Hi all,

Another but different question on the 'Silent' piston compressor.

Talking to the manufactures today it seems they 'now' supply /
recommend a fully synthetic oil, over presumably a semi or purely
mineral oil?

Mine suggests it should take an SB-46 but that could be the older
spec.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/u...776508_934.jpg

The new spec stuff seems to be this:

http://www.accltd.com/products.asp?recnumber=2134

I think the 46 refers to ISO 46 (SAE 15W?) but I didn't know if that
was enough to determine the spec?

So, if we know it should be ISO 46, fully synthetic, low detergent
etc, could I use anything that fits that spec, as the branded stuff
seems quite expensive and prices for ISO 46 oil seem to vary wildly?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/bambi-synthetic-oil-951512

http://uk-sale-uk.com/Compressor%20Oil?search=iso+46

Is there something 'special' with this compressor oil or could I use a
fully synthetic 15W motorcycle fork oil for example?

Cheers, T i m

On 20/10/2017 18:39, T i m wrote:
Hi all,

Another but different question on the 'Silent' piston compressor.

Talking to the manufactures today it seems they 'now' supply /
recommend a fully synthetic oil, over presumably a semi or purely
mineral oil?

Mine suggests it should take an SB-46 but that could be the older
spec.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/u...776508_934.jpg

The new spec stuff seems to be this:

http://www.accltd.com/products.asp?recnumber=2134

I think the 46 refers to ISO 46 (SAE 15W?) but I didn't know if that
was enough to determine the spec?

So, if we know it should be ISO 46, fully synthetic, low detergent
etc, could I use anything that fits that spec, as the branded stuff
seems quite expensive and prices for ISO 46 oil seem to vary wildly?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/bambi-synthetic-oil-951512

http://uk-sale-uk.com/Compressor%20Oil?search=iso+46

Is there something 'special' with this compressor oil or could I use a
fully synthetic 15W motorcycle fork oil for example?

Cheers, T i m


Don't know what the SB stands for, but as you say 46 cSt is one of the
standard ISO grades. However Googling SB-46, the first obvious oil
reference (apart from Bambi) is a biodegradable fully synthetic made by
Morris.

https://www.morrislubricants.co.uk/terralus-sb46.html

So your Bambi *might* just be that, re-labelled.

In the domestic world, a lot of people use cheap mineral oils (as sold
for compressors by Machine Mart, Screwfix, etc).

In industry, high performance oils are usually specified because these
compressors are expected to have a long life or high annual hours. A
good example would be Shell Corena which actually comes in five
different formulations (each in two or three viscosity grades).

http://www.shell.com/promos/lubes/bt...a-brochure.pdf

Since you have had problems with carbon deposits it is certainly worth
going for synthetics. I wouldn't use a motorcycle fork oil (probably has
additives to improve the viscosity index).

Aircon compressors often use a particular type of synthetic called poly
alkylene glycol (PAG) which degrades without forming carbonaceous
deposits, so that might look like a good fit for your compressor.
However I was interested to find it does not seem to be used in air
compressors, although the other main types of synthetic such as diester
and poly alpha olefin (PAO) are.

The safest answer is probably to bite the bullet and use the Bambi product.