Grizzly
05-08-2008, 05:31 PM
As the thread title suggests.
When there is a low oil level in the sight glass, does it always mean that the compressor is short of Oil?
NO!
Most of the guys on this forum will already know this.
Basically most recips when running at Low Loads for long periods.
Will have a higher than normal rate of "oil carry over"
resulting in sometimes the compressor tripping on oil failure.
The older and more tired the machine the more this can happen.
So as a tip from an old timer!
Next time you see a comp with low oil level and provided there is enough oil left in it to do so?
Run the compressor for long enough to allow it to fully load up.
This will force the oil that has been sitting out in the system to return to the compressor sump.
It may require running for a fair while but you will be amazed at the amount of oil that will come back.
Also the set point may have to be dropped to induce enough load.
Of course there could be many other reasons why the oil level is low.
But I seem to be finding a lot lately with the above problem.
Cheers Steve.
When there is a low oil level in the sight glass, does it always mean that the compressor is short of Oil?
NO!
Most of the guys on this forum will already know this.
Basically most recips when running at Low Loads for long periods.
Will have a higher than normal rate of "oil carry over"
resulting in sometimes the compressor tripping on oil failure.
The older and more tired the machine the more this can happen.
So as a tip from an old timer!
Next time you see a comp with low oil level and provided there is enough oil left in it to do so?
Run the compressor for long enough to allow it to fully load up.
This will force the oil that has been sitting out in the system to return to the compressor sump.
It may require running for a fair while but you will be amazed at the amount of oil that will come back.
Also the set point may have to be dropped to induce enough load.
Of course there could be many other reasons why the oil level is low.
But I seem to be finding a lot lately with the above problem.
Cheers Steve.