How to prevent unexpected breakdowns?
Just like any compressor, a portable air compressor needs maintenance every now and then. Check the manual of your compressor how often it needs maintenance.
Often it's after a certain number of running hours, or once per year, whichever comes first (just like with your car).
With most portable compressors, there are several different things that need to be done after a certain number of running hours. Usually this is after every 250, 500 and 1000 running hours.
For example: changing oil and oil filters, check valves for good operation, replace belt, and so on.
Here is a typical maintenance schedule for a portable air compressor:
| Daily | After first 50 hours. | Every 500 hours | Every 1000 hours or yearly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil level engine | Check | |||
| Oil level compressor | Check | |||
| Coolant level | Check | |||
| Coolant liquid | analyze | Analyze | ||
| Dustpan of air compressor filter | Empty | |||
| Remove water from fuel filter | Remove | |||
| Vaccuum indicator air intake | Check | |||
| Battery acid level and battery poles | check | Check | Check | |
| Tire pressure | check | check | Check | |
| Leakages in air, oil or fuel system | check | check | check | |
| Coolers ( engine, compressor oil and air) | Clean | Clean | ||
| Min and max rpm engine | check | check | Check | |
| Torque wheel nuts | check | check | Check | |
| Brake system | Check/adjust | Check/adjust | Check/adjust | |
| Safety valve (air receiver) | Test | |||
| Door hinges | grease | Grease | ||
| Towbar and system | grease | grease | ||
| Safety switches | grease | |||
| Oil separator | Check pressure drop | Replace separator | ||
| Tension of V-belts | Adjust | Adjust | ||
| Fuel tank | Clean | Clean | ||
| Oil compressor | Change | |||
| Oil filter compressor | Change | |||
| Air intake filter | Change | |||
| Safety cartridge air intake filter (if installed) | Change | |||
| Oil engine | Change | Change | ||
| Oil filter engine | Change | Change | ||
| Fuel filter | Change | |||
| Fuel pre-filter | Change | Change | ||
| Intake and exhaust valves engine | Adjust | |||
| Compressed air after filters (if installed) | Change | |||
The schedule needs to be adjusted according to your situation.
For example, if you use the compressor in a very dusty environment, you need to change the air filters more often.
Generally, the oil separator (the part that separates the oil from the compressed air, before it leaves the compressor) needs to be replaced when the pressure drop becomes more than 0.8 bar.
I recommend you change the oil separator in time.
If you don't change it in time, not only will de output of the compressor become much lower than normal, there is a chance that the separator might rupture.
Believe me, you don't want this to happen!
I have seen it several times. Since there is nothing there to keep the oil inside the compressor anymore, it will spit out almost every drop of oil that's inside..
Most things you can do yourself. Some things are a little more challenging or require special tools. Like checking the engine vales and adjusting the drive belt pressure (a special tool is usually needed).