Air compressors come in all shapes and sizes. If you have wanted a new air compressor recently, you may have noticed that certain compressor models are oil-free or oilless.
Oil-free air compressors have several advantages over compressors with conventional liquid lubricants and oils to function. However, oil-free compression systems also have limitations that any potential user should know.
What Are Oil-Free Air Compressors?
All air compressors contain moving parts, and the pistons and rotors they use to compress can create a lot of heat and friction. Without proper lubrication, an air compressor can quickly suffer serious internal damage or become dangerously overheated.
To avoid problems with excessive friction and heat, conventional air compressors use lubricating oils, which coat the pistons, rotors, and other moving parts inside the compressor. These oil coatings need periodic replacement to remain effective.
In an oil-free air compressor, the moving parts of the compressor are treated with solid, low-friction coatings (usually PTFE, more commonly known as Teflon), which are bonded to their surfaces. These coatings reduce working friction in the same way as lubricating oils but only need applying once.
Why Should You Choose an Oil-Free Air Compressor?
Unsure if an oil-free air compressor is right for you? Discover some of its advantages.
Easy Maintenance
Most oiled air compressors are very reliable machines, but only if their supplies of lubricating oil are topped up regularly and properly applied to moving surfaces. Keeping an oiled compressor properly lubricated can be messy and time-consuming, especially if the compressor is in constant or near-constant use.
A compressor that never needs oiled is often much easier to maintain. Most oil-free compressors require very little maintenance, beyond the valve checks and regular tank drainings that all air compressors require to stay functional.
The forgiving maintenance schedule of an oil-free compressor can significantly reduce downtime, making them ideal for use on urban construction sites and other high-intensity commercial settings. However, they just as useful for home users, who likely don't want to spend time maintaining a compressor they only use occasionally for DIY.
Keep Compressed Air Clean
As pressurized air passes through the compression pistons or rotors of an oiled air compressor, small droplets of lubricating oil come along with it. Consequently, the air supply of an oiled air compressor will almost always have contamination with trace amounts of lubricating oils.
If you use your air compressor to power something like a sandblaster or a pneumatic drill, you can safely ignore these tiny amounts of oil. However, compressed air for sensitive applications, such as cleaning computer components or powering dental equipment, must be free of oil to prevent problems with contamination and sanitation. Oil-free air compressors are ideal for these purposes.
Inexpensive and Lightweight
Oil-free air compressors are simpler mechanically than most oiled air compressors and are, therefore, cheaper and easier to manufacture. Oil-free compressors usually cost significantly less than comparable oiled models. Because they lack built-in oil reservoirs, they also tend to weigh less than oiled compressors.
Why Shouldn't You Choose an Oil-Free Air Compressor?
In some situations, an oil-free air compressor is not ideal. Discover some of the disadvantages to this specific air compressor.
Shorter Lifespan
The low-friction coatings that protect high-quality oil-free air compressors are very tough and durable but not invulnerable. With significant use, these coatings will start to degrade and lose efficacy, causing the compressor to lose efficiency and create more waste heat.
Unlike lubricating oils, which can simply be reapplied as and when necessary, oil-free coatings are not renewable. As a consequence, oil-free compressors usually have a significantly shorter lifespan than most oiled compressors, although high-quality models can still provide years of faithful service.
More Vulnerable to Overheating
PTFE and other solid, low-friction substances are excellent at reducing friction, but they are less effective at preventing heat buildup when compared to liquid compressor oils. Some oil-free air compressors may be more vulnerable to overheating than other compressor types, especially when used for long periods in hot, poorly ventilated areas.
Ensure that you make an informed choice when you choose your next air compression system. If you have any more questions about oil-free air compressors, don't hesitate to contact Compressed Air Systems for professional advice and recommendations.
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