F
OR
M
ODELS
: JGI, JGM, JGN, JGP
AND
JGQ
S
ECTION
4 L
UBRICATION
PAGE 4-6
not required in the compressor frame and in fact may prove detrimental to the lubrication of
the cylinders and packing.
E
NGINE
OIL
ADDITIVES
MAY
INCLUDE
:
•
Detergents for removing deposits around the moving parts
•
Dispersants for preventing deposits from forming and soot from agglomerating
•
Corrosion inhibitors to prevent rust and corrosion
•
Antioxidants to neutralize radicals that cause oxidation of the oil
•
Anti-wear additives to help prevent metal to metal contact
•
Viscosity improvers to improve the viscosity characteristics (primarily for multi-viscos-
ity oil)
•
Pour point depressants to reduce the temperature at which the oil solidifies
•
Anti-foam agents to help break up foam from air entrainment
Ash is not an additive. It is the heavy metal residue left over when the oil burns. Some of the
additives, such as the detergents, dispersants and anti-wear additives contain heavy metals
such as calcium (Ca), barium (Ba), magnesium (Mg), phosphorous (P), Zinc (Zn) or sodium
(Na). When the oil is burnt on hot parts of the engine, these heavy metals are left behind and
build a barrier that helps prevent wear such as valve seat recession.
Engine oil will work satisfactorily in the compressor frame and in many force feed systems in
gathering or transmission applications since viscosity is the most important aspect of com-
pressor lubrication. Although engine oil is generally not the best choice for compressor lubri-
cation, operational aspects such as previous experience, inventory control, or simplicity of
maintenance practices may outweigh the benefits of using a different type of oil.
E
MULSION
One common problem with engine oil is the formation of emulsions in the compressor and/or
downstream equipment. The detergents in the oil allow the oil and water to mix. If the gas
contains enough water, it will mix with the detergents in the oil and emulsify. Usually the
emulsions will accumulate in the downstream equipment such as the scrubbers, but can
also be found in the cylinders and coolers.
To eliminate an emulsion problem, the emulsions must be completely removed and all
equipment thoroughly cleaned. Re-start the compressor using a R&O oil or some other
appropriate non-detergent based oil.
Used Engine Oil
If used engine oil is supplied for lubrication of the cylinders and packings, it must meet the
listed requirements for cylinder and packing lubrication. The oil must be appropriately filtered
(ß5=10 and ß12=75 and have an ISO 4406 cleanliness code of 17:16:14 ). Oil viscosity
must be monitored and tested to be sure of adequate quality.
Gear Oil
Gear oils are formulated for use in gear boxes or other components where components
make frequent contact (boundary lubrication). The primary difference between these and
other oils is the extreme pressure (EP) additives. The EP additives are usually sulfur or
