SCFM stands for Standard Cubic Feet per Minute. ACFM stands for Actual Cubic Feet per Minute. SCFM is the air volume measured at “standard conditions” which refers to atmospheric pressure (14.7 PSIA) at sea level elevation and a temperature of 68 Deg F. ACFM represents the air volume pumped at the pressure, elevation and temperature your system is operating at.

Before starting the blower fill the oil reservoir sumps through the oil fill plug or breathers until oil appears in the center of the oil sight glasses. Verify oil level is at the proper level in both gear end and drive end sight glasses. For M-D Pneumatics® CP series oil/grease lube blowers (A6), oil fill is located in gear end. Refer to the blower operator manual for approximate oil capacity per blower model. Operation of the blower without proper lubrication will cause the blower to fail and void the warranty.

One of the top three root causes of blower failure is a result of improper lubrication and quality of oil used in positive displacement blowers and boosters. The lubricant is selected based on bearing speed, gear speed and operating temperature. If the lubricant is too light, it increases wear by not separating the sliding surfaces and it will not remove the heat adequately. If the lubricant is too thick, the drag in the bearings is increased, causing them to run hotter. Thicker lubricant will not flow as readily into the gears and it will reduce the available backlash.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of proper oil and lubrication for blowers and vacuum boosters, check out this article by M-D Pneumatics®:

Benefits of Proper Oil and Lubrication for Blowers and Vacuum Boosters