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#1
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compressor in cold weather?
I have a harbor freight little oil filled compressor. I tried using it
today after a very cold night. It made a few trouble noises and stopped. I reset the overload switch and tried again. Same result. Tried again, this time it tripped the breaker. I reset the breaker (apparently not having the brains I was born with...) and tried again. This time it made it and ran normally. This probably isn't a good thing to do to the compressor, and won't work at all next month when it is even colder.. What do people do about this? |
#2
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john wrote:
I have a harbor freight little oil filled compressor. I tried using it today after a very cold night. It made a few trouble noises and stopped. I reset the overload switch and tried again. Same result. Tried again, this time it tripped the breaker. I reset the breaker (apparently not having the brains I was born with...) and tried again. This time it made it and ran normally. This probably isn't a good thing to do to the compressor, and won't work at all next month when it is even colder.. What do people do about this? Use 20w oil in the winter instead of 30w, and/or keep the compressor in a heated shop. A few years ago my ancient Quincy compressor broke a connecting rod and beat itself to pieces with it when I started it in the winter and it must have had ice in the head or the cylinder walls. :-( My new Coleman "6 HP" compressor is louder and barely produces half the air that the old Quincy did, and the Quincy only had a 1.5 HP motor. Bob |
#3
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zxcvbob writes:
My new Coleman "6 HP" compressor is louder and barely produces half the air that the old Quincy did, and the Quincy only had a 1.5 HP motor. http://www.truetex.com/aircompressors.htm |
#4
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Richard J Kinch wrote:
zxcvbob writes: My new Coleman "6 HP" compressor is louder and barely produces half the air that the old Quincy did, and the Quincy only had a 1.5 HP motor. http://www.truetex.com/aircompressors.htm I knew the horsepower rating was wrong because you can't get 6 hp from a 15A 240V circuit. But I expected the CFM listed on the little metal plate to be close to accurate. The settlement was a joke. The companies admitted that they lied, but basicly claimed they shouldn't have been expected to tell the truth therefore it wasn't their fault. I'm sure the plaintiffs' attorneys made a lot of money, but the actual customers got nothing -- well, some of them got coupons but Coleman customers didn't even get that. I used to have high regard for Coleman, but I don't buy their products anymore. Bob |
#5
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"john" wrote I have a harbor freight little oil filled compressor. I tried using it today after a very cold night. It made a few trouble noises and stopped. I reset the overload switch and tried again. Same result. Tried again, this time it tripped the breaker. I reset the breaker (apparently not having the brains I was born with...) and tried again. This time it made it and ran normally. This probably isn't a good thing to do to the compressor, and won't work at all next month when it is even colder.. What do people do about this? Have an Emglo that is about 13 yrs. old. Book stated straight 30W. During the colder months I had the same problem. Switched to 10W-30 year round, no problem. Compressor never gave me a problem as far as lubrication. Beware of running pneumatic tools outside during the extreme cold. Have encountered a couple blown seals. Also, let the air out of the tank/s at the end of the day, makes morning starts easier. If you are storing your compressor outside (back of truck or similar), it is improtant to let all the air out of the tanks. The moisture in the tank can freeze, causing problems or permanent damage to the compressor. |
#6
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Cooper wrote:
"john" wrote I have a harbor freight little oil filled compressor. I tried using it today after a very cold night. It made a few trouble noises and stopped. I reset the overload switch and tried again. Same result. Tried again, this time it tripped the breaker. I reset the breaker (apparently not having the brains I was born with...) and tried again. This time it made it and ran normally. This probably isn't a good thing to do to the compressor, and won't work at all next month when it is even colder.. What do people do about this? Have an Emglo that is about 13 yrs. old. Book stated straight 30W. During the colder months I had the same problem. Switched to 10W-30 year round, no problem. Compressor never gave me a problem as far as lubrication. Beware of running pneumatic tools outside during the extreme cold. Have encountered a couple blown seals. Also, let the air out of the tank/s at the end of the day, makes morning starts easier. If you are storing your compressor outside (back of truck or similar), it is improtant to let all the air out of the tanks. The moisture in the tank can freeze, causing problems or permanent damage to the compressor. Where do you find non-detergent multigrade oil? Bob |
#7
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On Thu, 02 Dec 2004 21:46:43 GMT, "Cooper" wrote:
