Air compressure

[Dead pirate]

How do i check to see if the air compressor is out verses an air leak? I don't hear any leak but i lost 10 lbs everytime i hit the brakes

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[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by Dead pirate

How do i check to see if the air compressor is out verses an air leak? I don't hear any leak but i lost 10 lbs everytime i hit the brakes

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If your compressor is not working at all, you will never build air pressure.
If you have air pressure, but use it faster than you can build it... Then you may have an air leak or your compressor is going bad.
Only way I know to check for an air leak would be to let the system build full pressure, turn off the engine, and them listen/spray soapy water on all the air lines.
There are ways to check the compressor, but I am not well versed.

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[Njsurf73]

Plus, every time you press the brakes, you will use air. The compressor will have a low pressure cut in and a high pressure cut out.
So it will charge to say 110psi, then as the air is used it will bleed down to 85psi before the compressor cuts in.

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[BlackJohn]

Are there any valves right after the compressor to close the outgoing lines. Close if any and let compressor run till it shuts itself off at working pressure or runs steady. If it runs steady then it's not working or bad pressure switch likely.

John

[Dead pirate]

Originally Posted by Njsurf73

Plus, every time you press the brakes, you will use air. The compressor will have a low pressure cut in and a high pressure cut out.
So it will charge to say 110psi, then as the air is used it will bleed down to 85psi before the compressor cuts in.

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I can't tell if it's going bad but i think it is. It has been staying at 60, but i got it to move and it dropped to 20 and locked up. Now our doesn't want to charge

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[Dead pirate]

Originally Posted by BlackJohn

Are there any valves right after the compressor to close the outgoing lines. Close if any and let compressor run till it shuts itself off at working pressure or runs steady. If it runs steady then it's not working or bad pressure switch likely.

John

I think it's this cold. Ill check for the valves in the morning. I could put a tie in and fill the tank with a portable. Then i could get somewhere to really look at it

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[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by Dead pirate

I can't tell if it's going bad but i think it is. It has been staying at 60, but i got it to move and it dropped to 20 and locked up. Now our doesn't want to charge

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Good luck. Where are you at?

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[BlackJohn]

Yes, somewhere warm, inside and that things out, must be moisture involved in the system.

John

[Dead pirate]

Originally Posted by Njsurf73

Good luck. Where are you at?

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St. Louis. South city

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[Njsurf73]

Originally Posted by Dead pirate

St. Louis. South city

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It isn't much warmer out here in New England. Single digits tonight and negative for the next few days

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[Dead pirate]

Originally Posted by Njsurf73

It isn't much warmer out here in New England. Single digits tonight and negative for the next few days

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I hope it's not the compressor. It's in a tricky spot.

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[Dead pirate]

Originally Posted by BlackJohn

Yes, somewhere warm, inside and that things out, must be moisture involved in the system.

John

It's idling really rough all of a sudden too

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[Twigg]

Water in the fuel, and in the air system would explain both those symptoms.

Let it warm up a bit. Drain any water from the fuel system and maybe change the fuel filter.

See if the engine can build air-pressure when it's a bit warmer and nothing is frozen. It should build and hold 120+ psi, and it shouldn't lose 10 psi when you hit the brakes.

If the system does build pressure, you will hear any major leaks when you shut of the engine. Even small leaks make quite a noise. Leaks that can only be detected with soapy water will not throw those symptoms. They would show as the system leaking down more quickly than it should.

[Dead pirate]

Originally Posted by Twigg

Water in the fuel, and in the air system would explain both those symptoms.

Let it warm up a bit. Drain any water from the fuel system and maybe change the fuel filter.

See if the engine can build air-pressure when it's a bit warmer and nothing is frozen. It should build and hold 120+ psi, and it shouldn't lose 10 psi when you hit the brakes.

If the system does build pressure, you will hear any major leaks when you shut of the engine. Even small leaks make quite a noise. Leaks that can only be detected with soapy water will not throw those symptoms. They would show as the system leaking down more quickly than it should.

I'm going to change the fuel filter. How do i drain water from the fuel? I'm going to hit the air lines with a heat gun and blow the lines out. I'm almost sure it's a water issue now.

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[Twigg]

Originally Posted by Dead pirate

I'm going to change the fuel filter. How do i drain water from the fuel? I'm going to hit the air lines with a heat gun and blow the lines out. I'm almost sure it's a water issue now.

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You drain water from the bottom of the filter, normally.

[Dead pirate]

Originally Posted by Twigg

You drain water from the bottom of the filter, normally.

Oh

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[Iceni John]

You should be doing a DOT air brake test before each trip, and that will quickly tell you if it's OK or not. If it's not OK, you shouldn't be driving it at all until it's fixed. And drain those air tanks daily!

If you have water in the fuel tank you need to crack open the drain plug under the tank until only clean diesel comes out. Then replace the filters and/or drain the Racor separator. Water will do Very Bad Things to injectors, which in turn can cause major damage to pistons and valves. It's also not too good for injector pumps.

John

[somewhereinusa]

One of the most common fails is the air compressor governor, they are cheap and usually easy to replace. Napa should have one. I would start there.

[Dead pirate]

So final assessment: the air drier failed. Probably when it froze. Water build up in the line and the cold snap finished it off. It finally got up to 40 and it thawed. It charges up to 130. It still loses 10 psi every time i step on the brakes. If i do it in rapid succession it will drop quite a bit.

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[Robin97396]

Just for clarification it was the failed air dryer that was bleeding off your pressure?

I've been following along, like a couple hundred other people. Feeling your pain with this.