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What’s the difference between air compressor oil vs engine oil?

The other day, I was telling my friend that I was going to use the same motor oil I use for my pickup truck in my air compressor. She warned me not to and said it could wreck my air compressor. What’s the difference between air compressor oil vs engine oil?

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Rachel Rigolino · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Your friend is correct. There is a difference between air compressor oil vs. engine oil.
First, air compressor oil doesn’t have the detergents found in motor oil that keep oil sludge from building up on car and truck engines. Also, air compressor oil is designed specifically to lubricate your air compressor’s parts. Engineers design air compressor motors differently from vehicle engines, so it makes sense that the oil differs.
While it might be tempting to pour a bit of motor oil into your air compressor, the detergents and other additives in the motor oil can affect the purity of your compressed air and decrease the life of your air compressor. Consult your owner’s manual for the correct type of oil for your compressor’s make and model.
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