snip Have an Emglo that is about 13 yrs. old. Book stated straight 30W. During the colder months I had the same problem. Switched to 10W-30 year round, no problem. snip My Porter Cable manual specifically states not to use a multi-vis oil. What's up with that, any idea? DJ |
#8
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"zxcvbob" wrote Where do you find non-detergent multigrade oil? Bob It's detergent. Yes I know, going against manufacturers recommendation. As I've noted, the Emglo is 13 yrs old. No problems in 13 yrs, and has seen summer workouts running 2 roofing coil nailers going 12 hours a day. |
#9
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"IdaSpode" wrote My Porter Cable manual specifically states not to use a multi-vis oil. What's up with that, any idea? DJ I'm not advising going against manufacturers recommendation. Just stated what I did. It's hard to argue with success, especially since I'm totally surprised the old Emglo is still going strong after so much use and abuse. If you search the net for car oils, manufacturers recommended detergent oil for older cars. You will find lots of information where people swear by the multi viscosity oil instead of detergent. |
#10
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"Cooper" wrote If you search the net for car oils, manufacturers recommended detergent oil for older cars. You will find lots of information where people swear by the multi viscosity oil instead of detergent. Should read "manufacturers recommended _non detergent_ oil for older cars." |
#11
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Motor oils usually contain detergent. And detergent makes it easier for the
oil to absorb water. This isn't a problem in cars, where it gets good and hot each time it's run. But in a cold application like a compressor, it can absorb and hold the water. -- Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org www.mormons.com "IdaSpode" wrote in message ... On Thu, 02 Dec 2004 21:46:43 GMT, "Cooper" wrote: snip Have an Emglo that is about 13 yrs. old. Book stated straight 30W. During the colder months I had the same problem. Switched to 10W-30 year round, no problem. snip My Porter Cable manual specifically states not to use a multi-vis oil. What's up with that, any idea? DJ |
#12
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"Cooper" wrote in message ... "Cooper" wrote If you search the net for car oils, manufacturers recommended detergent oil for older cars. You will find lots of information where people swear by the multi viscosity oil instead of detergent. Should read "manufacturers recommended _non detergent_ oil for older cars." Detergent oils suspend debris in the oil, to be removed by the oil filter, which air compressors generally do not have. Older cars and hachinery often had bearings that were not compatable with detergent oils. As for running detergent oil in a compressor, I probably would not do it, unless I could not find suitable non-degent oil, but if you live in the sticks and are unable to find compressor oil, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do! Greg |
#13
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"Greg O" wrote in message ... "Cooper" wrote in message ... "Cooper" wrote If you search the net for car oils, manufacturers recommended detergent oil for older cars. You will find lots of information where people swear by the multi viscosity oil instead of detergent. Should read "manufacturers recommended _non detergent_ oil for older cars." Detergent oils suspend debris in the oil, to be removed by the oil filter, which air compressors generally do not have. Older cars and hachinery often had bearings that were not compatable with detergent oils. As for running detergent oil in a compressor, I probably would not do it, unless I could not find suitable non-degent oil, but if you live in the sticks and are unable to find compressor oil, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do! We use Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil in ours. Available at most any gas station. -- SVL |
#14
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wrote in message ... On Thu, 2 Dec 2004 18:36:05 -0600, "Greg O" wrote: "Cooper" wrote in message ... "Cooper" wrote If you search the net for car oils, manufacturers recommended detergent oil for older cars. You will find lots of information where people swear by the multi viscosity oil instead of detergent. Should read "manufacturers recommended _non detergent_ oil for older cars." Detergent oils suspend debris in the oil, to be removed by the oil filter, which air compressors generally do not have. Older cars and hachinery often had bearings that were not compatable with detergent oils. As for running detergent oil in a compressor, I probably would not do it, unless I could not find suitable non-degent oil, but if you live in the sticks and are unable to find compressor oil, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do! Greg Just curious. Would the "detergent" do anything in a compressor? The reason I ask, is because the oil in a car engine gets hot. Air compressors have no combustion, so they dont get hot. (Yes, I know they get pretty warm, especially the older piston types, but most of the heat is at the top of the pump, which is why they put fins around the piston sleeve. Part of the reason I ask this, is because air compressor oil dont really get all that dirty. I cant think of the last time I changed the oil in mine. I just check it a few times per year to be sure there is enough. I used to work for a company that had industrial compressors. The air was used to control the heating zones in the building. In other words, air operated valves at the hot water heat radiators. Anyhow, we had some special "compressor oil". I never questioned it, but the stuff looked just like any other type of oil. I always thought it was just a way to charge more for a bottle of oil. Of course we didnt use very much. Mark Just a thought - what about air tool oil or electric motor oil? Would guess any lightweight straight oil would do. -Dan |
