Compressors, water and rust - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

xstuntman · Yesterday, 07:42 PM

So I've had a Craftsman upright 5.5hp compressor for about 20 years and it works well, sometimes I even remember to drain it!

Drained it tonight and got a cup of rusty water for the first time. Huh. So I'm wondering about putting some oil into the tank or some other treatment along with a new drain valve. I only use it to air up tires or run air tools occasionally so I don't see how oil could hurt. Anybody done this?

102SS · Today, 05:35 AM

Using an inline oil and water separator filter might be easier.

gtstorey · Today, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstuntman

So I've had a Craftsman upright 5.5hp compressor for about 20 years and it works well, sometimes I even remember to drain it!

Drained it tonight and got a cup of rusty water for the first time. Huh. So I'm wondering about putting some oil into the tank or some other treatment along with a new drain valve. I only use it to air up tires or run air tools occasionally so I don't see how oil could hurt. Anybody done this?

Typically, there is a little oil from the compressor mixed in unless you have an oil-less compressor. And the oil would typically just float on the water anyway if you are trying to protect the tank. They do make automatic drains on timers to keep the water from building up. But it seems to take a LONG time to rust a tank enough to cause it to fail.

gtstorey · Today, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 102SS

Using an inline oil and water separator filter might be easier.

That would typically be on the outlet side. I've never seen on the inlet side for tank protection, which is what I think the OP is concerned about. And it doesn't sound like he is doing anything to need to worry about moisture in the compressed air.

tartagliazl1 · Today, 09:50 AM

I'm a contractor for 30 years now and I don't think I've drained my compressor tanks more than twice ever. never had a problem or a rust blow out.

gtstorey · Today, 10:28 AM

I have heard of nearly continuously operated compressors that are mounted outside in very humid areas completely filling the tank up with water. At some point the loss of volume in the tank can cause problems, but it is an extreme and rare case.

xstuntman · Today, 11:04 AM

I do run a seperator on the air hose and of course that's at the top of the upright. Never once have I seen water in the seperator. It was a humid summer with the flooding event and maybe that was what lead to the issue? I will pull the plug and get a better drain design for sure.

Yeah, an auto drain sounds interesting and I will look into that. Need to mount it higher on some 4x4s too. Black widows love that area.

Mr_Draco · Today, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstuntman

So I've had a Craftsman upright 5.5hp compressor for about 20 years and it works well, sometimes I even remember to drain it!

Drained it tonight and got a cup of rusty water for the first time. Huh. So I'm wondering about putting some oil into the tank or some other treatment along with a new drain valve. I only use it to air up tires or run air tools occasionally so I don't see how oil could hurt. Anybody done this?

I wouldn't worry about it. You're not using it enough to really build up enough water to damage the tank. Not to mention any oil or chemicals you may use in the tank will atomize the first time you fill it up with air and come out. Pumps and motors usually go bad well before tanks rust through unless they are in warm, humid climates and are used a lot.

My dad has a compressor he got back in the '80s that he uses monthly to air up the tires and occasional air tool use during the summer. The last time it was drained was when I did it about 15 years ago.

gtstorey · Today, 11:47 AM

You can get extension hoses that move the valve out so they are easier to get to also. This was the same price as a drain valve when I needed to replace mine.

xstuntman · Today, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtstorey

You can get extension hoses that move the valve out so they are easier to get to also. This was the same price as a drain valve when I needed to replace mine.

Oh I like that!

gtstorey · Today, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstuntman

Oh I like that!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235644391290

Of course you can make your own, but probably not cheaper.

FASTFATBOY · Today, 12:35 PM

Always always always leave the drain on your compressor tank slightly cracked to let the water out. It's extrememly humid here and mine stays cracked 24/7/365.

If you've ever seen the tank fail from rust, it's not pretty.

You could pull the petcock and pour some oil in there to slow it down.

Yesterday, 07:42 PM	#1
xstuntman Drives: 2012 Victory Red LFX Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: west central Texas Posts: 1,378	Compressors, water and rust So I've had a Craftsman upright 5.5hp compressor for about 20 years and it works well, sometimes I even remember to drain it! Drained it tonight and got a cup of rusty water for the first time. Huh. So I'm wondering about putting some oil into the tank or some other treatment along with a new drain valve. I only use it to air up tires or run air tools occasionally so I don't see how oil could hurt. Anybody done this? __________________ '18 SS wheels, colored matched Heritage grille, actual driving lights, ZL1 strut tower brace, GM Performance billet aluminum fuel door, victory red rotors and calipers, 1/4 window American flags, splash guards, AEM dry panel air filter, Hot Wheels steering wheel and seat covers, Hot Wheels exterior emblems.

Today, 05:35 AM	#2
102SS waiting at the tree Drives: SIM 2010 2SS/RS A6 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Niagara Falls Posts: 4,439	Using an inline oil and water separator filter might be easier. __________________ 2010 2SS/RS A6 Just a few bolt-ons and appearance doo dads

Today, 09:50 AM	#5
tartagliazl1 Drives: 2013 zl1 vert Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Rochester, New york Posts: 1,208	I'm a contractor for 30 years now and I don't think I've drained my compressor tanks more than twice ever. never had a problem or a rust blow out. __________________ 22% lower/ 2.5 upper/ 2” headers/ cat delete/ x-pipe/ 2 gallon x tank/ 100-3 pump/ fic 1300/ dsx aux kit/ 103mm throttle body/ big gulp 5” intake/ meth kit/ prometh lid injection/FI interchiller/ 160* stat/ ngk-7/ msd wires/ elite catch can/ tsp cam/ Che trunnions/ ported supercharger/ 1/2” lid spacer/ cnc,milled ported heads/ brick mod/BMR toe and trailing arms/ 781hp 748 tq SAE @17.3lb on a loaded dyno.

Today, 11:04 AM	#7
xstuntman Drives: 2012 Victory Red LFX Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: west central Texas Posts: 1,378	I do run a seperator on the air hose and of course that's at the top of the upright. Never once have I seen water in the seperator. It was a humid summer with the flooding event and maybe that was what lead to the issue? I will pull the plug and get a better drain design for sure. Yeah, an auto drain sounds interesting and I will look into that. Need to mount it higher on some 4x4s too. Black widows love that area. __________________ '18 SS wheels, colored matched Heritage grille, actual driving lights, ZL1 strut tower brace, GM Performance billet aluminum fuel door, victory red rotors and calipers, 1/4 window American flags, splash guards, AEM dry panel air filter, Hot Wheels steering wheel and seat covers, Hot Wheels exterior emblems.

Today, 12:35 PM	#12
FASTFATBOY Drives: 2013 ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Mobile Al Posts: 552	Always always always leave the drain on your compressor tank slightly cracked to let the water out. It's extrememly humid here and mine stays cracked 24/7/365. If you've ever seen the tank fail from rust, it's not pretty. You could pull the petcock and pour some oil in there to slow it down. __________________ 2015 1SS 1LE, Magnuson 2300 Heartbeat and headers. 550rwhp STD, 535 SAE.

Today, 10:28 AM	#6
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,459	I have heard of nearly continuously operated compressors that are mounted outside in very humid areas completely filling the tank up with water. At some point the loss of volume in the tank can cause problems, but it is an extreme and rare case.

Today, 11:47 AM	#9
gtstorey Drives: 2010 Camaro SS2,L99, LSA SC Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,459	You can get extension hoses that move the valve out so they are easier to get to also. This was the same price as a drain valve when I needed to replace mine.