Pressure Washer Pump Oil
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What does your Owner's Manual say?
If it specifies synthetic 5w50, a detergent oil is fine. I've only seen a few pumps that specify a non-detergent oil, and they are usually very old.
The idea that a non detergent oil is required in an air or water pump, is in essence not true.
In fact, in some tests, the use of Mobil 1 extends air compressor life considerably. If you look around, you'll find that some brands of pumps and compressors specify Mobil 1, and other brands specify Non Detergent 30 viscosity oil, the compressor unit itself being identical between brands.
There have been claims of carbon buildup in compressor valves when using conventional motor oil with additives. Nonsense, oil is made of hydrocarbons and the additives are not responsible for carbon deposits. Carbon buildup in a compressor's valves, is due to low quality oil and poor oil control.
There are also claims that ND oil will allow water to settle to the bottom, where it will remain and not foam up. Also nonsense. The oil will mix with the water, any time the pump or compressor is used, with either oil. A good reason to change your pump or compressor oil before it saturates with water.
The reality of the situation is that for many of us, who maintain our equipment well, the use of a synthetic oil results in better cold weather operation of air compressors and high quality lubrication for pressure washer pumps.
I use Mobil 1, 15W-50 in highly loaded pressure washer pumps and hydrostatic drives. Works well. I use Mobil 1 10w30 or 15W-50 in my air compressors.
In fact, in some tests, the use of Mobil 1 extends air compressor life considerably. If you look around, you'll find that some brands of pumps and compressors specify Mobil 1, and other brands specify Non Detergent 30 viscosity oil, the compressor unit itself being identical between brands.
There have been claims of carbon buildup in compressor valves when using conventional motor oil with additives. Nonsense, oil is made of hydrocarbons and the additives are not responsible for carbon deposits. Carbon buildup in a compressor's valves, is due to low quality oil and poor oil control.
There are also claims that ND oil will allow water to settle to the bottom, where it will remain and not foam up. Also nonsense. The oil will mix with the water, any time the pump or compressor is used, with either oil. A good reason to change your pump or compressor oil before it saturates with water.
The reality of the situation is that for many of us, who maintain our equipment well, the use of a synthetic oil results in better cold weather operation of air compressors and high quality lubrication for pressure washer pumps.
I use Mobil 1, 15W-50 in highly loaded pressure washer pumps and hydrostatic drives. Works well. I use Mobil 1 10w30 or 15W-50 in my air compressors.
Pump oil available at Walmart and Harbor Freight .
I find "pump" oils do not specify a weight so that won't be tried.
As I wrote. It does not mention "detergent" one way or the other. Apparently the internet if full of misconceptions.
I looked on Walmart .com and there are various pump oils with the weight specified . My pump specified 30w Non Detergent which I got at Walmart .
I have a pump now that says on it to use "10w-40 non foaming oil" I have never seen a oil that says non foaming. I assume they mean non-detergent. Which brings me to the conumdrum of where do you find a 10w-40 non detergent. It may exist somewhere. After read what cujet posted I am inclined to get Mobil 1 10w-40 and call it a day. Locally available and cheaper than most oils at the hardware stores labeled as pump oil. As someone said, some pump oil products do not even list a viscosity. Thus implying the viscosity is less important than the non foaming or ND feature. I find that really strange.
How about a marine engine oil ? They run at high rpm all the time so I'm thinking non foaming properties in their chemistry.
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Most all pressure washer pumps I’ve ever saw and I have some big ones here, is a non-detergent motor oil, I would just go to my owners manual
Is the take away here that full Synthetic oils do not foam like a detergent Conventional oil? If true, then a Full Synthetic motor oil should work... 5w-50 is available at most autopart stores. I did find that 10w-40 non detergent is available from Simpson. It is on the TSC website as well as other box stores. Finding it on the shelf in the retail store is a bit harder.
My pressure washer states 15w-40 for replacement oil. So I use T4 Brotella since I have an abundance of it.
Sort of makes sense because whether its a combustion engine, air compressor, or pressure washer, the pumps are cylinder based. the crank cases are purpose built but similar in idea. Stands to reason that the oil used for the worst environment (combustion of petroleum fuel) would be more than sufficient for other less dirty applications.
I feel like some applications of "non-detergent" oils are based off of specifications that were written 75 years ago and if it ain't broke...
Sort of makes sense because whether its a combustion engine, air compressor, or pressure washer, the pumps are cylinder based. the crank cases are purpose built but similar in idea. Stands to reason that the oil used for the worst environment (combustion of petroleum fuel) would be more than sufficient for other less dirty applications.
I feel like some applications of "non-detergent" oils are based off of specifications that were written 75 years ago and if it ain't broke...
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