Oil for air compressor and snow blower use 5w-30 or is there a 0w-30 option?

[oil pan 4]

Time decide what oil to run in my air compressor for summer and winter.
It has 20w-50 Castrol GTX classic in it for break in and because I had no idea how hot it was going to get and it seemed like the most appropriate oil that I had on hand and was already open.
The air compressor doesn't get a whole lot of run time but I ran it pretty hard yesterday, filled it up with gas, used it on the sand blaster till it ran out of gas, never even allowed to unloader to pop the whole time. Then when it stopped I popped the oil cap off and stuck my probe thermometer in there, oil was 210f when it was 90f outside, which is perfect for a 30wt oil.
I figured 90f, running flat out, for a whole tank of gas, with 50wt oil that should be as hot as the oil will ever get.
I'm thinking just get some like a Briggs and Stratton 5w-30 oil unless there a just as good 0w-30 option.
But if there's a good 0w-30 for air cooled flat tappet engines that would be best Obviously the snow blower will be used in the winter and it's very likely I'll use the air compressor in the winter too.

 

[kschachn]

Just use Mobil 1 or Castrol 0W-40 from Walmart. That is a "good 0W-30" all day long.

 

[cptbarkey]

Just use Mobil 1 or Castrol 0W-40 from Walmart. That is a "good 0W-30" all day long.

I sheared what you did there.

 

[oil pan 4]

Just use Mobil 1 or Castrol 0W-40 from Walmart. That is a "good 0W-30" all day long.

Not bad idea. Starts out in the summer as 0w-40 and by winter it's a 0w-30.

 

[jeepman3071]

Can't go wrong with a good Euro 5w40 or 0w40, and it will be much easier to find than 0w30.

 

[kschachn]

Not bad idea. Starts out in the summer as 0w-40 and by winter it's a 0w-30.

Actually the recent test that was the subject of a long thread shows the product to be quite shear stable.

 

[oil pan 4]

Can't go wrong with a good Euro 5w40 or 0w40, and it will be much easier to find than 0w30.

Yeah without looking real hard it seems like theres definitely more 0w-40 choices than 0w-30.

 

[#18FAN]

Yeah without looking real hard it seems like theres definitely more 0w-40 choices than 0w-30.

What is run in the compressor pump?

 

[dnewton3]

question of clarification ... because you're thread title is a bit misleading ...

Is the air compressor driven by a small engine? And that's what you're asking about regarding the lube? And so you're asking about a lube for two small engine applications; compressor and blower?

 

[ripcord]

Yeah, I'm confused, too. Is it a gasoline powered air compressor or are we talking about what kind of oil to use in the compressor pump? Those are two highly different requirements.

Edit: I just reread your initial post and you mentioned gasoline so I'm assuming you're asking about the oil for the motor. Personally, I would just make sure to keep it full and clean using whatever oil I had leftover from servicing my personal vehicles. The brand and weight is not going to make much difference.

 

[#18FAN]

Be nice to know what the winter temps will be at the lowest temperature it will be run in I’m more concerned what that compressor pump is filed with. The 0w40 or 0w30 will be fine in both OPE engines I just be concerned of the compressor pump in winter.

 

[repairman54]

I say 0-40w FS M1. That's what my 1200cc 4 stroke snowmobiles call for, and they normally operate from 4k to 8k rpm. 10k miles on one and no issues. They crank up fine at 0f. Ran 0-30w in my 10hp portable gen. set that sat in the cold, only oil I could use in it to get it to turn over fast enough to start in winter. As far as the compressor pump that's an unknown to me, had a friend who's electric 2 cylinder compressor wouldn't start until he got the garage warmed up some so it would spin over enough so motor didn't trip out on its overload.

 

[oil pan 4]

LcWhat is run in the compressor pump?

Right now it has 20wt non detergent becatuse I was using this air compressor on an electric setup before I removed it.
When I change the compressor oil I'll get a temperature reading when I drain it just like the engine. Then whatever the operating temperature is I'll pick 20wt or 30wt, whichever puts the oil viscosity closer to the 12cSt at operating temperature.
The compressor head cools it's self very well, normally I would just put a 30wt oil in a gasoline powered compressor and be done with it.

 

[oil pan 4]

question of clarification ... because you're thread title is a bit misleading ...

Is the air compressor driven by a small engine? And that's what you're asking about regarding the lube? And so you're asking about a lube for two small engine applications; compressor and blower?

The title. I'm looking for an oil for both an air compressor and a snow blower, clearly taking about an engine since it's in the small engine forum.
Then in the message I talk about the oil hitting over 200f. Oil in a compressor should never get anywhere near 200f even on big 450hp air compressors.

 

[oil pan 4]

Be nice to know what the winter temps will be at the lowest temperature it will be run in I’m more concerned what that compressor pump is filed with. The 0w40 or 0w30 will be fine in both OPE engines I just be concerned of the compressor pump in winter.

The coldest it gets here is -16f, unusually cold is -10f, normal cold it gets down to 0f almost every year.
I just need the engine oil to be fluid enough for a pull start at below freezing, very unlikely I'll be try to mess with the air compressor at even +10f, the snow blow it's very likely I'll be messing with it at 0 to +10f.
I can pop the belt off the compressor and start the engine alone, that's how I did it with my last compressor that had an old Briggs and Stratton flat head. It did not like to cold start even when it was +40f. Since I pop the belt off for starting, the oil in the air compressor is almost irrelevant for cold starting, as long as it still splashes some what.

 

[oil pan 4]

Can't go wrong with a good Euro 5w40 or 0w40, and it will be much easier to find than 0w30.

Yeah looks the 0w-30 selection is absolutely terrible these days.
Only 0w-30 at Walmart today is Mobil1 "fuel economy oil" that's SP rated. Probably not the best choice for an air cooled small engine.

 

[#18FAN]

Yeah looks the 0w-30 selection is absolutely terrible these days.
Only 0w-30 at Walmart today is Mobil1 "fuel economy oil" that's SP rated. Probably not the best choice for an air cooled small engine.

They usually have the 0w40 that's what I'd run actually I've been running Amsoil formula 4stroke in my blower for years generally chnge it every 3 years.

 

[The_Eric]

Yeah looks the 0w-30 selection is absolutely terrible these days.
Only 0w-30 at Walmart today is Mobil1 "fuel economy oil" that's SP rated. Probably not the best choice for an air cooled small engine.

Why do you say that?

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Why do you say that?

Because the AFE series from Mobil 1 is known to shear down fairly quickly in use. Not good especially with the elevated temps the oil will see in an air-cooled engine. Same reason none of the older Harleys call for anything less than a 50 grade. The oil is pretty darn thin when it his 280*F in use!

 

[oil pan 4]

Because the AFE series from Mobil 1 is known to shear down fairly quickly in use. Not good especially with the elevated temps the oil will see in an air-cooled engine. Same reason none of the older Harleys call for anything less than a 50 grade. The oil is pretty darn thin when it his 280*F in use!

Elevated temps?

Not worried about running 0w anything in this as it's a lawnmower so I run 20w-50 Castrol GTX classic as I'm not worried about winter starting.