#15
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Richard J Kinch wrote:
zxcvbob writes: My new Coleman "6 HP" compressor is louder and barely produces half the air that the old Quincy did, and the Quincy only had a 1.5 HP motor. http://www.truetex.com/aircompressors.htm Nice article. Now when will someone get on the case of the true output of audio devices? Most 25 watt amplifiers from the 50's will blow away a 50 watt or higher rated amplifier made today. They used to measure in RMS (root mean square), now they normally rate the peak wattage. It's been a joke for many decades. What this has to do with a cold compressor I don't know. ;-) -- Tony |
#16
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Cooper wrote:
"Cooper" wrote If you search the net for car oils, manufacturers recommended detergent oil for older cars. You will find lots of information where people swear by the multi viscosity oil instead of detergent. Should read "manufacturers recommended _non detergent_ oil for older cars." That is true for older cars without rebuilt engines. If it's rebuilt, start and stay with detergent oil. The problem is in an old engine they are counting on a buildup of sludge and varnish, which actually helps the rings seal and give it good compression. Change to detergent oil and it cleans away the sludge, reducing compression, then it doesn't run as well. -- Tony |
#18
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I bought non-detergent oil at HD as instructions say DO NOT use
detergent. As for running detergent oil in a compressor, I probably would not do it, unless I could not find suitable non-degent oil, but if you live in the sticks and are unable to find compressor oil, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do! |
#19
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And how about rating vacuum cleaner power in AMPS?
"Tony Miklos" wrote in message .. . | Richard J Kinch wrote: | | zxcvbob writes: | | | My new Coleman "6 HP" compressor is louder and barely produces half the | air that the old Quincy did, and the Quincy only had a 1.5 HP motor. | | | http://www.truetex.com/aircompressors.htm | | Nice article. Now when will someone get on the case of the true output | of audio devices? Most 25 watt amplifiers from the 50's will blow away | a 50 watt or higher rated amplifier made today. They used to measure in | RMS (root mean square), now they normally rate the peak wattage. It's | been a joke for many decades. | | What this has to do with a cold compressor I don't know. ;-) | | -- | Tony |
#20
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Synthetics flow better when cold and are better. Commercial compressors
use synthetic, contact a few companys to see what they recomend. |
#21
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Richard J Kinch wrote:
zxcvbob writes: My new Coleman "6 HP" compressor is louder and barely produces half the air that the old Quincy did, and the Quincy only had a 1.5 HP motor. http://www.truetex.com/aircompressors.htm I just happened to notice a compressor at Wal Mart. It is labeled 5 AMP (and in small print is says "peak horsepower". Then it is also rated for what I think was "continuous duty" at about 1.7 horsepower. |
#22
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Tony Miklos wrote:
Richard J Kinch wrote: zxcvbob writes: My new Coleman "6 HP" compressor is louder and barely produces half the air that the old Quincy did, and the Quincy only had a 1.5 HP motor. http://www.truetex.com/aircompressors.htm I just happened to notice a compressor at Wal Mart. It is labeled 5 AMP (and in small print is says "peak horsepower". Then it is also rated for what I think was "continuous duty" at about 1.7 horsepower. Five amps at 120V is less than 1 horsepower even with a very efficient motor. An honest 5 HP motor draws something like 28 amps at 240V, so a 1HP motor should draw about 5 amps at 240V, or 10A at 120V. Bob |
#23
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In article , john wrote:
I have a harbor freight little oil filled compressor. I tried using it today after a very cold night. It made a few trouble noises and stopped. I reset the overload switch and tried again. Same result. Tried again, this time it tripped the breaker. I reset the breaker (apparently not having the brains I was born with...) and tried again. This time it made it and ran normally. This probably isn't a good thing to do to the compressor, and won't work at all next month when it is even colder.. What do people do about this? If it's small enough and you have the space you could put it in a heated area during cold weather. If that's not practical, check the owners manual for cold weather oil recommendations. IME most compressors call for straight 30 weight oil, often non-detergent. -- Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland |
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