Dirty Oil help

[Tim2203]

The compressor was running fine ,all stages proper pressure ,(Mako 5406 4 stage ) noticed a small leak coming from crank case breather. Found the air line going in from the first stage was the problem it was sealed with what looked like gasket material. I clean it up put new gasket material on it let it sit @ 2 hours and started filling tanks again. 4-6 tanks later the compressor oil is crazy dirty. Stop using and do and oil change (oil only no filter on hand) ,-3-4 tanks later dirty again . So I’m thinking I got some gasket material in the oil ,so oil change again with filter this time ,redo gasket material being careful not to use too much or get any in system and let dry for 2 days. Start filling and 8 tanks in dirty oil . No problem what so ever with oil until I messed with breather, I did wipe the wire mesh off in the breather . Does the breather need to be cleaned or do I have a bigger problem ? No mention of any maintenance in manual that I can find. Thanks . Picture of breather and oil after last change ,no metal checked with magnet.

 

[Wookie]

What makes oil dirty is almost always carbon. Doesn't matter if it's in your Ford or your Mako. If it were me, I'd very carefully pull the first stage valves out and have a lookie loo at them. Have you recently started CBing nitrox? That will make the carbon come off in a big hurry. Maybe you have broken a ring and the carbon is getting past a piston, although you'd likely see that on a stage pressure.

lso, you said the hose running from the first stage to the breather appeared to be plugged with gasket. Do you mean sealer, like Permatex? Did you clean out the hose or just re-seal it? Are you getting years of goo that was in the hose into the breather now? Is air going out or is it sucking in? To the breather that is.

 

[Tim2203]

I cleaned the end of the hose and resealed it with permatex,I did not clean the hose . Oil was being pushed out is why I even messed with the breather .The wire mesh inside the breather had carbon on it and I wiped all I could off.It looks as if there is more down inside the breather. Any way to clean that ? Looks like a steel wool pad or similar . No nitrox .

 

[Wookie]

If oil is being pushed out the breather, you have a broken ring, which would explain the carbon in the oil. How many hours? I usually ring my 5406s around 5000 hours, more often for the 4th stage (1500 hours). I do CB nitrox, which is why I am fussy about the 4th stage.

 

[Tim2203]

740 hours I got the machine with @500 hours on it and the 500 hour service done . Guess I'll pull it down and look at the rings. Thanks

---------- Post added September 18th, 2015 at 01:38 PM ----------



---------- Post added September 18th, 2015 at 01:40 PM ------

---------- Post added September 18th, 2015 at 01:43 PM ----

---------- Post added September 18th, 2015 at 01

---------- Post added September 18th, 2015 at 01:47 PM --------

---------- Post added September 18th, 2015 at 01:49 PM ----------

740 hours I got the machine with @500 hours on it and the 500 hour service done . Guess I'll pull it down and look at the rings. Thank

Wookie , the oil leak on the breather was from the hose going into the breather not the breather it self . Does that still make you think broken ring ?