how often do you change oil?

In your home air compressor.(electric) I have one that runs air tools mostly but occasionally paint guns. Usually run for an hour or two a week. (actual run time) I tend to change the oil once a year. Is this enough, excessive? What are your thoughts?

 

Hmmm. I have never changed mine in the 7 or 8 years I have owned it. I topped it off with synthetic oil last summer. It was just a touch brown and a touch down.

 

My old one I changed when I first got it and that was it, sold it 6 years later still going strong.

 

wow. I expected to hear that I was not doing it regularly enough. learning new things every day.

 

It isn't an internal combustion engine, so there isn't any "burning" going on to oxidize it or add any carbon deposits to it. There isn't even a filter on it, like on an "engine".

So, in my opinion, it is just a reservoir of oil used as a lubricant. It doesn't go through a significant heat/cool cycle, so it likely doesn't break down.

If I pulled the dipstick out and saw that it was very dark and nasty looking, I would swap it. But mine always looks pretty clear and clean, and since it is synthetic, I am not going to swap it until it looks nasty. I just top it off if it needs it.