Mineral Oil vs Synthetic oil

Follow the recommendations in the compressor's operating manual.

If either is useable, it just comes down to personal choice.

COST, ENVIRONMENTAL, PREFERENCE, AVAILABILITY

Synthetic oils do give you a wider range of protection (viscosity, longevity, etc.)

However, once you use synthetics in a machine, it is not recommended that you switch back to non-synthetics in that machine.

It is complex question. Synthetics are not cure all.

Generally, the reference to synthetic oil for an engine, means a lubricant is formulated with a polyalphaolefin (PAO) base oil. PAO, which is often called synthesized hydrocarbon, is pure and is compatible with mineral base oils.

However, because the PAO base oil does not dissolve additives effectively, it is usually formulated with an ester co-base (usually di-ester and/or polyol ester). The additives are soluble with the ester and the ester is soluble with the PAO.

Likewise, the PAO tends to cause seal shrinkage and the ester causes seal swelling, so the effects are offset when both base oils are present. It is the ester that can cause problems when one changes from mineral to synthetic. Ester base oil used alongside PAO base oil in lubricant formulation has excellent natural detergency. In other words, it will clean up varnish on component surfaces as a result of thermal and oxidative degradation of the lubricant. When one switches from a typical mineral-based engine oil to a typical synthetic-based oil, the varnish layer will be removed by the ester in the synthetic oil and become suspended.

This suspended material can rapidly clog filters and can block oil flow passageways and lead to component starvation. The same is true for gearboxes and other industrial machines. So think twice about switching to synthetic oils in applications where the engine or other machine has been operating for some time with mineral oils. If you decide to make the switch, try to clean the system before making the change, then monitor it carefully once you start it up.

You may also like to look up here

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/23715/conventional-vs-synthetic-oil

amongst a number of other links.