This is kind of 240 related as the revelation came to my attention when I went to reinstall the exhaust. Almost a year ago, I replaced my Craftsman oil free shop compressor after it died with an Ingersoll Rand oil based compressor. IR stated we'll double the warranty if you use synthetic oil... cheap insurance for a $15.00 upgrade kit!

Unfortunately, I didn't see any warnings about the synthetic oil potentially attacking plastic components in the air lines (hard plumbed in my case), and the plastic bowl on the filter / water trap.

Well, went out there this evening to do the exhaust and decided using the air ratchet would speed things up, so I opened the outlet valve at the compressor, and "BANG!!!!!" ...followed by a loud hiss. I closed the valve on the compressor and looked around to find the air leak. The first thing I noticed was that the water bowl on the filter/water trap was gone, and there was a hole in the drywall right behind it! It had shattered! Only when I took the filter/water trap out of the line did I find the label that said "WARNING: DO NOT USE SYNTHETIC COMPRESSOR OIL WITH THIS DEVICE, EXPLOSION MAY RESULT"! It took a year, but that warning finally came true.

I'm just glad the compressor was in the closet, so I was "protected" from the plastic shards that flew through the garage.

Just an FYI if you ever plan on switching to synthetic air compressor oil... make sure the down-stream parts can deal with it! Yes, pressure at the compressor was set to 120PSI, and the post filter regulator was set to 60PSI.

My ears are still ringing... and I hate doing drywall work!

jorrell
--
92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

I always cringe when my 26 gallon compressor gets up to ~120psi at the tank. I use regular oil, but I'd hate to have that happen, EVER. Better the dry wall then you. Is that company going to pay you for the damages their oil causes?

I'm not holding Ingersoll Rand responsible in my mind whatsoever, as a bit of digging through the user manual found the warning. I can't even go after the manufacturer of the filter/water trap, heck it had a big ol' sticker (on the backside) that said "DON'T USE WITH SYNTHETIC OIL COMPRESSORS!"

This was strictly my fault, I initially installed the air lines, regulator, filter / water trap based on a "oil free" compressor, so all the parts I used were fine. Unfortunately, when I replaced the compressor with a "oiled unit", I didn't recheck the downstream components. My bad plain and simple.

Please just don't repeat this mistake... I got dang lucky!

jorrell
aka (Schlepprock)... Think Flintstones!
--
92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

John
Wow glad you are ok.
Thanks for the heads up.
My baby 3/4 HP Emglo has been going 21 years NBA.

Here's the down and dirty/quick and easy,fairly painless small hole sheetrock fix.
Cut a circle out of the rock,then cut another circle that just fits inside.
Screw the patch circle to a 1x1 or narrow piece of shim shingle.
Wet both surfaces,and screw the patch in place.
Mix some fixall and cement it in.
Sponge excess fixall below surface,{It doesn't sand}.
Remove stick,and hot mud with 45 min mud.
Sand to suit conditions.
--
71-145-S ; 72-145-E ; 72-1800-ES