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Craftsman Air Compressor Oil – Choosing Oil, How Much To Use & Changing Oil

Published Categorized as Air Compressor Oil Guides, Craftsman No Comments on Craftsman Air Compressor Oil – Choosing Oil, How Much To Use & Changing Oil

It can be quite a daunting task trying to figure out how to change your Craftsman compressor oil, how much to use, and what is correct Craftsman oil to use right? Well, fear no more, I will answer all these questions in relation to Craftsman compressor oil for you.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Oil Goes in a Craftsman Compressor?

It is extremely important to refer to your compressor manual before purchasing Craftsman oil for your Craftsman compressor. We have numerous Craftsman compressor manuals available on our brand page so please visit here first!

The manual will tell you what Craftsman oil is compatible with your air compressor, if you cannot locate your manual, please contact Craftsman directly or visit their website to download a manual for your compressor.

Craftsman Air Compressor Oil - Choosing Oil, How Much To Use & Changing Oil

Craftsman Compressor Oils Available Online

I couldn’t find any Craftsman compressor oils sold directly on Amazon or on the Sears website, however, if you visit their contact us section you can call them or email them to find out what oil is suitable for your compressor.

Alternative Compressor Oils Available on Amazon

A few alternatives to the Craftsman-advised compressor oils are produced by Mobil. Again, it is very important to ensure the oil is compatible with your air compressor before putting it into the system, so please check first!

The first is the Mobil 101016 Rarus which is suitable for reciprocating air compressors whether they’re single or multistage. This oil lubricant boasts excellent water separability, protection against rust and corrosion, long life for extended oil drain, and provides your compressor with very clean air valves.

The second is the Mobil 100870, boasting similar benefits as the previous oil but with the potential to work with reciprocating, rotary screws, and rotary vane compressors.

How Much Craftsman Oil to Use in a Craftsman Compressor?

To determine how much Craftsman oil a specific model of compressor pump requires, you will need the actual manual at hand otherwise it can be quite difficult.

You should contact Craftsman directly or search the internet for the specifications of your Craftsman compressor and its model to find the manual online if you do not have a physical copy.

I will now provide you with tips on how to check the Craftsman oil amount inside your Craftsman compressor before presenting you with a step-by-step guide on how you can change it.

Craftsman Oil Sight Glass

A Craftsman compressor sight glass will allow you to check the oil level inside the pump, where it should be, like in this image below, approximately halfway up the red dot.

Air Compressor Oil Sight Glass
Air Compressor Oil Sight Glass

Craftsman Oil Dipstick

The Craftsman compressor pump may not always have a sight glass, and if it doesn’t, you will need to check the Craftsman oil level using the sump dipstick.

To do so, remove the dipstick from the sump and wipe it clean. Then, push the dipstick back into the sump before removing it again, check the markings when pulling it out to gauge the Craftsman oil level.

Typical oil fill dipstick for an Air Compressor
Typical oil fill dipstick

Alternative Method for Checking Craftsman Oil

An alternative method if you don’t have a sight glass or dipstick on your Craftsman compressor is to drain the Craftsman oil from the tank into a reservoir and gauge the level.

How to Drain Craftsman Oil from the Sump

Start by locating your Craftsman oil plug and unscrewing it. This will then allow you to drain the Craftsman oil out from the sump into a reservoir and then proceed to gauge how much Craftsman oil is in your pump.

Tip: I recommend laying a dust sheet or something out on the floor below the compressor to avoid getting any spillages when draining the Craftsman oil.

How to Change Craftsman Compressor Oil

Changing the Craftsman oil on Craftsman compressors may slightly vary from model to model. Therefore, before you do anything you should check the Craftsman compressor model manual, or contact Craftsman directly to ensure that your compressor is oil lubricated.

Changing Craftsman Compressor Oil Process

Follow the steps previously described for draining the Craftsman oil from the compressor into a reservoir and then securely tighten the plug into the bottom of the sump.

Now you can add the replacement Craftsman oil you have at hand into the intake port at the top of the compressor sump. It is very difficult to be any more specific than this because the process can vary, depending on your Craftsman compressor model.

You should aim to add near to the same amount of Craftsman oil that you’ve removed or gauge it using the sight glass or dipstick if you have either.

Note: when filling the compressor with Craftsman oil, make sure you do not fill the air intake on the pump or overfill the sump as this can lead to damage.

Summary

The above methodology is simplified for ease into the following steps:

  1. Check the Craftsman compressor oil level
  2. Locate the sump plug on Craftsman compressor
  3. Drain Craftsman oil from the sump
  4. Securely tighten sump plug
  5. Locate Craftsman compressor oil intake port
  6. Replenish the compressor with the same amount of Craftsman oil as removed or gauge it using the sight glass or dipstick (do not overfill)

Note: Without having access to each and every Craftsman compressor model manual, and assuming that each manual tells the reader what the Craftsman oil volume is, there is no way to be anything but vague when providing advice about changing Craftsman compressor oil and the amount you should add.


If you have any questions about Craftsman compressor oil, changing it, which to use and how to use it, please leave a comment below, with photos if applicable, so that someone can help you!

By Aidan Weeks

A passionate Mechanical Engineer with endless enthusiasm for fluid power - building off the back of over 18 years of high quality contribution and discussion stimulated by Bill Wade here at About Air Compressors. With both practical and theoretical experience in pneumatics and hydraulics, I'm putting my knowledge to work - and working my grey-matter through my research, assistance and publishing work here at About Air Compressors. Feel free to reach out any time! P.S. A HUGE shout out to Doug who really offers such great value to all visitors to About Air Compressors - once again, feeling like I'm standing on the shoulders of GIANTS by getting to work alongside such a great community

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