My air compressor leaks oil.

by Joe Chua
(North Las Vegas, NV USA)

My whole air compressor tank is covered with oil. Where does it comes from?

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Bill says...

I don't know Joe, but if you can figure it out, and if there is enough of it, you could be rich!

All kidding aside, though you don't say in your question, I'm guessing that you've got a DIY type air compressor?

Mine leaks like a sieve, too.

The oil is coming from the sump under the compressor pump, and you've obviously got a seal leak somewhere there.

As the compressor runs, it vibrates like stink, and any oil dripping onto the tank from the pump spreads very quickly.

Wipe here clean, and using a flashlight, look at any of the piston pump bottom that has any hatches, or covers that are bolted on. Odds are good that's where the oil is coming from.

Try to tighten the bolts. Failing that, rather than do a tear down and try to fix the problem by adding new gaskets, I just make sure that my air compressor is sitting on a drop sheet so that when oil leaks off the bottom it doesn't foul something important. Mind you, if the oil leak is huge, yes, you do need to fix it right away.

And I check and top up the lubricating oil frequently.

Cheers,

Bill