Air bags not inflating when cold

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by firecatf7333, Dec 29, 2020.

  1. firecatf7333

    firecatf7333 Light Load Member

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    Oct 28, 2012
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    Bags dont air up when cold below 30 degrees. I've put alcohol air brakes antifreeze in breather which sometimes helps. Is a new leveling valve going to help? Obviously theres moisture in air lines. Just put a new dryer on. I've drained the tanks but I'm not sure why they keep getting water back in them
     
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  3. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Where are you putting the alcohol into the system? If you're dumping it in ahead of the dryer it'll damage the dryer cartridge.
     
  4. seagreg

    seagreg Light Load Member

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    Oct 3, 2019
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    Manually move the lever on the height valve to the fill direction by about 30 degrees and see if they fill.

    If you don't have pressure at the height valve try tapping the pressure protection valve will sometimes help and it should be opening at 80psi.

    Remember that metal shrinks when it gets cold. A pressure protection valve can be gummed up and not open when it is cold even without water being present.
     
  5. beastr123

    beastr123 Road Train Member

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    Drain the tanks after determining which is the wet tank. take a plug or line off the wet tank and pour in 4 to10oz methyl hydrate (find it at a paint store if nowhere else) then start and charge the system. the fumes will go throughout the system and will start to dry out any moisture and remove ice crystals.
     
    black_dog106 Thanks this.
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