The Rolair 6590HK18-0072 6.5 HP Honda Gas Powered Compressor is a contractor-grade air compressor for crews that need dependable compressed air where electric power is not practical. This is a gas powered compressor designed for portable air supply on jobsites and remote work areas. Model Number 6590HK18-0072. If extension cords and generators are slowing you down, this setup takes them out of the equation.

The engine is a 6.5 horsepower Honda 4-cycle with a die-cast aluminum alloy block, cast-iron sleeve and overhead valves. It has a retractable starter, an on/off switch, splash lubrication and low oil shutdown. That last feature matters more than it sounds: if the oil level drops, the engine shuts itself down before it damages itself, which protects the investment on a crew where not everyone checks the oil every morning.

On the air side, Rolair uses a heavy-duty single-stage pump with cast-iron twin cylinders, ball bearings and splash lubrication. Cast-iron valve plates with Swedish lamellar reed valves and aluminum alloy connecting rods with automotive-style inserts are the parts that separate a pump built to be rebuilt from one built to be replaced. The multi-finned 11" flywheel helps cool the pump, and an oil sight gauge makes daily checks quick.

Standard equipment is set up for field duty. Automatic pilot valve operation and automatic idle control let the engine idle down between air demand cycles instead of running at full throttle all day, which helps fuel economy and long service life. An air-cooled aftercooler, an industrial flexible discharge hose, an intake filter with silencer and replaceable element, a Schmidt belt tightening device, a safety relief valve and a totally enclosed steel belt guard are also standard.

The pressure gauge reads 0 to 200 PSI in 5 lb graduations, so you get a clear read on system pressure when you are running air tools that need consistent pressure to perform. For long runs from the compressor to the work area, Rolair also makes the 38100NOODLE 3/8" x 100' hybrid air hose.

At 185 lbs, this is a wheeled unit built for output and durability, not light carry. It is aimed at contractors, service crews and anyone who understands the tradeoff between portability and a compressor that holds up when it is used like a tool every day.

Who should buy it? Pros who need compressed air away from permanent power: framing and roofing crews on new construction, equipment service trucks and remote site maintenance. For occasional garage use, a smaller electric compressor makes more sense. For daily field work, the Honda engine and cast-iron pump are exactly what you are paying for.

The Rolair 6590HK18-0072 6.5 HP Honda Gas Powered Compressor Is Field Air Done Right

A Honda engine on a cast-iron twin-cylinder pump is the combination you want when the compressor is running all day, every day, miles from an outlet.

• Who it's for: Crews working on sites without convenient power who need a rugged, wheeled gas compressor.
• Why it stands out: Low oil shutdown, automatic idle control, an aftercooler and an enclosed steel belt guard on top of a pump built to be serviced.
• Worth knowing: At 185 lbs it is built for work, not casual garage use. Plan on two people to load it.

• Is this an electric or gas powered compressor? Gas. It runs on a 6.5 HP Honda 4-cycle engine.
• Does the engine have low oil protection? Yes. The Honda engine includes low oil shutdown.
• What kind of pump does it use? A heavy-duty single-stage pump with cast-iron twin cylinders, ball bearings and splash lubrication.
• Does it idle down when air is not needed? Yes. Automatic idle control with automatic pilot valve operation reduces engine speed between air demand cycles.