With snow blanketing a significant amount of the United States this week, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC, has produced a series of technical tips for maintenance professionals servicing air systems during the cold winter season.
Worry about the Water
“It’s really not the cold itself that brings the most potential for air system trouble – it’s the moisture that’s brought in with it when the compressor draws in air,” says Richard Nagel, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions, charging group. “If enough moisture makes its way through the air dryer, it creates the potential for condensation within the air tanks – and from there, it can travel downstream, affecting the braking system and other connected technologies.”
If that happens, Bendix says low temperatures can definitely have a negative impact, freezing the condensed water and increasing the likelihood of component malfunctions in the valves, controls, and solenoids utilized in advanced safety technologies, emissions controls, and automated manual transmissions.
Bendix says manually draining the air tanks is a simple and fail-safe step that can help keep the air system moisture-free in winter. Bendix recommends draining the tanks at least every three months for a typical line haul truck, and as frequently as once a month for vehicles with high air demand.
Maintain and Properly Equip Your Dryer
