Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Heating Comppressor Crankcase

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Glenn F.

04-06-2008 07:29:50




Report to Moderator

My air compressors are in the unheated "haymow" of my shop. I want to rig up a crankcase heater on each of them to keep the oil warm/thin in the below zero winter weather. I suppose each of them holds about 1.5 quarts of oil. I have thought of those little magnetic electric heaters, heat tape, etc.

Do any of you have a heater set up? I don't like the idea of using lighter oil.


Thank you,
Glenn F.

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
greygoat

04-07-2008 09:29:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
My compressor has an oil pump, and full pressure
lubrication, and an oil pressure gauge. It's in
an unheated garage/shop. I put Mobil synthetic
automobile engine oil in the crankcase, 5W-20,
it starts at 30 below zero, has full pressure in
a second or two, and has been running fine for
5 years.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
jose bagge

04-06-2008 16:24:32




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
All of my shops have the compressors in "dwg houses" outside, for both space and noise- we run synthetiic oil and have never had any issues.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
gold-leaf-deere

04-06-2008 15:39:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
My 5 HP compressor is in a unheated space above my shop, In cold weather I drain the air out of the tank and the compressor will start up fine, it will warm it's own oil, if I don't do this the 220AC breaker will trip every time.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Lee in Iowa

04-06-2008 15:32:10




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
I just put a heatlamp on mine a couple hours before I want to run it that makes it start up a lot easier. Hopefully next winter I will get around to putting synthetic in it. Lee



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Kentb of SWMO

04-06-2008 15:19:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
Chambell-Hasfields second choice oil for their air compresser is Mobile 1 10W-30. Their first chioce is 100 DIN compressor oil. I have switch my compressors to Mobile 1. Heat sounds ok to if you use something built for that service. I amin SW MO so it does not get real cold here most of the time.

Kent



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Jon Hagen

04-07-2008 07:38:29




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Kentb of SWMO, 04-06-2008 15:19:12  
My compressor lives in an unheated shop in an area where winter temps can hit lower than - 30.
No problem starting the compressor since I filled it with Mobil 1 5W-30, and later when it became avalible, 0W-30.
Been using the synthetic motor oil in it for almost 30 years and never had a problem. I change it once per year.
I would not consider using an electric heater because of cost and fire danger. Sytnthetic oil in the compressor will make easy cold starts and less wear in the compressor.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
buickanddeere

04-06-2008 11:13:43




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
As previously stated. Make things simple, cheap, safe and foolproof. Just us synthetic oil. An electric heater around oil is a fire looking for a place to happen.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Bob

04-06-2008 10:35:18




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
Go to www.grainger.com.

Enter "compressor crankcase heater" in the search box.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
fixerupper

04-06-2008 10:23:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
A heater of some sort is a good idea and something I've never thought of much.(duh)
My compressor (5 HP 17 CFM) sits in a unheated storage building beside the shop. It always starts and runs OK, but heating the crankcase is not a bad idea. It can be below zero in there in the winter and over a hundred in the summer. Changing to a lighter oil for winter means I will forget to change it again in the spring and it will run in the summer with light oil. Jim

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Heater..John,PA

04-06-2008 10:04:30




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
I use a refrigeration crankcase heater on mine. It is a 220v. heater that puts off only 20 watts of heat. I have the heater wired on the line side of the compressor switch. Therefore the heater is always on when the power is on to the compressor. Otherwise, I can keep the heater pluged in by itself so it is on all the time.

It is knows as a belly-band heater. Might try a refrigeration supply store to get one.

Believe it or not, I also have a 110volt heater around the oil pan of my service van. In the winter-time I keep the "van" plugged in to 110 v.

Hope this helps.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
s.crum

04-06-2008 09:40:29




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
I had a similar issue with a Quincy QR-25 for my plasma rig. This is a forced lubrication. I went with the factory recommended paraffin based 5W turbine oil for sub-zero during the winter and 20W for warm weather. No problens yet.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
leroy in ne

04-06-2008 09:33:25




Report to Moderator
 Re: Heating Comppressor Crankcase in reply to Glenn F., 04-06-2008 07:29:50  
had trouble with 3 horse compressor blowing fuses when temp was below about 15 degrees. at anothers suggestion i switched to amzoil 20w50 synthetic compressor oil. no problems at temps of 10 below. expensive thou like $6.00 a qt. leroy



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy