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Thread: Air Compressor Problem
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25th August 2013, 03:58 PM #1
Air Compressor Problem
I changed the oil in my little direct drive air compressor yesterday and decided to drain the water out at the same time. What came out was a rusty sludge, but it was not much. Maybe 200ml. I pulled out the end plug and what I could see was that the lower part was rusty, as you would expect. I drained quite a bit of rusty water out couple of months ago.
The question is what should I do about this. I don't think that having that rust in there is good for air tools. Should I clean it out the best I can (suggestions here) then run some rust protective oil around inside? Advice very welcome.
Dean
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25th August 2013 03:58 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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25th August 2013, 05:38 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
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dirty reservoir
id rinse the tank out with a solvent or something like penetrine..
or maybe penetrine then a solvent
Do you use a inline oiler for your air tools?
relay the main thing is to drain the tank regularly or at least crack
the drain valve so any water can be expelled.
If the tanks too rusty it could be a safety concern.
aaron
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25th August 2013, 05:49 PM #3SENIOR MEMBER
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I wouldn't worry about it.
All air compressors have this issue.
Just drain them regularly.
The rust won't come through the air line as it's not a dust and being wet it won't move .
The tank is unlikely to rupture as such. At worst it will leak through a rust hole if it goes that far.
Generally the compressor passes some oil into the tank which tends to inhibit rust anyway.
There are thousands of small air compressors in use in Oz and many are ancient, and I can't recall ever seeing a news item where one has blown up.
Rob
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25th August 2013, 05:59 PM #4GOLD MEMBER
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tanks
ya saying a little rust in the tank is a safety issue was probably a bit much
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25th August 2013, 08:06 PM #5Member
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I have adopted my fathers compressor (he was a automotive spray painter) his was made in 1969 (probably about the time as the music festival at Woodstock), and its still going strong rust and all.
I'm in the process of giving it a quick cosmetic restoration. I'll post a pic of it when I get a chance.
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25th August 2013, 08:22 PM #6SENIOR MEMBER
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25th August 2013, 08:55 PM #7
Thanks for the replies. I feel happier now. I will rinse it out and leave it for now. I don't have any concerns about it rupturing, only about the damage to tools and long term damage.
Aaron I don't use an inline oiler. It is only a cheap compressor so I don't think the tank material will be very thick.
I have a 45kg gas bottle as a larger storage for bigger jobs. It is only turned on when needed. Maybe I should drain that too!
Dean
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25th August 2013, 09:35 PM #8SENIOR MEMBER
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25th August 2013, 10:18 PM #9
Thanks Rob. You learn something every day. The 45kg tank does not get used much but when it does it is for big jobs. I will check it. I will also think about the position of the dryer. I use hose from the compressor, which goes up to the roof level. The 45kg tank comes off a seperate connection point on the compressor. Food for thought.
Dean
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29th August 2013, 10:35 AM #10GOLD MEMBER
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29th August 2013, 11:19 AM #11.
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I took the drain tap of my compressor and attached a 24 V retic solenoid to the drain junction. The solenoid is powered via a 24V retic transformer which I power via a standard GPO from inside the shed (mine compressor is outside my shed. You could also wire the solenoid power to the compressor switch so that it automatically drains when the compressor is turned off.
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29th August 2013, 11:55 AM #12GOLD MEMBER
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Compressors
Thanks for the reminder on draining the compressor tank.
Mine is a 12 cfm 3 cyl job of about 40 yrs old.
I drain the tank every so often & change the oil about once a year.
Its stiil going strong & will outlast me. I do get a bit of rusty water oil sludge when draining it.
Now, to go & drain the tank!
regards
Bruce
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29th August 2013, 02:16 PM #13Senior Member
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Hi all with reference to to the secondary tank all trucks and heavy buses with air brakes full or air over hydraulic have a wet tank [primary] before the main air tank for that very reason. Army drivers are required to crack the drain cock every time the vehicle has finished duty for the day.On commercial vehicles some are fitted with automatic drain valves.On cracking a wet tank there is always oil water sludge that comes out.Hopefully not too much oil as that indicates a worn compressor.Seconday tanks do get some moisture but not much.
The climate does dictate usually the amount of water depending on humidity.0.02cents worth John.
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29th August 2013, 03:10 PM #14SENIOR MEMBER
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compressor oil use
I usually only check the compressor oil every couple of years, as it doesn't normally use much - well not until now
The other day I notice the compressor had a bit of an unusual rattle (more than the disc valves in the head) and checked to see what was going on.
Oil level was way down. Still perfectly clean and not gritty, so no damage done, but very low.
Topped it up and everything is going as good as new again.
The cause of the oil usage is probably because I use air tools a lot more now than ever before - the two die grinders, and the air needle descaler, and the spray gun all add up.
So looks like I will need to check it a lot more regularly than in the past.
I drain it regularly and there's always oil in the water, so the penny should have dropped.
Rob
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29th August 2013, 06:37 PM #15GOLD MEMBER
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Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.
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