If you have a Speedaire compressor but don’t have a Speedaire compressor manual, then this article is for you.
Every brand of compressors is slightly different, yet all reciprocating type compressors that are oil lubed have commonality.
So, the first question you need to answer is… is your compressor oil lubed for sure?
While you are at it, ask them if they can send you another manual too. 🙂
All splash-lubed compressors have an oil sump somewhere under the compressor pump housing. They sometimes have a site glass too, to allow you to see how much oil is in the sump.
Run your compressor without oil and eventually it will seize, just like your car engine would if you ran it without oil.
Some compressors don’t have a site glass, unfortunately, though some have a dip-stick built into the oil fill cap instead. Check yours for that as it will make refilling the oil to the correct level much easier.
Look for a plug near the bottom of the compressor pump housing that will thread out. That will be your oil drain. And yes, unless you are really careful, you will drip dirty oil all over everything. So pick your spot, one that won’t be damaged by oil leaking onto it if you have a spill.
Drain the oil out into a reservoir that you can use to estimate about how much oil was in your sump. That way you can put the same amount back in, if you don’t have a site glass or dip stick to measure the oil level as you refill the sump.
Near the top of the oil sump, usually below the piston housing, there will be a port into which you can add oil. I can’t be more specific than that as there are so many brands of compressors, and many have quite different oil-adding ports.
The port into which you add the oil will be vented. That means that there will be a small hole in the cap somewhere to allow atmosphere into the oil sump as the oil is consumed.
Be careful! I’m not talking about the air intake at the top of the pump housing here. Don’t put oil into that one.
After you have replaced the plug at the bottom of the sump, add compressor oil (not car oil, not 3 in 1 oil, only compressor oil) into the fill port until you’ve added about what you’ve removed. A little more will be OK, but very little more. You don’t want to overfill the sump.
My old 3Z323 is building pressure in the crankcase and leaking air out of the hole on top of the crankshaft behind the flywheel. Should I rebuild mine or get a new compressor unit? Thanx for the your time.
Hi Kelley, After doing the cost comparison for both, you can come to a conclusion that will suit your circumstances. If a compressor is rebuilt correctly it can run for a long time making sure all the gaskets and damaged parts have been renewed.
oil is white milky. probably from water through intake filter?
Water is getting into the compressor along with air being drawn into the intake port. Depending on the humidity, the air temperature, and the duration of use, there could be substantial water being driven into the tank. As oil wicks by the piston seals it gets into the air stream going into the tank, and mixes with the water and the crud. You are correct, the result can be milky in color, but more typically, draining the tank results in what looks like liquid chocolate.
just picked up old speed aire 3z323 air compressor looks like 2 pistons? air intake on ttop of cylenders. how much oil to add and how to lube pully shaft. looks like a weird zerk (but not a zerk on top of where shaft comes out of pump. anyone got one of these? i have puestions. Kenny
Kenny, the best thing you can do is go to about-air-compressors.com and see the pages about compressor lubricating oil. That will provide a lot of info for you.
B.