Champion CL Series Compressed Air Line Lubricator – 36 to 1,186 SCFM (1/4" to 2" NPT)

The Champion CL Series injects a controlled oil mist into a compressed air stream to lubricate the tools, motors, cylinders and valves downstream of it. Eight sizes cover 36 to 1,186 SCFM on ports from 1/4" through 2" NPT, all rated to 200 psig. Every unit can be filled under pressure, so topping up the bowl does not mean shutting down the line, and Champion's proprietary Flow-Guide orifice holds the oil-to-air ratio steady as demand rises and falls instead of dumping oil on every flow spike.

Select your body and port size from the dropdown above.

Which Tools Need a Lubricator, and Which Must Not Have One

Air-line lubrication is not a universal good. Get this decision right before you plumb one in.

• Fit a lubricator for: impact wrenches, air drills, grinders, sanders, ratchets, rock drills, vane and piston air motors, air hoists, and most heavy-duty cylinders and valves that the manufacturer specifies as lubricated-air service. These tools rely on an oil film to survive; running them dry is the fastest way to destroy a vane set or a rotor bearing.
• Do not fit a lubricator for: paint and coating spray, food and beverage contact air, breathing air, pharmaceutical and medical air, electronics assembly, instrument and control air, or any modern pre-lubricated tool whose manufacturer says no added lubrication. In these applications oil is contamination, and the correct treatment is a coalescing filter, not a lubricator.

Because oil carries downstream and is difficult to purge from a header, always install the lubricator as the last element before the tool drop, never on a shared branch that also feeds unlubricated equipment.

Model Selection Chart

Flow capacity is rated at 150 psig with a 5 psid pressure drop. Useful retention is the working oil volume of the bowl.

Key Features

• Fill under pressure: Top up the bowl without isolating and venting the line. On a production drop this is the difference between a 30 second top-up and a shutdown.
• Flow-Guide orifice: Champion's proprietary metering design holds a consistent oil-to-air ratio across the flow range, so the tool gets the same lubrication at idle demand and at full demand.
• Quick-disconnect metal bowl: Bayonet bowl with a sight gauge and a safety warning latch that vents residual pressure before the bowl can come off.
• Sight dome: Drip rate is visible from the front, so you can set and verify the feed without a gauge.
• 200 psig maximum: Comfortably above any standard shop or plant air header.
• Modular face: Connects directly to matching Champion FRL Series filters and regulators using modular sleeves.
• Seven sizes: From a 36 SCFM 1/4" unit on a single tool drop up to 1,186 SCFM on 2" for a bank of air motors.

Shared Technical Specifications

Setting the Drip Rate

Start low and work up. A common field starting point is one drop per minute for every 10 to 15 SCFM of actual tool demand, then observe the tool exhaust: a light oil film on a white rag held near the exhaust is correct, visible oil spitting or a slick on the floor is far too much. Over-oiling is the more common fault and it is not harmless, since excess oil fouls the workpiece, coats the shop floor, and carries into the plant exhaust. Re-check the setting after any significant change to the duty cycle.

Ideal Applications

Lubricated-air tool drops in maintenance shops, fabrication bays and automotive service; air motor and air hoist feeds; rock drill and demolition tool supply; heavy-duty cylinder and valve circuits in foundries, mills and presses; and any production cell where the equipment manufacturer specifies lubricated air. The 40 and 50 Series units on 1-1/2" and 2" are sized to feed a whole bank of tools or a large air motor rather than a single drop.

Building a Complete FRL Station

A full Champion air-preparation station is built in the direction of flow: filter, then regulator, then lubricator. The lubricator goes last for a reason: put it upstream of a filter and the filter will simply strip out the oil you just paid to inject, and a coalescing element will blind in days doing it. Pair this lubricator with a Champion FRL Series filter and a Champion CR Series regulator in the matching body series. Modular sleeves, manifold blocks, shut-off valves and gauges are listed under Champion FRL Series modular accessories.

Why Buy from Air Compressor Store

Air Compressor Store is an authorized Champion Pneumatic distributor. Every CL Series lubricator ships with the full factory warranty, lifetime application support, and access to our compressed-air engineers for sizing and system design.

Also Available by Quote

Champion prices two models in this family on a consult-factory basis, so they are not listed for direct purchase: CL03-02-M00 (03 Series, 1/4", 47 SCFM, 1 oz retention) and CL26-04-G00 (26 Series, 1/2", 128 SCFM, 10 oz retention). Call us for current pricing and lead time on either.

Frequently Asked Questions

What oil do I put in it?

Use a dedicated air-tool oil, typically a light ISO VG 10 to 32 mineral oil with rust and oxidation inhibitors. Do not use motor oil, ATF, hydraulic oil or any detergent oil: detergents emulsify with the water that is always present in compressed air, and heavier oils will not atomise properly through the metering orifice, so the tool gets slugs instead of mist. Check the tool manufacturer's specification before you deviate.

How often do I refill it?

It depends entirely on duty cycle and drip rate, which is why the bowl has a sight gauge. On a 16 Series unit with 5 oz of useful retention feeding a busy tool drop, expect to check it daily to weekly. On a 26 oz 30 Series unit the interval is much longer. Build the check into your existing shift walk-round rather than waiting for a tool to start running dry.

Can I really fill it while the line is pressurised?

Yes, that is a designed feature of the CL Series. Follow the fill procedure in the unit's instructions and do not attempt to remove the bowl under pressure, which is a different operation entirely and requires the line to be isolated and vented first.

My tool is running dry even though the bowl is full. What is wrong?

Check three things in order. First, the drip rate setting, which may simply be closed off. Second, whether anything downstream of the lubricator is stripping the oil out, most commonly a filter installed in the wrong order. Third, the distance and geometry from the lubricator to the tool: oil mist does not travel well through long runs, sharp elbows or vertical drops, so a lubricator should sit within a few feet of the tool it serves.

Does a lubricator replace filtering?

No, and it makes filtering more important. Injected oil mist will pick up and carry any dirt and water already in the line straight into the tool. Always install a filter upstream.