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It can be quite a daunting task trying to figure out how to change your Porter Cable compressor oil, how much to use, and what is correct Porter Cable oil to use right? Well, fear no more, I will answer all these questions in relation to Porter Cable compressor oil for you.
Table of Contents
- What Kind of Oil Goes in a Porter Cable Compressor?
- How Much Porter Cable Oil to Use in a Porter Cable Compressor?
- How to Change Porter Cable Compressor Oil
What Kind of Oil Goes in a Porter Cable Compressor?
It is extremely important to refer to your compressor manual before purchasing Porter Cable oil for your Porter Cable compressor. We have numerous Porter Cable compressor manuals available on our brand page so please visit here first!
The manual will tell you what Porter Cable oil is compatible with your air compressor, if you cannot locate your manual, please contact Porter Cable directly or visit their website to download a manual for your compressor.
Porter Cable Compressor Oils Available Online
I couldn’t find any Porter Cable compressor oils sold directly on Amazon, however, if you visit their support section on their website, you can call them, email them or find your closest store, to find out what oil is suitable for your compressor. Otherwise, you can search their website for air compressor oil, or visit online retailers like tractor supply co who stock their compressor oil.
Alternative Compressor Oils Available on Amazon
A few alternatives to the Porter Cable 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 your system, so please check vigorously!
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.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
How Much Porter Cable Oil to Use in a Porter Cable Compressor?
You will need the actual compressor user’s manual at hand to determine how much Porter Cable oil a specific model of compressor pump requires; otherwise, it can be quite difficult.
You should contact Porter Cable directly or search the internet for the specifications of your Porter Cable compressor and its model to find the manual online if you do not have a physical copy. Visit our Porter Cable brand page for more information!
I will now provide tips on checking the Porter Cable oil amount inside your Porter Cable compressor before presenting you with a step-by-step guide on how to change the oil.
Porter Cable Oil Sight Glass
A Porter Cable compressor sight glass allows you to check the oil level inside the pump, like in this image below, where it should be approximately halfway up the red dot.

Porter Cable Oil Dipstick
The Porter Cable compressor pump doesn’t always have a sight glass, and if this is the case, you will need to check the Porter Cable oil level using the sump dipstick.
To do so, remove the dipstick from the sump and clean it. Then, push the dipstick back into the sump before removing it again, and check the markings when pulling it out to gauge the Porter Cable oil level.

Alternative Method for Checking Porter Cable Oil
If you don’t have a sight glass or dipstick on your Porter Cable compressor, an alternative method is to drain the Porter Cable oil from the tank into a reservoir and gauge the level this way.
How to Drain Porter Cable Oil from the Sump
Locate your Porter Cable oil plug and unscrew it. You then drain the Porter Cable oil out from the sump into a reservoir and gauge how much Porter Cable oil is in your pump.
Tip: I recommend laying a dust sheet or something similar out on the floor below the compressor to avoid getting any spillages when draining the Porter Cable oil from the Porter Cable compressor.
How to Change Porter Cable Compressor Oil
Changing the Porter Cable oil on Porter Cable compressors may vary slightly with each model. Therefore, before you do anything, you should check the Porter Cable compressor model manual or contact Porter Cable directly to ensure that your compressor is definitely oil lubricated.
Changing Porter Cable Compressor Oil Process
Follow the steps previously described for draining the Porter Cable oil from the compressor into a reservoir and then securely tighten the plug into the bottom of the sump, to begin with.
Now you are able to add the replacement Porter Cable oil you have at hand into the intake port at the top of the compressor sump. I cannot be any more specific than this due to the fact that the process can vary, depending on your Porter Cable compressor model.
You should aim to add near to the same amount of Porter Cable oil that you’ve removed (if it was at the right level) or gauge it using the sight glass or dipstick if you have either.
Note: when filling the compressor with Porter Cable 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:
- Check Porter Cable compressor oil level
- Locate sump plug on Porter Cable compressor
- Drain Porter Cable oil from the sump
- Securely tighten sump plug
- Locate Porter Cabble compressor oil intake port
- Replenish compressor with the same amount of Porter Cable oil as removed or gauge it using the sight glass or dipstick (do not overfill)
Note: Without having access to each and every Porter Cable compressor model manual, and assuming that each manual tells the reader what the Porter Cable oil volume is, there is no way to be anything but vague when providing advice about changing Porter Cable compressor oil and the amount you should add.
If you have any questions about Porter Cable compressor oil, changing it, which to use and how to use it then please leave a comment below with photos if applicable to help others respond to you!