Compressor is spewing oil out of the oil plug vent

by Steve
(Julian, Pa.)

I've just purchased a compressor from HF. The manual said to add 32 oz of compressor oil. Initially I added oil up to the fill line. It only took about 8oz to make that happen. I ran it for a very short period since it didn't make sense that it should've only taken 8oz. Then I proceeded to add the rest of the recommended volume. Then, I fired it back up and now there is oil spewing from the vent on the plug. I did run it when it was about 30 degrees. I'm not sure that has anything to do with it or not. It just doesn't make sense that the manual tells me to add that much oil. It is the correct manual for the compressor. It was also purchased new.

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Bill says...

It seems to me, Steve, that oil coming out of the fill vent is due to overfilling, or an air leak getting into the sump and pressurizing it somewhat.

Being that it's a new machine, it shouldn't have leaks yet.

As to what the manual says versus the reality, manuals are sometimes wrong.

You don't indicate the size of your compressor, so I can't judge the accuracy of the fill at all. 32 oz seems like an awful lot of oil, but then, maybe yours is designed for that.

If you fill past the fill line in most compressors, oil coming out the fill vent is to be expected.

Bill




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Compressor is spewing oil out of the oil plug vent

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Jan 02, 2012
 OIl Spewing from Vent
by: Ragweed

I changed the aluminum pump on my compressor (60 gal 5hp Ingersoll Rand) to a cast iron offshore 2 stage pump. It produces air well but if you run it continuously, it heats up and spews out oil through the filler vent (appears to be boiling). I make sure the oil level is right in the middle of the sight glass as indicated so I know the level is correct.

Now when it's cold, often the pump won't start turning and the motor just hums until the breaker blows. By moving the pulley around, it will run for a while then start the same thing where it won't turn when it's supposed to kick in.

Any suggestions??

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See the page on will not start when it's cold on the troubleshooting link from nav bar for more info.
Dec 31, 2011
 Same issue
by: Anonymous

Brand new 2.5 hp Coleman 15 gal compressor from Costco. Added the supplied break-in oil as recommended to the level indicated in the manual. Ran it for 30 mins to break in as per the manual, and noticed that oil was spitting out of the vented oil cap during the break in period. After the 30 min break in I noticed the oil level was now below the recommended level. Oil was definitely not over full. Seems kind of weird that it would spit out of there. Anyways this unit is going back to the store as the tank has a poor weld and is leaking already! I guess that's what you get with a 200 dollar piece of China made @#$%. I just hope the next one doesn't do the same thing.

Thanks for the site.
Feb 14, 2011
 Same problem
by: Anonymous

Have anew speedaire and instead of a dip stick that has a vent at the end it is a short stub that has venting. No idea why?

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