| Author |
Message |
Laryn Christley (Barn_owl)
Registered Member
Username: Barn_owl
Post Number: 101
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 70.110.13.133
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2008 - 12:14 am: | |
Quick question: How much oil do you all get past your air compressor? When I dump my air tanks I get some grey spray. Just wondering when is it too much, and does it do any harm?
Laryn |
Lee Brady (Leeb11)
Registered Member
Username: Leeb11
Post Number: 44
Registered: 10-2001
Posted From: 74.209.35.121
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2008 - 10:06 am: | |
Laryn
You may need to replace the air filter on your compressor.If it is cloged up it will suck oil past the rings.You should get a trace to no oil out of your tanks.Check your filter it is on the side and is round,you can get one at most parts houses.It will take a while to get all the oil out of your tanks if that is your problem.
Happy New Year
Lee 66 01 |
J.L.Vickers (Roadrunnertex)
Registered Member
Username: Roadrunnertex
Post Number: 35
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 71.52.80.249
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2008 - 10:56 am: | |
Previous post information.
The GMC 4104/06's & 07/08 through the later 4900 Buffalo's do not have that type of a air filter on the on the inlet side of the air compressor.
It's has a air inlet pipe from the air inlet side of the engine.
jlv |
Florida Cliff (Floridacracker)
Registered Member
Username: Floridacracker
Post Number: 362
Registered: 7-2004
Posted From: 24.27.228.156
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2008 - 6:07 pm: | |
Laryn,
I had the same oil, gray goup you were having.
Ended up putting on a rebuilt compressor, two trips and its all blown out, nothing but a little moisture and air out of the wet tank now!
Cliff
4905A |
Debbie and Joe Cannarozzi (Joe_camper)
Registered Member
Username: Joe_camper
Post Number: 81
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 71.239.202.82
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2008 - 7:17 pm: | |
What about your air dryer? When those silicone bead get real old they break down and that is what happens they end up as gray matter in the air tanks. If your comp. is pushing oil it will be black. I have driven truck for almost 30 yrs now. Something I have learned about these air compressors is they are fire and ice. Sometimes you get a good one and they will last 1000000 miles, AKA my current Peterbilt, and I have seen them begin to push oil after 200000. On a side note I have never seen a catastrophic failure on one they will continue to pump air even after the point that they are pumping more oil than air. Yes it is harmful. If you have any air accessories in the bus it will exhaust that stuff every time you use it. In the cold it will cause havoc with all the valves as well. Fix it sooner than later. Anytime a compressor is changed because of this you can be assured that the air dryer is a mess too. |
Douglas Wotring (Tekebird)
Registered Member
Username: Tekebird
Post Number: 282
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 71.59.75.212
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2008 - 7:19 pm: | |
air dryers were not OEm on GM's till the very end |
john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member
Username: Chessie4905
Post Number: 800
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 71.58.48.5
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2008 - 7:43 pm: | |
Oil mixed with moisture in your air system will be grey, not black.Check Bendix site as to how much oil you are getting out of your tank is within acceptable range. Probably a tablespoon every so many hours of operation.One thing that is suggested but rarely done is to leave your main tank drain open at least overnight to let all the oil clinging to the sides drain out of the tank. Sort of like draining oil jugs to get the last out. These coaches aren't going to get the life out of the compressor as the OTR trucks do. RPMs are higher, more air is consumed due to the air suspension, coach operation is usually more intermittant. I don't know if the trucks now have the compressor completely disengage when not calling for air, whereas the ones on the coaches run all the time; just unload when not pumping air. Joe is right about life of rebuilt compressors- sometimes you will get a bum one. If I was replacing mine, I'd try to get a genuine Bendix rebuilt one, since most people are only going to do this once. |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member
Username: Buswarrior
Post Number: 1145
Registered: 12-2000
Posted From: 76.68.121.28
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 02, 2008 - 8:59 pm: | |
Hello Laryn.
Change the compressor, and service your air dryer, if one has been retrofitted.
Air compressor has a core value, trade it in for a direct replacement.
You don't want the trouble that used engine oil in the air system causes. Engine oil has combustion byproducts in it, which means corrosive acids, not the best for air valves and seats.
Air dryers were invented by Bendix in 1970 and were, and still are, optional equipment.
(side note, Greyhound still was not optioning them as of 1975, I don't know when they finally got their act together...)
A great upgrade for those who do not have one, and something easily maintained by those who do.
happy coaching!
buswarrior |
Douglas Wotring (Tekebird)
Registered Member
Username: Tekebird
Post Number: 283
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 71.230.10.75
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 03, 2008 - 1:11 pm: | |
bus warrior:
Until the late 70's Greyhound had Good maint, buses were serviced every day or so so no need for a dryer when the tanks are drained daily
although they do alieviate the headach of draining tanks daily they are not fool proof..and a frozen dryer valve can stick you on the side of the road just as easy as a frozen air line |
Moe Hollow (Moehollow)
Registered Member
Username: Moehollow
Post Number: 18
Registered: 12-2007
Posted From: 68.183.235.168
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 05, 2008 - 8:41 pm: | |
My old bus (a 67 Superior) had an air dryer that was bypassed and I replaced it. I was also getting oil in the tanks, but, since I found that the governor was bad and the compressor was virtually running all the time, I was not sure if changing the governor, which I did, would solve the problem. The bus is in storage and I have not used it since the fixes, so I will have to wait to find out. I never noticed a filter, but I will have to look. Do you think I might not have to change the compressor also? |
john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member
Username: Chessie4905
Post Number: 803
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 71.58.48.5
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, January 06, 2008 - 9:55 am: | |
Good chance the governor finished off the compressor, but I'd do a complete tank drain while it is sitting; open all drain petcocks and leave open for a couple of weeks to get all of the oil to drain out. When you run it in the spring, you can check then how much oil you get accumulated in the tanks. Maybe not that much if you are lucky, if not, then you can replace the comp. |
FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member
Username: Fast_fred
Post Number: 183
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 66.90.229.132
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 6:49 am: | |
WE prefer the air brake jar of alcohol to the drier system.
Far less costly and time to maintain , and it helps any oil get out the pull valves , when in use.
KISS
FF |
john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member
Username: Chessie4905
Post Number: 812
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 71.58.48.5
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 - 1:18 pm: | |
It's better than nothing and CHEAPER, but the air dryer is the way to go these days, like electric starters. However, do it your way Fred. |
FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member
Username: Fast_fred
Post Number: 190
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 66.90.229.32
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 6:46 am: | |
but the air dryer is the way to go these days,
Of course the air drier is serviced on TIME , not usually miles , so weather you run 5,000 miles or 200,000 a year the service and expense is the same.
No thanks , we run for pleasure.
FF |
john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member
Username: Chessie4905
Post Number: 815
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 71.58.48.5
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 2:58 pm: | |
Service is not the same or necessary at 5000 miles. If the system is not getting oil or moisture in the air system. Freightliner recommends 3 years on their recreational vehicles using the AD-9 air dryer- more or less time is if system is or is not performing properly per their online service bulletins. BTW, Bendix does not recommend the use of alcohol in their systems per bulletin TCH-008-042 dated 05-03-2007 online at Bendix web site. Do it your way though. Also, check Da Book on inspect, disassemble, clean and service on all of the air brake components. How often do we do this. Usually not until we have a problem |
H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member
Username: Ace
Post Number: 739
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 75.200.120.200
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 3:42 pm: | |
"No thanks , we run for pleasure."
Thinking about this, I just bet that's a "REAL" pleasure too, in more ways than one! |