Mattei Vane Compressor - Help Please

I have just bought a nice 3hp Mattei vane compressor. I cannot find a plate on it but it seems to be an earlier model of their Blade compressor but has been mounted on a more recent Mattei receiver.

I bought it having been told it weeps a bit of oil from the air filter housing but it runs OK and gives good air pressure ( cut off at 150psi). It’s main delight is that it is so much quieter than my old compressor which is good as my workshop is quite close to the back of our neighbours’ house.

However, the air filter is missing and the oil appears to be horribly overfilled, extraordinarily gloopy, gunky and emulsified. When draining it down the first draw off was almost pure water and the total content appeared to be about twice that which would bring oil level to the top of the ‘sight window’.

1. Should I flush with heating oil or maybe automotive flushing oil before I refill with the proper Mattei vane compressor oil?

2. Can anyone help regarding identification / sourcing a manual /sourcing a filter?

3. Do I really need to buy a full ‘service kit’ (£95!) which includes some special bits or do I only need to replace the filter?

This compressor will only get occasional light use but I would like to look after it as it seems very well engineered.

I have placed a photo of the compressor unit in my Mattei album.

Hopefully one or more of our members will have knowledge of these compressors.

TIA, John

Edited By John Paton 1 on 29/01/2022 14:35:47

Edited By John Paton 1 on 29/01/2022 15:52:03

The Mattel compressor is essentially the same design as a hydrovane so I imagine similar rules concerning care and feeding apply.

For a hydrovane rules 1 and 2 are "Don't neglect the oil.", Rule 3 being "Don't neglect the oil, we really, really mean it."

Rule 4 is always run it long enough to get it properly warmed up to drive off any moisture contamination of the oil. Hydrovane advise 15 minutes. By which time my 502 is seriously uncomfortably warm to the touch.

Rule 5 is don't keep it in the damp.

In your position I'd bite the bullet and get the full service kit. There are reasons for the seemingly extraneous bits in a hydrovane kit so I imagine Mattel is the same.

Given the state of your oil I'd reckon on 4 changes. After the first change run it up until its good and hot then drain and run for an hour or so before changing again. Hopefully the second lot will be pretty clear of crap so you can leave the 3 rd change in for a while whilst giving it regular runs up to good and warm. For the fourth time I'd do the filter again too and switch to the regular cycle. Every two years I guess for home shop use in a decent environment. No chance of hitting the must change hours.

For all practical purposes the smaller vane compressors can't be reconditioned so it makes sense to look after it.

Clive

Edited By Clive Foster on 29/01/2022 17:46:49

Thanks Clive

Sounds worrying given that the oil has clearly been neglected by the last owner and I wonder if this means it might not be worth worrying now if major damage will already have been incurred. Cost of oil changes will be eye watering if I have to do 4 changes! Perhaps I can use a cheaper unbranded oil for the first 3 changes and save the costly Mattei oil for the final fill.

I will redouble my efforts to find a manual then as there are two items in the service kit whose function / location is unclear to me and it is not obvious why they should need replacement as part of a routine service.

One is a ‘separator’ and the other the ‘oil return valve’.

All this shows how woefully ignorant I am on the workings of this type of compressor.

regards

John

I use a vane pump ! it is fed on ordinery SAE 10 hydraulic oil, I've used it for 12 years(8000 Hours) and it was second hand then. Any engine air filter that can be made to fit will work, on Monday I will get a part number that is good for this task. Noel.

Thanks Noel - may suffice for my level of use then, especially if oil has already been neglected.

I have some hydraulic oil that I use for the 4 post lift so I think I will use that for initial flushing before putting in the ‘gold dust Mattei oil.

Do you get condensate problems if running for shorter periods or do you ensure it is always run up to operating temperature before closing down?

Once you get it up and running, it might pay to change the oil annually to guard against the type of emulsifying you are seeing in the old oil.

Definitely worth the trouble to get it running. If it still runs up to 150psi there can't be anything terminally wrong with it.

You were spot on Clive, it took two flushes and 20 mins of running to clear the old sludge but she now has nice clean Mattei oil in.

Just Hope I don’t have to drain it again if and when I renew the oil separator and return valve as you recommend.

search now on to try and ID the model and get some sort of manual for it showing where those bits live.