Air Compressor Oils

In any manufacturing facility, compressed air is a critical part of the process. In fact, without such air, production would cease. In order to keep these air compressors running, lubrication is essential. Lubrication is the life-blood of the compressors and without proper lubrication; the compressors life would be reduced dramatically. Air compressor oil thus plays an important part in ensuring that compressors undergo reduced maintenance and at the same time extend their life. The American Petroleum Institute has been issued with the mandate of ensuring that minimum quality standards of compressor oils are maintained. However, since there is no organization that governs these oils, there is no official performance standard that exists. This means that producing satisfactory products is the responsibility of individual lubricant manufacturers.

To help eliminate confusion, original equipment manufactures of air compressors publish minimum oil requirement specifications for their products. Air compressor oil that meets these minimum specifications can then used without voiding the compressor warranty which in most cases runs for one or two years. While OEMs do not manufacture their own oils, they frequently have their own brands that they market. These branded oils sometimes are tied with an extended warranty to lure buyers. OEMs usually contract with lubricant companies to manufacture these oils for them, thus making these companies middlemen. This may in turn result in any air compressor oil branded under their name to have prices inflated.

Usually, this does not mean that OEM branded products are of a much better quality than popular aftermarket products. Since the tests on the oils are evaluated by the American Society for Testing and Materials(ASTM), these tests can be duplicated and verified by the aftermarket laboratories giving them the same, if not higher, quality oils. Usually, the functions expected of any air compressor oil are known and as long the oils evaluation based on these functions are met, it is considered satisfactory.

Some of the functions of the compressor oils include prevention of internal rust formation, controlling of air entrainment, reduce wear, maintain the required viscosity parameters and offer low temperature fluidity protection among other functions. One of the most important qualities looked at in an air compressor oil is wear reduction. This is because good oil can extend compressor component life dramatically. Clearly then, paying a high price for air compressor oil does not necessarily guarantee best quality. The best value for compressor oil is obtained by choosing an overall product that has the highest quality at the lowest price.