Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
Can anyone explain oiled vs oilless. My thinking is, if it runs fine without oil then why incorporate oil galleries for it to flow, oil fittings that can leak, and a possibility for it to run low and seize?
Do oiled ACs run smoother, quieter, last longer than dry ones?
For homeowner use, an oiled compressor is worth the premium over an oil-less for the noise reduction. Oil is a better noise reducer than Teflon. Oiled air compressors are a lot more likely to come with air filters, which will help longevity and reduce noise. A lot of oiled compressors also have NPT threads on the intake ports that can take NPT-threaded Solberg silencers. That might not be the case with oil-less compressors. Another advantage is the piston on an oiled compressor is fully enclosed and drawing filtered air. If you look at oil-less compressors, some of them (the Husky oil-less 33 gallon at the orange box store comes to mind) have pistons exposed to whatever is in the shop's air. That unit doesn't have air filters, either. The way it's set up won't help durability much.
Oiled compressors are more work to set up initially, as well as more costly to purchase. To me, having a quieter compressor that's not merely a throwaway is worth the up-front expense of money and time.