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Airpac Lubricant?

What are you using in your AIRPACKS?

  • Military OHT

    Votes: 3 7.0%
  • Commercially available Air Tool Oil

    Votes: 35 81.4%
  • DOT 5 Brake Fluid

    Votes: 1 2.3%
  • Motor Oil

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other

    Votes: 4 9.3%

  • Total voters
    43

wsucougarx

Well-known member
6,951
67
48
Location
Washington State
Keep getting mixed answers on this one. Want to see what the consensus is.
What lubricant do you use in your airpacks?? I know I know, I don't like polls either but this get the point across without reading through all the posts
 

two.fiveM35

Active member
1,234
11
38
Location
Victoria , Texas
I have the tool oil on the work bench, but can'nt get the square plug out to put the oil in. I'm affraid to force it and break it. So i guess my vote does not count since I have never actually put it in.
 

Floridianson

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
7,409
2,503
113
Location
Interlachen Fl.
I have the tool oil on the work bench, but can'nt get the square plug out to put the oil in. I'm affraid to force it and break it. So i guess my vote does not count since I have never actually put it in.

Believe in the force OB. I have had some so tigh that it took vise grips and rounded the head but it came out and I just put in new plug.Try and you will get it and my vote was air tool oil. Don't know who voted for brake fluid but HELL0 call air pack ???????
 

Ferroequinologist

Resident railroad expert
Steel Soldiers Supporter
4,810
742
113
Location
Liberty Hill, SC
I lubricate mine with air. and water, and carry over oil from the compressor. Actually the last time I had to oil one I used SAE 30wgt oil, as I had some in a oil can. :grd:
 

doghead

4 Star General /Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
26,246
1,179
113
Location
NY
I think a poll with the wrong choices will be misleading to others that don't know what they should use.

I know this topic has been answered in the past.

Air tool oil, 3 in 1 oil, hydraulic oil, hytrans oil, OHT are all good choices.

Just a few drops is all that's needed about twice a year.

A search for OHT, will yield a few good threads.
 

KsM715

Well-known member
5,149
142
63
Location
St George Ks
In the snow or on your foot. Oh wait you mean the oil. Good question, Ive never looked that close at the airpack.
 

gimpyrobb

dumpsterlandingfromorbit!
27,786
755
113
Location
Cincy Ohio
You put it in the port(there is either a hex screw or square plug screw) in the "can" at the rear of the air pack. That is for the "old" style with the long can. The new style with the short can has no extra port, so you would have to remove the "J"tube to insert any lubrication.
 

jatonka

Well-known member
1,802
87
48
Location
Ephratah, New York
OHT is Oil, Hydraulic Temperate. It is the Military recommended oil. But, I have learned that adding it to the plug at the rear of the air pac is not as good as adding it to the incoming airline at the front of the air pac. Adding to the rear doesn't get into the valves at all. Adding to the front incoming airline gets the OHT into the 2 valves. I do know that adding too much to the rear plug area ruined 2 airpacs that I serviced a couple of years ago. We have been rebuilding 2 1/2 ton and 5 ton airpacs for a short while and it is easy to see that the OHT needs to be put in where the air can move iit through the entire air pac. JT out
 

ctmustang

Member
714
1
18
Location
Thomasville-N.C.
OHT is Oil, Hydraulic Temperate. It is the Military recommended oil. But, I have learned that adding it to the plug at the rear of the air pac is not as good as adding it to the incoming airline at the front of the air pac. Adding to the rear doesn't get into the valves at all. Adding to the front incoming airline gets the OHT into the 2 valves. I do know that adding too much to the rear plug area ruined 2 airpacs that I serviced a couple of years ago. We have been rebuilding 2 1/2 ton and 5 ton airpacs for a short while and it is easy to see that the OHT needs to be put in where the air can move iit through the entire air pac. JT out
I agree but I also pull the can off the airpack once a year and clean it out
and apply a silicone grease to the can and o-ringseal on the piston. I also put the oil in the airline. So far never had an airpack malfunction.
CT
:deadhorse:
 

Bill W

Well-known member
1,985
45
48
Location
Brooks,Ga
Used BFS (Dot 5) to lube the airpac in my first deuce , that was over 10 years ago and that truck still has the same airpac in it
 
Last edited:

Kohburn

New member
655
6
0
Location
SOMD
why not add an inline airtool oiler to the the airpacks airline

I know some systems you want clean dry air, but it seems that it would be very beneficial to the airpack.
 

cranetruck

Moderator
Super Moderator
Steel Soldiers Supporter
10,350
75
48
Location
Meadows of Dan, Virginia
The in-line tool oiler works on the same principle as adding oil to the back (large cylinder) of the airpak, the oil mixes with the air. The large cylinder acts as a reservoir (like the in-line tool oiler).
Adding oil at the "front" of the unit makes sense, but then you'd need an actual in-line oiler with reservoir or else add a drop of oil very frequently for it to do any good IMHO.
When the air is expelled from the large cylinder it exits via the valves with some of the oil as a mist. The alcohol evapoator works on the same principle.
 
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