Flushing sludge out of compressor pump

[SubLGT]

I have a 25 year old CH air compressor in my home garage. It is a twin piston, reciprocating pump, driven by a 220V motor. The recommended lube is 10W40 motor oil (with detergent).

After all these years of light use, the compressor runs fine, but there is a 1/8" layer of sludge in the bottom of the crankcase that I would like to flush out.

Will a 1:1 mix of kerosene and motor oil do the trick? Or is there a better way?

 

[Eddie]

I would not do the flush you suggest as the potential for damage is faily great. Dislodging the gunk could compromise the bearings. My compressors have a cover-plate or removable base-plate. If your compressor has one, remove and manuallyly clean. If you can't manually clean, can you load the crankcase with an auto type flush solvent (no compressor running) to soften the gunk overnight and then drain it? Maybe doing this several time might work.

 

[SubLGT]

Eddie, my pump does not have a cover plate that will give me access to the sump. I may try something like Gunk Motor Flush, and just let it sit in the sump for a few hours, or overnight, and then drain the sump. I agree about not running the pump with solvent in it, as this may compromise the crank seals.

 

[Tempest]

Auto RX.

 

[daves66nova]

can you vacuum it out? Why not run some mmo in the oil for a few minutes or a longer time?