| Author |
Message |
captain ron (207.30.240.182)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 11:07 pm: | |
I just drained my air tank and it seemed to be full of motor oil. on my regular compressor the fluid is usualy light brown but this looked like motor oil or skanky 3 day old coffee. is this normal? |
TWO DOGS (65.177.145.6)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 11:12 pm: | |
it's oil from the compressor...depends how much and how long it has been since you drained it...yep...it mixes with water the separates then coagulates...smells bad...drain every 1000 miles...note how much next time...catch it in a jar... |
Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.132)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 11:16 pm: | |
You need a rebuilt compressor, it is not normal. Just hope it hasn't worked its way into the relay valves or you'll be changing those too. |
captain ron (207.30.240.182)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 11:30 pm: | |
I recently purchased the bus and is the first time I've drained it. drove it from north west michigan to south west florida. have no idea how long before that. it also has had a lot of idle time. |
TWO DOGS (63.185.96.107)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 12:44 am: | |
that's why you need to have a 'time/distance' thing....it might have been YEARS since it was drained....bet you have more than one..my Eagle has 5 .....how long does it take to build up air ? |
BrianMCI96A3 (65.40.154.98)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 8:30 am: | |
Sounds like the compressor needs to be rebuilt, but you might try TwoD's sampling method, if you get even half as much out next time, the compressor needs replacement.
With that much stuff in the tank it's advisable to rebuild your air dryer too, the desicant inside the dryer can get saturated and at that point stop removing moisture from your system.
Brian |
Jack Conrad (Jackconrad) (172.153.138.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 10:06 am: | |
Capt. Ron,
Where in SW Fl. do you live. We are presently in SC on vacation, but live near Acradia. Jack |
mel 4104 (208.181.100.94)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 10:16 am: | |
you have just learned why you do a pre trip inspection before you move the bus. those air tanks are to be checked every day when traveling. this one of the items that they hammer at you when you go for your air brake lic. up here , if you do not drain the tanks you fail no if or ands about it. the air tanks can collect a lot of water in the from the air. and if the painted warriors pull you over and check that tanks and they have nore than a 1/2 cup of water or junk in them them your troubles really start. ticket, tow bill, repair bill, gov. inspection fee,and parts. so you might like to brain those tanks before every trip. also this is when you will get the first hint that your compressor is in need of repair. |
Sean Welsh (Sean) (64.81.73.194)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 1:26 pm: | |
Mel,
Most states do not require pre-trip inspections on private vehicles, nor do they have the authority to check your air tanks during a traffic stop without "probable cause". Those rules generally only apply to commercial vehicles.
Of course, I am a big advocate of doing a pre-trip inspection to commercial standards anyway, from a safety standpoint. But don't get everyone all pannicky here...
-Sean |
Tim Jones (Torquester) (12.73.173.160)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 9:36 pm: | |
Hi All,
You might not believe this, (I didn't at first) the bus drivers where I work are instructed NOT to drain the tanks, EVER !
At first, I thought this was rather strange. The thought process is that drivers will not do it anyway and the technicians wouldn't know if a problem was developing.
We live and operate in a fairly dry climate here in Colorado. All of the busses are equipped with Bendix AD-4 or AD-9 driers.
The tanks are checked ONCE PER YEAR, during their annual inspection. What we find is dry air most of the time. Sometimes we get small amounts of oil which prompts us to rebuild the driers and check the compressors.
The bottom line is that the drier's job is to EXPELL oil and water, and they work quite well.
Kinda' interesting huh?
I check my tanks.
Safe travels, Tim |
mel 4104 (208.181.100.66)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 9:49 pm: | |
Sean , when it comes to your brakees it sure does not hurt to be picky as a bus in com. serviceis no more dangerous on the road than a private coach so when it comes to looking after the brakes that to me is number one for me , having a air tank full of water and junk is not the way to operate my unit. being able to stop when you want and need to is very important. here in Canada we do not have a 'probable cause' law and if the painted warriors want to check the rig it is their call. if your rig is in a smash up and the first thing they will check is the air tanks for water and if it does not look like you have draind it lately you will pay. i have seem private buses with so much water in all their tanks that when you make 2 rapid brake applications the warning lite for low air comes on.the owners had the unit for 2 years of driving with out an air endorsement on their lic. so knew nothing about air tanks. other people have had cold weather freeze the water and bust air tanks, valves and air lines. so you figure out if it is pannicy or just good driving to do a pre trip, which includes draing the stuff out of the tanks. |
Sean Welsh (Sean) (64.81.73.194)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 12:17 am: | |
Mel,
First, let me offer my sincere apology to you and to all Canadians for being the "ugly American" (or is that the "ugly US-ian?) and forgeting, in the typical arrogant US way, that this board has a broader reach. Especially rude in light of the fact that this board in fact originates in Canada!
