worthington 220 rollair - Ecsesive oil use

by A. Bouwer
(Port Elizabeth)

We have a worthington 220 rollair and have ecsesive oil use. Must there be a drilled hole in the air butterfly? When compressor is on
unload air is blown back through the air filter. Is that normal? When compressor is in use and we have a power failure the oil blows in the air filter. Is this normal? When must the oil be checked on the compressor? Must it be checked straight after it was stoped or after a couple of minutes.

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Bill says...

A. Bouwer, here is what the manual for your air compressor says about the oil separation...

" Oil in the compression element performs three vitals roles: cooling, lubrication and a seal between the rotor profiles. Ensuring peak performance with no loss in efficiency
throughout the life of the compression element.

The three stage air/oil separation system is designed to
provide a low residual oil content in the air below 3 ppm. The oil in the separator vessel, is separated by cyclonic action, weight, and finally filtrated through a cartridge designed with a large filtration surface to ensure high air quality.

Residual oil inside the separator element is removed by the oil scavenge line and re injected into the rotary screw element, reducing oil carryover into the compressed air network."

You write, " Must there be a drilled hole in the air butterfly?" If it wasn't needed, it wouldn't be there.

"When compressor is on unload air is blown back through the air filter. Is that normal?" Doubtful.

"When must the oil be checked on the compressor?" Based on what you have written, I would check it, check it again an hour later, and note the oil level change. If not substantial, check another hour later, until you have a sense of how fast it is going through the lube oil, and then establish a time.

"Must it be checked straight after it was stoped or after a couple of minutes. " Letting the oil drip into the oil sump is typical.

I hope that other worthington 220 rollair compressor users can comment for you.

It were me, I'd be talking to the manufacturer, at: www.airwco.com/wco-webmenu-homepage/en

Cheers,

Bill






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worthington 220 rollair - Ecsesive oil use

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Jan 16, 2012
 Blowdown
by: Jim

It is perfectly normal for the air to be venting from the inet filter if the compressor is unloaded. Follow the line from the blowdown valve to see if it is routed to the filter housing, or if it blows down through its own muffler.

If you are seeing a heavy oil mist during blowdown check the following items, in this order:

1. Check the orifice in the separator scavenge line, if it is blocked the oil can not return to the system, builds up in the separator, and eventually will pass downstream.
2. Has the separator element been replaced? Under "normal" conditions you should get at least 4000 hours from the element. Less in dirty environments.
3. Mixing different types of oil will cause foaming and inefficient separation.

99% of the time oil carryover is caused by one of the above.

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Thanks Jim. B.

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