oil vs oilless air compressor

Which is Better Oil or Oil-less Air Compressor?

Do you belong to carpentry, mechanical, or industrial-based work? Then you might have seen that an air compressor is the most common tool used in these professions.

To talk about picking the right air compressor, you have two options in your hand – an oil air compressor and an oil-less air compressor. And for most beginners, it is quite a challenging task to learn the difference between oil and oil-less air compressors.

This article is crafted to give you a clear idea of the topic – of oil vs oil-less air compressors.

Oil-Lubricated Air Compressor

 oil-lubricated air compressor

In an air compressor that is filled with oil, the oil works as a lubricant in cast iron to make pumps. This compressor can create a large amount of heat as well so that its user can handle high-performance work pressures.

The main features of oil air compressors are that – longer-lasting and more functional. To handle any type of heavy-duty industrial task, an oil air compressor is the best option. Moreover, being an oil-based air compressor, it creates less noise than an oil-less air compressor. Another advantage of this compressor is, less prone to wear and tear.

Highlight Feature:

  • Handle heavy-duty tasks efficiently.
  • Durable and reliable.
  • Suitable for industrial purposes.
  • Doesn’t create much noise.
  • High PSI and CFM rating.

For getting buying decision we reviewed top-rated oil-lubricated portable air compressor.

Oil-less Air Compressor

oilless air compressorThe name “oil-less air compressor” itself gives you an idea – for lubrication purposes, it doesn’t require frequent oiling. But it doesn’t mean this air compressor doesn’t require lubrication. Oil-less air compressors are pre-lubricated. They are designed to handle light-duty tasks. As a result, frequent lubrication is unnecessary.

“Teflon” is the name of the lubricant used in these air compressors. The design of an oil-less air compressor is compact, simple, and lightweight. Therefore, it is more inexpensive than an oil air compressor. An oil-less air compressor will be a good pick for home use or to accomplish a non-industrial task.

Highlight Feature:

  • Lightweight, compact, and portable.
  • Manual lubricating is unnecessary.
  • Being small in size, easy to store, even in a tight place.
  • Best-suited for home or non-industrial use.
  • Inexpensive.

Comparison Chart – Oil-less vs Oil Air Compressor

Look at the below comparison chart. It will assist you in making air compressor buying decisions more precisely.

Feature Oil Air Compressor Oil-less Air Compressor
Portability Bulky. Need to install in a place once and forever. Lightweight. Easy to carry from one place to another.
Frequent lubrication Required Pre-lubricated. Doesn’t required frequently.
Lubricating product Oil Teflon
Best for Industrial work. Home and non-industrial work.
Noise level Less High
Design Large. Compact and small.
Price Compared to an oil-less air compressor, it is expensive. Inexpensive.

Which is Better – An oil or Oilless Air Compressor?

Firstly, you have to get the answer to a few questions to determine which one will be best suited for your project.

Let’s look at the in-depth discussion.

How Much is Going to be Used?

First of all, it is significantly essential to know the frequency of using an air compressor in your project.

As stated earlier, an oil air compressor is best for heavy-duty tasks and many years of use. As a result, it requires regular maintenance to run with the same efficiency. On the other hand, the oil-less air compressor will assist you in accomplishing light work. So, it is best suited for occasional use. This means that regular maintenance is unnecessary for an oil-less air compressor.

So, first, learn the frequency of your workload.

If your workload demands regular use of an air compressor, go for an oil air compressor. Generally, commercial and industrial projects need the proper use of an air compressor.

For non-professional purposes, home, or DIY projects, an oil-less air compressor will be a wise pick.

How much noise level can you tolerate?

While this is not directly related to efficiency and performance, it has a significant role in choosing air compressor oil vs. oil-less.

If you are running a compressor somewhere, keeping the sound level down is mandatory, without thinking twice about choosing an oil air compressor.

The compact size, and oil-free air compressor create much noise that can disturb you and your neighbor. So, it would be best to use an oil-free air compressor in a soundproof room or open space.

Luckily, manufacturers are manufacturing an oil-less air compressor with less noise using modern technology.

How much maintenance work can you handle?

In the industrial or commercial production process, there is always someone monitoring the air compressor to do the maintenance. The person has to do the maintenance when necessary. So, the massive maintenance checklist of an oil air compressor is not a challenging task for them.

But if you are the only user of the air compressor, you might not spend additional time doing the maintenance. As a result, the lifespan and performance of the air compressor will start reducing.

At this point, purchasing an oil-free air compressor is a good idea. Since you will require to use it infrequently, regular maintenance is unnecessary for an oil-less air compressor.

How long do oil-less compressors last?

Since the ongoing maintenance is much lower, the lifespan of an oil-less compressor is nearly 200 hours. At the same time, a high-end oil-less air compressor delivers service for up to 2,000 hours.

What is the advantage of an oil-free air compressor?

The significant advantage of an oil-free air compressor is; that they are less maintenance. Thus, you don’t need to spend much time and money on them. Besides, it is lightweight and portable. Additionally, being pre-lubricated, it doesn’t require lubrication from time to time.

What is the best oil-free air compressor?

The best oil-free air compressor should come with the below features.

Easy to transport.
Efficient.
Compact design.
Why are oil-less air compressors so loud?
Because of their compact size, oil-less air compressors are so loud.

In summary, oil vs. oil-less air compressor – which one to choose – depends on your project requirement. Hopefully, after reading the article, picking any air compressors will be much easier for you.