Of course, I was speaking of the law here in the states. And I did not mean to imply that folks here should neglect their brakes, only that the sometimes draconian enforcement measures visited upon commercial rigs are generally not applicable to private coaches (and thus: don't panic that suddenly law enforcement will be targeting us for road-side inspections).
This prompts me to ask, though: Is it the case in the Canadian provinces that an air brake endorsement is required for non-commercial drivers of private, converted coaches? If so, does that also apply to US-licensed drivers coming in to Canada from the states without such?
-Sean
p.s. I couldn't check my tank drains even if I wanted to -- it requires a pit. I have to rely on regular service visits (and a good Bendix dryer) to ensure my air system is in good shape. For that matter, I can't get to my slack adjusters either! |
Bob (Bobb) (65.88.96.76)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 12:28 am: | |
I can answer that, at least for British Columbia.. an air brake endorsement is required for any vehicle which uses air brakes, if you are licensed in BC. However, if your state or province does not require such an endorsement, then you can operate the same vehicle without such an endorsement.
In a similar matter, US citizens may use US Coast Guard approved life jackets while in Canada, but Canadians may not. Americans must float differently. I love bureaucracy. Our softwood is still better. ;) |
Derek (24.85.245.203)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 4:05 am: | |
"I can answer that, at least for British Columbia.. an air brake endorsement is required for any vehicle which uses air brakes, if you are licensed in BC. However, if your state or province does not require such an endorsement, then you can operate the same vehicle without such an endorsement. "
Here's vouching for Alberta, same deal. You need air brake certification for private or commercial, unless you're not licensed in Alberta.
Best to carry a copy of the license requirements for your vehicle and the license requirements from your home state along with all of your paperwork, just in case. |
mel4104 (208.181.100.104)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 10:24 am: | |
sean no offence taken ,just because i live on the other side of a border than you, does not make any differance to me as i have found that regardless US_CAN people still tell bad jokes about the heads of state. also their a lot of us out here that do not use the auto dump but still do this manually that way i can see if anything is not right under there.. good luck |
R.J.Bob Evans (64.110.227.72)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 1:12 pm: | |
Air endorsement also required in Saskatchewan. Plus you need at a minimum an RV special endorsement if the combined weight of your rig and anything you are towing exceeds 10,000# |
TWO DOGS (65.177.144.108)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 2:52 pm: | |
air brakes are WONDERFUL...think everybody that has them,needs to know how they work,how to adjust,how to maintain the system...even if you have to take a course on them...nothing you learn will hurt you,the things you DON'T learn hurt you |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.211.226)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, May 14, 2004 - 9:45 pm: | |
Hello all.
Same for Ontario:
air brake endorsement for an air brake equipped vehicle, regardless of how it is registered.
Class of licence required is based on vehicle configuration and/or weight, again regardless of registration.
Trailer too heavy, converted coach too heavy, too many seats in the vehicle, up goes the licence class required.
Lots of folks don't know these things local on the ground around here.
As for tank draining:
Best to give the tanks a drain once in a while.
You aren't looking for the regular stuff to come out, you're looking for the irregular: Evidence of the compressor passing oil is number one. Breaking the rings will lead to an untimely death of your compressor, versus simply slowly wearing out. Up until today, no oil, suddenly a puddle of black goo. You want to know this.
Next, over time, the decay of the desicant in your air dryer will be evident in a slowly increasing amount of moisture in the tanks for a given operational time.
Let's keep draining tanks in perspective.
Checking for proper brake adjustment periodically is something much more worthy of discussion and concern.
Do you measure, or do you just tighten up and back off and drive away?
Perhaps you want to measure....
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
Johnny (4.174.106.136)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 8:18 pm: | |
When I took my CDL test, there was nothing about draining air tanks involved. |
TWO DOGS (65.179.201.14)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 16, 2004 - 10:22 pm: | |
these later model trucks have a burp mech. in them.....also later model trucks have self-adjusting slack adjusters....it would be worth your money to find a truck driveing instructor that will walk you thru...the brake system.. |
Johnny (4.174.103.16)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 9:16 pm: | |
I trained on a 1984 Ford L8000. I know how to do it, but wasn't tested on it.
I drive a 1972 Ford F-800 regularly. |