SIMPLE TROUBLESHOOTING OF MECHANICAL VACUUM PUMPS

CONDITION
Pump will not
start.

Pump does not

reach Ultimate
pressure

Excessively
noisy pump

Pump generates
excessive smoke
or oil mist from
exhaust port

PROBABLE CAUSE

RECOMMENDED CORRECTIVE
ACTION

Power Off

Check switches and fuses

Belt/Pulley or coupling
damaged. Pulley or coupling
setscrew loose.

Check v-belt/pulley or coupling.

Room is too cold

Drain and refill pump w/warm fluid. Try

to start w/intake open to atmosphere

Pump mechanism is seized

Pump to be repaired

Pump oil is contaminated

Flush and change pump oil. Use a foreline

trap and/or pas ballast valve in future

Pump is not filled w/oil, or has

low oil level

Add recommended pump oil.

Pump has wrong oil in it.

Flush & refill w/ recommended oil

Leak in vacuum system.

Locate & eliminate leak source

Dirty foreline trap.

Gas ballast valve open

Clean out cold traps & replacement

elements in coaxial and molecular sieve
traps.
Close valve if condensable vapors are not
a problem.

Intake or exhaust lines are

restricted.

Clear and straighten out lines

V-belt or coupling damaged.

Examine v-belt or coupling and replace.

Slapping noise at ultimate

pressure is typical for some
pumps

Gas ballast slightly open will eliminate

this noise.

Inside mechanism damaged.

Pump to be repaired.

Pump overfilled with oil.

Drain excess pump oil.

Pump operating continuously

above its maximum operating
pressure.

Use larger capacity pump or modify your

vacuum system.

Gas ballast valve wide open.

Close valve or install a heavy duty

exhaust filter

Pump oil is
unusual in Color
dark and dirty

Pump does not

achieve its rated
pumping
speed.

Pump is leaking
oil Severely

Pump oil contaminated by

process gases, dirt, or other
foreign material ingested by
pump.

Flush and change pump oil. Use a foreline

trap and/or gas ballast valve in future.
Consider using an oil filtration system or
inert pump oils

Pump oil has degraded.

Gas ballast valve is plugged.

Pump was run too low on oil. The

recommended oil was not used. Pump is
running continuously above its maximum
operating pressure
Clean gas ballast valve. Flush and change
pump oil

Pump is running too cold

Exhaust or intake line is too

narrow

Pump oil is contaminated.

Flush and change pump oil. Use a foreline

trap and/or gas ballast valve in future.

Very dirty trap or intake line.

Clean out cold traps and replacement

elements in coaxial and molecular sieve
traps. Clean or replace vacuum piping.

Clogged exhaust line.

Disconnect pump from exhaust line and

run or clean clog in exhaust line.

Allow pump to run for al least an hour

until it warms up to its operating
temperature.
Install larger inner diameter tubing