There oil in the bottom of tank insted of water

by john epley
(amery wi)

oil not water

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Bill says...

I guess your question is, how come?

I don't know what type of air compressor you have, so I am going to guess that it's a reciprocating type.

That being the case, it has an oil sump, and that oil either splashes or is pumped up to lubricate the pump workings.

On the piston, there will be rings to keep the oil separated from the oil, and to aid in sealing the piston to the cylinder so air can be pushed into the tank.

If these seals are starting to fail, oil may be migrating past them, and into the air that is being compressed into the tank.

That, or an internal gasket of some sort has failed.

That oil, and water, will collect in the bottom of the tank.

If there is lots of oil, you need to get it fixed right away. If there's only a little, make sure the sump has enough oil, and don't worry about it.

By the way, when you drain your tank, the exudate is possibly considered a hazardous waste.

Cheers,

Bill