Yet Another Air Compressor Question

[MolaKule]

I believe these Ingersoll compressors use PAG fluids developed by Union Carbide.

Make sure the crankcase is cleaned of all PAG fluids, since they are NOT compatible with PAO/ester and mineral oils.

I believe Amsoil makes some compressor fluids that can replace the PAG stuff.

[ May 27, 2003, 03:50 PM: Message edited by: MolaKule ]

 

[tom slick]

I have 4 large air compressors at work. 2 of them are ingersoll rand 40hp screw type and the other 2 are atlas copco 40hp screw type.
question is, does anyone know the real manufacturer of their branded oils? i and the previous facilty engineer have always used the OEM branded oil to ensure long life of the equipment. there are other manufactures out there that claim that their oils are just as good, i was just curious who actually makes the original oil.
in case any of you are curious, the atlas copco compressors are better. they are quieter and easier to work on, besides the fact that the thermal mass drier is built into them and the computer tells you when to maintain them. one more factiod, they each have a 3" air supply line running to a 500 gallon air tank. they supply alot of air!!!

 

[BOBISTHEOILGUY]

Tom,

I sell to a lot of industrial accounts but one thing that Schaeffers told us is that even though we have some compatible oils for applications such as compressors, that when we see an ingersoll rands, that we should avoid them. Interesting enough, all I could get out of them was that it seemed they had some different type of oils that when you switched them over, it seemed to cause more problems that not, so they highly recommend not to mess with that fluid as they had their own oil and to stay with them.

I personally have never tried to do anything with any of those and when they say something like that, I listen as I myself have no interest in having problems. I'm suspicious of their base oil and may cause compatibility problems but again, no idea. wish you luck but imo, I'd stick with their oil for that application from what I know.
bob

 

[tom slick]

here is what the IR SSR "coolant" (oil) says for specs
it's PAG basestock with a ISO viscosity of 46

the atlas copco GA-8k coolant is PAO basestock with an ISO of 46.
i guess i'm not really interested in changing the oil. i don't foot the bill and i know the branded oils are top quality so i am not afraid to pay for them. $300 in oil once a year in $7,000-$14,000 machines isn't really that much in the scheme of things.

i was just curious if anyone knew who the oem for the oil is.

BTW these are screw type compressors so there is no crankcase, but they do have an "airend"

and i mis-typed, they fill a 1500 gallon tank.

thanks for the input, i am always listening for knowledge

[ May 28, 2003, 03:00 AM: Message edited by: tom slick ]

 

[BOBISTHEOILGUY]

I was thinking that the base oil used by ingersol was a pag, so that explains why schaeffers recommends not to mess with it. You'd have to really get the old stuff purged out otherwise, the mix would thicken up causing gelling and so forth. not worth the headache involves for switching.

 

[MolaKule]

There is a link to the Ucon fluids in one of these posts:

http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000150

 

[Ken2]

Glad you like the Atlas-Copco compressors. I've a lot of experience with one of smaller compressors, and except for the actual compressor, I think I've replaced everything else at least once and maybe twice...motors, heat exchangers, pressure switches, circuit boards, gasket leaks, hoses, etc., etc. We called it the Atlas Crapco.


Ken

 

[widman]

The Ingersol Rand fluids (and sullair) are made by Dow Chemical. I forget the combination of fluids. If I get a chance on Monday I'll add it from the office. I've been succesful at replacing them with a PAO, but only with after rinsing with mineral oil.

 

[widman]

Ingersoll Rand Ultra Coolant and Sullair Sullube are manufactured for them by Dow Chemical under Dow's 1981 patent 4302343. This oil is a Polypropoleneglycol Pentaerythritol Ester which is basically a 70% Polypropoleneglycol and 30% Pentaerythritol Ester.
Benefits according so some experts are:
-low volatility
-very good viscosity temperature properties
-good hydrolytic stability
Disadvantages according to some experts are:
-it is relatively aggressive. Because of the ester, the polyglycol is not compatable with most of the same materials that conventional diesters are not compatable with.
-it is not very compatable with other oils and/or other synthetics, so intermixing can potentially ruin the oil charge.
-it is significantly more expensive than diesters and is still recommended for 8000 hour use, as are most good diesters.

 

[TooSlick]

Tom,

Amsoil makes their ester based, "Scirocco" compressor oil for these applications. You can switch over from the PAG based fluids without doing any extensive flushing. Cost is about $1000.00 less per 55 gallon drum, compared to the OEM fluids. Oil change interval is typically 8000+ hours, with oil analysis recommended every 1000 hours. Spec sheet is on their website in the industrial lubricants section ....

TooSlick