if that was the case. Or #2, it must be getting in via the filler tube. Maybe a leak occasionally spraying/dripping water on the compressor? Condensed water dripping off pipes onto just the right spot on the compressor? The cap on the filler tube probably has a small vent hole in it to make sure you dont get any pressure or vacuum in the oil reservoir. Probably a long shot, as I said, just speculating.
cantbreak80
Maybe I need new clubs
I’ve experienced a compressor tank filling with water due to a leaking presoak or tire cleaner check valve.
This particular operator had low pressure products plumbed to the bay manifolds with high pressure hose. The leaking check valve allowed high pressure wash/rinse/wax back down the air-assist hose, back through the air solenoid valve and into the entire air supply for the car wash.
You can imagine the many things that were impacted by that one check valve…including water in the compressor’s crankcase.
Talk about a head scratcher. After I found the problem, the owner agreed that re-plumbing all the low pressure product lines with PE tubing was a good idea. Better to have a failing check valve blow a poly tube than do damage to all those other components???
This particular operator had low pressure products plumbed to the bay manifolds with high pressure hose. The leaking check valve allowed high pressure wash/rinse/wax back down the air-assist hose, back through the air solenoid valve and into the entire air supply for the car wash.
You can imagine the many things that were impacted by that one check valve…including water in the compressor’s crankcase.
Talk about a head scratcher. After I found the problem, the owner agreed that re-plumbing all the low pressure product lines with PE tubing was a good idea. Better to have a failing check valve blow a poly tube than do damage to all those other components???
JustClean
Active member
I was changing the oils every second months for years because of all the water. The oil was just white in the end. Then, when we needed more space in the plant room I moved the compressor upstairs and now I change it every year. And even then the oil doesn't look bad. Don't ask me why. Maybe it has something to do with the cooler concrete and cooler air downstairs. I wouldn't have a clue. I only know it worked for me. Please give it a try and report back. On the other hand I must say it might not look very professionally if you do this is for a customer and you are telling them you lift the compressor because some dude on the Internet suggested it
This is indeed strange. Every compressor crankcase has a breather tube that allows for the changing atmospheric pressure. You know, those fronts they keep talking about. That's where the water comes in. The humidity (water) at night cools and some of it condenses on the inside walls. Normally this is not a large amount of water. The compressor running normally heats the oil enough for the water to evaporate back into the ambient air. My best guess, and it's only a guess, is that in these two specific cases the water was not caught in time, and a lot of gunky oil has built up in all the crevices of the crankcase, so that when you put in new oil, some of the gunky stuff goes right into it. We are going to try and super clean the inside then flush with new oil a couple of times and see if that helps.
