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Kobalt Air Compressor Oil – Choosing Oil, How Much to Use & Changing Oil

Published Categorized as Air Compressor Oil Guides, Kobalt No Comments on Kobalt 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 Kobalt compressor oil, how much to use, and what is the correct Kobalt oil to use right? Well, fear no more, I will answer all the questions related to Kobalt compressor oil for you in this article!

Table of Contents

What Kind of Oil Goes in a Kobalt Compressor?

It is very important to refer to your compressor manual before purchasing Kobalt oil for your Kobalt compressor. We have a couple of Kobalt compressor manuals available on our brand page so please visit here first!

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

Kobalt Compressor Oils Available Online

I couldn’t find any Kobalt compressor oil being sold on Amazon, but with Kobalt air compressors being Lowe’s house brand, you can buy Kobalt compressor oil from their website.

Alternative Compressor Oils Available on Amazon

A few alternatives to the Kobalt-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 the potential to work with reciprocating, rotary screw, and rotary vane compressors.

How Much Kobalt Oil to Use in a Kobalt Compressor?

To determine the amount of Kobalt oil each specific model of compressor pump requires, you will need the actual manual at hand; otherwise, it can be quite difficult to gauge.

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

Below are some tips on how to check the Kobalt oil level inside your Kobalt compressor. Then I will present you with a step-by-step guide on how to change the Kobalt oil.

Kobalt Oil Sight Glass

Kobalt compressors should have a sight glass that allows you to check the oil level inside the pump. In the image below, the Kobalt oil level should be approximately halfway up the red dot.

Air Compressor Oil Sight Glass
Air Compressor Oil Sight Glass

Kobalt Oil Dipstick

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

First, remove the dipstick from the sump and wipe it clean. Push the dipstick back into the sump before removing it again, and this time check the markings to gauge the Kobalt oil level.

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

Alternative Method for Checking Kobalt Oil

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

How to Drain Kobalt Oil from the Sump

It’s as simple as locating your Kobalt oil plug and unscrewing it. This will then allow you to drain the Kobalt oil out from the sump into a reservoir and then proceed to gauge how much Kobalt oil was inside your pump.

Tip: I recommend laying a dust sheet or something similar on the floor below the compressor to avoid spills when draining the Kobalt oil.

How to Change Kobalt Compressor Oil

Changing the Kobalt oil on a Kobalt compressor will vary slightly from model to model. Therefore, before you start anything, you should check the Kobalt compressor model manual or contact Kobalt directly to ensure that your compressor can take oil for starters and then seek any advice on the process.

Changing Kobalt Compressor Oil Process

Follow the steps previously described to drain the Kobalt oil from the compressor into a reservoir and then securely tighten the plug back into the bottom of the sump so no oil leaks out.

Now it is possible to add the replacement Kobalt 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 due to the fact that the process will vary, depending on the model of your Kobalt air compressor.

You should aim to add the same amount of Kobalt oil that you’ve removed (if it’s a simple replacement) or gauge it using the sight glass or dipstick if you have either (if you’re refilling it).

NOTE: when filling the compressor with Kobalt compressor oil, make sure you do not fill the air intake of the pump or overfill the sump. This could lead to significant internal damage.

Summary

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

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

Note: Without having access to each and every Kobalt compressor model manual, and assuming that each manual tells the reader what the Kobalt oil volume is exactly, there is no way to be anything but vague when providing advice about changing Kobalt compressor oil and the amount you should add. Hence, why I strongly recommend referring to your compressor manual!


If you have any questions about Kobalt 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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