when I empty my air compressor, this oilly snot (best way I can describe it) comes out. could this be because I am running my keresone bullet heater in the garage?

am I ruining my compressor especially the motor?

Could it be just water mixed with the lubricating fluid? Do you have a water trap installed?

I guess it could be, it just seemed to a lot, I am going to run it this week, with out the heater, because it going to warmer and see waht happens.

kerosene heaters DO put soot in the air. I wouldn't think it would be to an amount enough to snot up in your compressor tho. maybe, you just had a build-up that suddenly let go. is it all the time, or just happen once?

Is the 'snot' coming out of the drain valve, or through the airline? The rings in the piston(s) are worn,allowing lubricating oil past and into the compression chamber.Air being compressed produces a LOT of moisture, and it will combine with the oil in the machine to make 'sludge'.This sludge should stay in the bottom of the reservoir, and drain out every time you drain it. Some people do not realise you should drain your tank frequently, as much as every hour it is used.There should not be very much oil, if any, in the reservoir.If it is coming out through the airline, then the problem is pretty significant, and indicates the need of a major overhaul.
Nick

Its rust and condensation. Not a big concern.

Empty it every day or few days.. I read for mine if you use it a lot during cold weather, to prevent freezeup, put a spoonful of antifreeze inside the tank as your putting the plug back in.

If it's other than rusty water, you have a worn compressor head. That oily spooge isn't a good thing, I'd try changing the oil on the compressor. And if you're using your compressor for anything other than running pneumatic tools, get oil/water separator. I'm not sure even that would help if you're using it for a paint gun.

This happens, btw, because you push the duty cycle of the compressor--too much heat makes things wear faster. My compressor has a duty cycle of 50% (and that doesn't mean run it constantly for 50 hours and let it sit for 50.) An extra fan will help a little to disperse heat, but let her cool more and she'll last longer.

little more info,

It is brand new, I just bought the compressor 2 or 3 months ago. I would say comparitivly I am pretty easy on it, I use a grinder, impact wrench and few other small tools, nothing crazy. I am just starting to paint. Just home car work. It does get plenty of rest time while I am using it.

Most of the snot comes out the drain plug, I don't know how much snot, maybe at most a quarter of cup for an 80 gallon tank. I will measure it next time I drain the tank.

I do empty it every hour of use.

the snot is not coming out of the line, because I do have seperator.
I only noticed the snot, when I started using my heater, so I am going to run it without the heater this week and see what happens.

[This message has been edited by Madess (edited 02-20-2007).]

I agree with OKflyboy,you need a water extracter (about $20)it's probubly water and oil mixed.You better be carefull useing that keresone heater in the garage because of the carbon minoxide fumes.

ok, now that it has warmed up, the "snot" has turned to just normal oil, I am assuming that it is either because the frozen water oil mixture melted and/or the water evaported at left just oil.

I am assuming if just oil is coming out of the drain plug then that is ok, correct, and if I have the water trap installed, I am good to go.

As a side question, do I need more filters for Painting?

Those kerosene heaters put a LOT of moisture in the air, along with soot. Oddly enough, a kerosene bullet heater is built and functions sort of like a very weak jet engine. Ever see a contrail on a high flying airliner? Same stuff, only a lot more of it.

I don't believe that any oil should be entering the tank..have you checked the oil level in the sump of the compressor? I am a bit concerned about this oil..it shouldn't be there, not even in an old compressor, although that does obviously happen after time..the separator should only have to extract moisture from the air..and oil will damage it. If it is new, I would recommend returning it to the store for them to check it. If you don't, and the compressor fails, your warantee/guarantee will be null and void.

Nick

The air tank gets a huge amount of condensation moisture in it. The more the compressor runs, the hotter the inside air temp gets. Even more if the iron outside of the tank is in a cold garage. Just drain it every day, or more if you find water spitting out of the air line. If its fairly new, you could have gotten some oil thru it because the rings hadnt seated yet. If you have a clear trap you can see if any oil itself is getting in the line. Not a big deal, the trap will stop it. If its reallllllly excessive, consider the compressor is defective and contact the manufacturer. Also make sure you didnt overfill the oil.

On the kerosene heater, make sure you dont prep or try to paint if you have to use one. It will fisheye all over like mad. The unburned kerosene will speckle everything. IF you HAVE to use a kerosene heater while you do body prep, lay a cover on the car, then use the heater to warm up the garage. Turn it back off and remove the cover to work. You MAY get away with using it more if the heat is directed away from the car.

[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 02-22-2007).]

well, it turns out the compressor is bad, they sending out a repair man to replace a bunch of parts on it.

my only question is will the oil eventually make its way out of the tank?

Eventualy yes. You may want to fill and empty it out a few times before using it to fill tyres or spray paint.

I am assuming because of the oil, I will need a new filter too.

Good idea. And if any oil got past the filter, it's going to be in the hoses and cause all kinds of problems if you paint. Fisheye city.

Some find it incredulous, but I once saw a compressor on a long duty cycle, explode--in a huge way. Basically an air/fuel(oil) bomb. The tank's air/oil mixture finally reached the lubricating oil's detonation point and "BOOM!!" it went. It destroyed 2, 500KW diesel gen sets, a big SCR switchboard, and the steel house it was all sitting in.

I won't get a new filter until run a couple tanks thru it.