IR P185WIR & XP185WIR Troubleshooting: Excessive Oil in Discharge Air
Seeing oil mist or droplets in your compressed air line? That’s more than just a mess—it’s a warning sign. If your Ingersoll Rand P185WIR or XP185WIR is passing oil into the discharge air, it’s time to track down the cause and clean it up fast. Here’s where to look and what to fix.
What Causes Oil in the Discharge Air?
- High oil level: Overfilling the system can cause oil to enter areas it shouldn’t—like your air line.
- Compressor not level (more than 15°): When your unit isn’t level, oil doesn’t circulate or scavenge properly.
- Clogged scavenge orifice: When blocked, the orifice prevents separated oil from returning to the system.
- Scavenge tube blocked: This causes oil to back up in the separator and get blown out with the air.
- Defective scavenge check valve: If the valve is stuck closed or leaking, oil can’t return to the sump as it should.
- Separator tank blown down too quickly: Dumping pressure too fast stirs up oil and sends it downstream.
- Defective minimum pressure valve: If this valve isn’t holding back pressure properly, it can disrupt the separation process.
- Defective separator element: A ruptured or worn-out element won’t separate oil from air effectively.
Recommended Fixes
- Check and correct the oil level before starting the unit.
- Make sure the compressor is parked on level ground (within 15° front to back and side to side).
- Inspect and clean the scavenge orifice to remove any sludge or debris.
- Remove and clean the scavenge tube to ensure unrestricted flow.
- Replace a stuck or leaky check valve to restore one-way oil flow.
- Use the recommended shutdown process—don’t open the service valve too fast after stopping the unit.
- Replace the minimum pressure valve if it's sticking or leaking.
- Install a new separator element if the old one is damaged or oil-logged.
Wrap-Up
Oil in your air is more than a maintenance issue—it can damage tools and ruin downstream equipment. Keeping the scavenging and separator systems clean and functional will protect both your compressor and everything connected to it.