Two simple steps in the cleaning and operating process will increase the life of your sprayer and reduce down time.  Adding TSL or Piston Lube (they are basically the same) prior to operating the sprayer and adding Pump Armor (an over priced Graco product that is blue auto antifreeze) or a cheaper option automobile antifreeze to the storage water are two simple ways to take care of your investment.

Piston Lube or TSL are lubricating oils that lubricate the internal packings therefore increase the time before you have to repack the pump.  Packings are what keep a tight seal on the internal piston and allow the pump to build pressure.  When packings dry out they become brittle and wear out faster.  Paint will begin leaking past the piston and you will suffer pressure loss.  Having to repack your pump is an added expense and leads to down time.  Piston lube or TSL also keeps the paint front drying on the piston which will wear out packings.

Adding Pump Armor, Liquid Shield Plus from Titan or antifreeze to the water on final flush will help fight corrosion inside the pump and help keep paint suspended in the water if you do not get your pump throughly cleaned.  Titan LS-10 is another overpriced antifreeze option.  Even though airless sprayers are stainless steel you can still get corrosion.  A quality auto antifreeze has anti corrosive properties and is cheaper then Pump Armor or Liquid Shield Plus.  Corrosion can lead to the pump failing to prime or start up.  Paint settling and bonding to the hose will eventually release and get stuck around to prime ball leading to a tear down of the pump to remove such debris. Another cheaper option is mineral spirits but I hate this stuff as employees will mistakenly run into grass killing the grass permanently.  I know from many experiences where I had to re-sod a customers lawn.

These pump tear downs are down time that will cost you money and a major headache.  Antifreeze will help stop the paint from settling on bonding to internal parts.  Another added benefit is these products is your pump will not freeze the winter time.  If your pump freezes you can have many problems arise including damage to the internal packings or damage to the transducer.  This only leads to loss in production and down time as the sprayer is being repaired.

For more tips and tricks using an airless sprayer, visit our YouTube channel Paint Life TV.