Is the color of air compressor oil related to its quality?
November 08, 2022
The setting of the oil sight glass of the air compressor is convenient for understanding the residual amount and color of the lubricating oil. Can we judge whether the equipment is faulty from the color of lubricating oil? If it is the same lubricating oil, the change of lubricating oil quality can be analyzed and judged according to the time scale trend. Because, the change of color means that its chemical composition has changed or there are pollutants. If the oil is not of the same type, the quality of the oil cannot be judged only by its color. The color of lubricating oil is related to its main raw materials, and there is no direct relationship between its color and oil quality.
Base Oil The color of base oil varies according to the processing depth. Type I oil is mostly light yellow, but type II and III base oils refined by advanced hydrotreating and synthetic oils prepared by chemical methods, such as PAO, ester oil, polyether, etc., will contain fewer aromatic hydrocarbons and other impurities, and their colors will be relatively light, which can be as bright as water! Additive Additives affect the Air Compressor Oil, including Viscosity Index Improver, extreme pressure anti-wear agent, antioxidant, anti foaming agent, rust inhibitor, anti emulsifier, etc. All of these additives have different colors. When the additive and base oil are blended, the color of the lubricating oil will change differently, either darker (such as brown) or lighter. Dye For the influence of colorants, it is sometimes necessary to add certain colorants to some lubricating oils and greases to change their original colors. Sometimes the purpose of doing so is to serve as a warning to distinguish other lubricants. In fact, it is more marketing factors. For example, Ingersoll Rand is light red, Sullair is green, Atlas is transparent white, Compair is blue, and Unitex is red. Sometimes it is just to distinguish different product lines. Dyes will not play any role in lubrication protection. During the use of air compressor oil, the color of oil will change from light to dark, which is a common phenomenon. It is unscientific for some users to directly confuse the darkening of oil products with oil quality problems and change the oil immediately. When the air compressor oil needs to be replaced, in addition to judging from the appearance, it also needs to judge from the change test of viscosity, acid value, insoluble content and other comprehensive indicators, or roughly according to the experience of field service personnel, from the consistency, smell, appearance, preliminary judgment, sometimes the oil looks good, but has serious gum aging, if judged only from the appearance, it is easy to waste resources or ignore the actual real risks.
