If Hydrovane compressor oil gets in the airlines, it’s a sign that you have an emerging problem with your air compressor pump. Also, the oil that greases the air compressor pump is not the correct lubricating oil for other equipment that uses air, including your tools.
The compressor oil in the air lines will travel down the lines to all of your equipment that uses air. Contingent on what the components that are inside the tools are constructed of, the air compressor oil may have an interaction with them. This can make the seals weak or expand them to the place where the tool can no longer work properly.
Having Hydrovane compressor oil in the air lines creates even more of a problem if the compressed air flows through a lubricator or air filter and then on to a high-cycling air valve. A lot of these valves contain plastic components, all of which will likely have a negative reaction to the additives in the lubricating oil.
Caution: Compressor Oil May Cause a Reaction With Plastic Filter Bowls
The additives in the compressor lubricating oil have been known to affect some plastics. Over time, the oil can have an effect on the pliability of the plastic. This increases the brittleness of the lubricator or filter bowl, and causes cracking, which can ultimately lead to bowl failure.
If you have oil in the airlines and you have a lubricator or filter with a plastic bowl, we recommend mounting a metal covering over the bowl. The metal covering has slots so you can see into the bowl without having to remove the cover. In there is a bowl failure, the metal covering will help trap plastic debris if the bowl breaks under pressure.
Compressor Pump Problems as a Result of Hydrovane Compressor Oil In The Air Lines
With industrial air compressors like vane types and rotary oil separators as part of their standard equipment. Their function is to strip off any lubricating oil that is used in the compression process and removing that oil from the air stream before it enters the lines.
The piston seal keeps the lubricating oil from getting into the compressed air compression chamber. It wraps around the piston and as the piston reciprocates inside the cylinder, the seal rubs the walls of the cylinder, driving the oil back down into the sump as the piston cycles. This keeps most of the oil from bypassing the piston and into the compression chamber.
When new, the piston seal can keep almost all of the oil in the sump. When the piston seal wears down due to use, more oil can enter the compression chamber. As the seal wears, the amount of oil entering the air increases, and there will be an increasing amount of compressor oil in the airlines.
If you have questions regarding Hydrovane compressor oil and the impact of it getting into the airlines, call us today to speak with one of our experts. Keep in mind that we specialize in a variety of advisory and installation services, all designed to help you get the most out of your equipment.
