Which Is Better Oil Or Oil-Free Compressor?

Author: E. Silva (aka Mr. Awesome - The Niche Specialty Expert)

An oil – compressor is super better, in many ways, such in as being able to be run for continuously long periods of time. If you use that pump on it, for a long time, it’s perfect. It will get the job done. Times in which you may use such a compressor for extended periods can be, for example, whenever you are grinding, painting, cutting, etc … heck, even when you should find yourself doing other kinds of auto repair, too. For professional, industrial use, in these applications, like I said, an oil – compressor is what you need to go with …. hands – down, the number – one choice here ….

Now, then, to add to that, oil – compressors do have some setbacks, though. They are not perfect …. just know that. Like when it comes down to colder temps ( temperatures ) , they do thicken up a bit. This is a proven fact with oil – compressor machines, and as a matter of fact, in extreme cold ( in some cases, sub – zero temps ) , they can take longer to start – up or even start – up less easily, as a whole. No joke. Keep that in mind, I say. Keep that in mind.

Certain oil – compressors, though, thankfully, can use multi - viscosity oil or all – season oil to sort of combat this weakness, in a sense. Yet not all of them do or can, though, and that’s a problem. Yet for those models that do / can, they often go with something like 10W30 oil. It certain helps, to say the very least ….

Now, if the degree of temp is beyond freezing cold, though, your compressed air supply can and will, in many instances, get contaminated with these types of compressors. The oil itself ( even if it’s the best kind, for this, like the one I just mentioned ) can and will contaminate it. Thus, the compressor itself can get unsuitable and unstable for certain uses. That becomes another problem you have to then trudge through, so to speak.

Oil – free air – compressors are simpler, and in my opinion, inferior, like I said — they are basically designed to handle smaller, easier, less repetitive tasks. You can save a buck or two by getting them, instead, which can be helpful if you’re tight on money. Their cfm output, all in all, is usually much lower as well. So any sort of projects or tasks that require “less continual operation” are what they can do best. Keep that in mind.

Also, however, in terms of portability and easy movability, all in all, oil – free air – compressors do better. They are easier to move from spot to spot. They also take up less room. But that would also be dependent on their size ( larger models can be an exception, as you can probably tell ) ….