Compressor oil

Mr Bowcat

SMF Supporter
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Messages
3,634
Points
113
Location
London
First Name
Bob
Hi Guys,

I have a rather ancient SimAir Airbox compressor. It's heavy as sin but I like it as it's very quiet and has a reserve tank.

However, due to a recent trip while moving it I seem to have poured half the oil out. Luckily this was in my workshop rather than on the living room carpet.

I've found a place online that can supply the oil, but only in a 1 litre bottle at a cost of £32! I probably need less than a quarter of this, and wondered if anybody new where I could buy the oil in a smaller quantity?

Cheers in advance,

Bob
 

Mr Bowcat

SMF Supporter
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Messages
3,634
Points
113
Location
London
First Name
Bob
You are my hero, cheers. And there's a Toolstation store about a mile from my house.

I guess this is for bigger compressors, but I assume it will be OK for an airbrush compressor too?
 

stillp

SMF Supporter
Joined
Nov 17, 2016
Messages
7,185
Points
113
Location
Rugby
First Name
Pete
I doubt if the small compressors are fussy about the oil used. Maybe big industrial ones in constant use, but not the sort that modellers use.

Pete
 
Joined
Nov 16, 2016
Messages
1,417
Points
113
First Name
colin
It should be fine like Pete said there not fussy as long as viscosity is OK .
I used to run my old one with all sorts even used vegetable oil oh and wifies bio oil in fact still use the bio oil to oil the moving parts of my airbrush :eek:
 
D

dubster72

Guest
Any fully synthetic oil is fine. Many people use the SAE30 oil without any problems, but as the oil change is an annual event I stick to the synthetic oil from Clarke. It's £15.59 for a litre.
 

Mr Bowcat

SMF Supporter
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Messages
3,634
Points
113
Location
London
First Name
Bob
Thanks for all the advice gents, much appreciated.
 
D

dubster72

Guest
Just been looking online to see if I could find anything locally, and saw this: http://www.halfords.com/motoring/en...oil/comma-fully-synthetic-mvmtf-75w90-plus-1l.

Would this work or am I better off getting the Clarke oil?

Definitely too thick! Don't forget that if your compressor is like mine, only 500ml is needed for a full oil change so the Clarke stuff is effectively £8 per year.

Like most things, the main question is how unhappy would you be if saving a few quid meant it went u/s?

My Clarke Shhh compressor cost me £260, so I'm happy to preserve its life by spending £8 a year.
 
Top