HighOctane
New member
I’ve been blowing through the cheap harbor freight ones ($500) roughly once a year. Looking for a solid compressor that I won’t have to replace.
Car Wash Forum
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What’re yall using for an air compressor?
- Thread starter HighOctane
- Start date
soonermajic
Well-known member
Polar Air by Eaton.
Seriously, look on Craigslist & FB Market. You will find a good old compressor. It will last ya 50 yrs!
Seriously, look on Craigslist & FB Market. You will find a good old compressor. It will last ya 50 yrs!
It all depends on how much air you really need. I have a 4 bay shelf Serve and I need air for my foam brush system, I only have one Flo-jet pump and use air to make it foam. So I don't require a lot of air. So I use a 20 gallon air compressor. Back in 1995 on the night before I was due to go on vacation my air compressor died. All I could find was a 20 gallon Sanborn. I figured that I'd use it until it died. That air compressor is still running today. In that time I had to replace the start switch in the motor and replace the pressure switch. About a year ago I decided to retire the Sanborn and replaced it with a 20 gallon Industrial Air https://www.ruralking.com/industrial-air-compressor-1-6hp-horz-20-gal-v-twin it seems to be working ok. What problems are you having with the Harbor Freight air compressor? A oil less air compressor won't hold up at a car wash. You want a air compressor to run slow, it's the heat that destroys the air compressor.
Waxman
Super Moderator
20 years ago I built my wash and installed a Champion Centurion II. I still consider it one of the best pieces of equipment I own today. I change the oil and filter once a year. I've never even changed the belt. it needed exactly one repair in that time. The copper tubing that connects the motor to the tank began to leak and I had a plumber solder it for me. That's it. It seemed really expensive at the time, the price of this compressor. But given it's amazing track record of reliability I'd say it was well worth it. My salesman's name was Tony Andreozzi and he worked at air compressor rebuilders in Leominster.
I'm surprised the cheap harbor freight has not been lasting even six months. If I recall MEP had reasonably good luck with them.
Regardless of brand shop for one with a 100% duty cycle. Also, a three phase model doesn't have internal motor switches or capacitors which in the long run is going to make it more reliable so if that's an easy choice if you don't mind spending the money and have three phase readily avaiable. But at a SS only wash the three phase model is probably overkill
As far as single phase choices, I have a Quincy QT54 at a 5/2 wash. It is probably eight years old. I have had to have the motor start switch replaced once but otherwise it's been great. It's about 2K now so not cheap, but if you're burning through cheaper compressors it might be worth a look.
At the other wash I have the Quincy QT5 three phase that runs at a lower RPM than the QT54 and is pretty quiet. This is at a pretty busy 4/2 and it just hums right along. It's about 10 years old and has worked great. However, it's definitely overkill for your wash.
Regardless of brand shop for one with a 100% duty cycle. Also, a three phase model doesn't have internal motor switches or capacitors which in the long run is going to make it more reliable so if that's an easy choice if you don't mind spending the money and have three phase readily avaiable. But at a SS only wash the three phase model is probably overkill
As far as single phase choices, I have a Quincy QT54 at a 5/2 wash. It is probably eight years old. I have had to have the motor start switch replaced once but otherwise it's been great. It's about 2K now so not cheap, but if you're burning through cheaper compressors it might be worth a look.
At the other wash I have the Quincy QT5 three phase that runs at a lower RPM than the QT54 and is pretty quiet. This is at a pretty busy 4/2 and it just hums right along. It's about 10 years old and has worked great. However, it's definitely overkill for your wash.
edredtop
Well-known member
When I bought my first car wash I needed a compressor and was on a tight budget. I went to Harbor Freight with a 20% off coupon and bought a 21 gallon compressor thinking I'd replace it in a few years. At the 10 year mark it was time to rotate it out and I replaced it with another new Harbor Freight compressor, 10 years later I rotated that one out for a third, that was last year (they now make a 20 gallon.) All of my washes from a 6 bay to a busy 3 bay use the same compressor and I always keep a brand new one at home to break in and as an emergency backup. The only failure I've had was a reed set that cost me less than $15 to replace.
Which model air compressor are you using from Harbor Freight Ed?
I'm kind of surprised that those air compressors would last that long. A lot of the box store air compressors are made by MAT industries and private labeled.
One of the best things I ever did was install a second air compressor that automatically kicks on if the first one dies. No air is a big deal, especially if there’s auto washes.
edredtop
Well-known member
Several times I've come into the equipment rooms where an air leak developed between visits and its obviously been running for hours if not a day or two continuously and I've just drained the water and oil and it keeps going. I'm not pro-Harbor Freight by any means, I was a Snap-on, Mac tool guy for some time in the past, but when I started noticing they were slapping their stickers on the exact same specialty tools like an automotive radiator pressure tester as HF was selling, I became less brand loyal and more 'what makes financial sense while maintaining a risk adverse posture.' I'm able to respond to a compressor failure inside of an hour by keeping a spare at home and I know it's working by checking the cameras when my customers use the low pressure functions. By no means am I implying this is the 'right way' to do it, just sharing what's worked for me.
A 2 bay self serve car wash isn't going to need a lot of air, try the compressor Ed is using from Harbor Freight
https://www.harborfreight.com/20-gallon-135-psi-oil-lube-vertical-shopauto-air-compressor-64857.html
trinityspeedwash
Member
When looking at Harbor Freight, make sure you get an oil-lubed compressor. Previous owner at my wash left me with a non-lube compressor, and it gave up after a month or so.
I have a 20 gallon habor freight compressor. Change the oil regularly to keep it running and so far no problems. It's been about a year.
I have a 20 gallon habor freight compressor. Change the oil regularly to keep it running and so far no problems. It's been about a year.
soapy
Senior Member
Prior to being in the car wash business our family was in the tire business and we used a lot of air. QUnicy or industrial Ingersol Rand compressors were all we used. We had several QUincy compressors that ran for 30 plus years in that business without any issues. I hav e 3 Quincy air compressors going on 30 years now in the car wash business and still working with no issues ever.
