BenchrestBob, at the upper right of this page is a search button, above your inbox button. Click that, then type in Lightning Compressor. There are pages on everyone’s replies, tips, advice, downfalls, etc. Lots of good reading.
Congratulations on your purchase. If you truly want to make this compressor last follow ALL the instructions in the manual, too the tee, and use the best fluids you can afford. I use Amsoil compressor oil, and Zerex diesel rated coolant, and follow a 60/40 ratio of distilled water to coolant. The coolant lines coming out of the tank are right against the cooling fan cover plate. In time the vibration will chafe the cooling lines. I wrapped the lines with wire loom, and anywhere the lines may be too close to heated parts.
Back to the cooling fan plate- loosen the attachment nuts and raise that plate up at minimum 3/4”, and if you can get a bit more, do so. All that will do is allow more air to freely move, and aid in the cooling process. Set your auto purge to come on every 5 minutes, and, yes, you will need to re calibrate the digital gage to a known good gage to see if the digital gage is spot on. Mine and others have been off anywhere from 150-200 psi.
lastly, go to amazon and get yourself a stick on vibration hour meter, and stick it on the black plastic bell housing cover. It’ll make the maintenance changes on your fluids easier, and Amazon also has a cover that you can buy to cover that compressor up to keep it dust free.
ive posted links to these amazon purchases many times on here, along with my notes on this compressor. You will find it using the search feature.
Good luck.