Air Compressor Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting help to diagnose and fix air compressor problems quickly — and minimize unscheduled production downtime. Steps that apply across rotary screw, reciprocating, and diesel-driven systems.

Start with your compressor type, or jump straight to the symptom. Every problem page starts with the quick checks you can do in 5–10 minutes, then walks through the likely causes one by one.

Start with your compressor type

General Compressed Air Problems22 pages Screw Compressor Troubleshooting44 pages Reciprocating Piston Compressor Troubleshooting48 pages Portable Diesel Air Compressor Troubleshooting60 pages

Or jump straight to the symptom

• Compressor won't startscrew · piston · diesel
• Low pressure / can't reach setpointany system
• Overheatingscrew · piston · diesel
• Oil in compressed airany system
• Water in compressed airany system
• Pressure dropany system
• Compressor won't loadscrew · diesel
• Safety valve blowsscrew
• Unusual noise / knockingscrew · piston · diesel
• Overload relay tripsscrew · piston
• High energy useany system
• Engine starts then shuts downdiesel

Got a rotary screw compressor and want to fix problems quickly? Get my Air Compressor Troubleshooting Guide — the complete reference for diagnosing and fixing rotary screw compressor problems.

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• Compressor shut off will not start.Answered Jan 2026
• cat with low compressionAnswered Jan 2026
• Maximum Temperature limitation for screw air-endAnswered Jan 2026
• devilbiss IRL6560VAnswered Jan 2026
• Temperature Alup Largo160Answered Jan 2026
• Bill WallerAnswered Jan 2026

Can't find yours? Ask your question — I answer in the open, so everybody learns from it.

Before you open the cabinet

• Air compressor safetyStored pressure, mains voltage, hot oil. Read this once.
• How the different compressor types workKnowledge base