Air not building - frozen ?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by dannythetrucker, Dec 16, 2013.

  1. dannythetrucker

    dannythetrucker Road Train Member

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    I've been driving 5 hours and primary air quit building. Was down to nearly 60 psi. Got pulled into a Walmart here (Iron Mountain, MI). I tapped around on compressor and governor. Air built up to 90 kind of in little erratic jerks.

    I'm thinking maybe ice in line somewhere, it's -10 here. I doubt they have air line conditioner here, can I use rubbing alcohol or something ? Also, the only experience I have with adding alcohol to air systems was to put it in the gladhand. Should I do it that way or take a line off the compressor ? It's the tractor air not building right. Not even 100 % it is a freezing prob just seems likely as I've been heading into colder temps.

    Any advice, thoughts appreciated !
     
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  3. Taildragon

    Taildragon Heavy Load Member

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    The air governor has froze up, when you tapped it, it broke loose partially. You need to get a little heat on it, do you have a hair dryer in the truck? Any thing that would warm it up ten or twenty degrees? I have seen these cigarette lighters at the fuel desk that put out a flame like a propane torch, even that would do it.

    I just reread your post, you are at Walmart, just pickup a propane torch, but be sure to keep the heat away from all plastic lines, it might be better yet to get a hair dryer that runs off twelve volts, it is not as easy to destroy a plastic line, but you would still need to be careful.
     
  4. dannythetrucker

    dannythetrucker Road Train Member

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    Seems odd that would freeze up under the hood where it's warm. But I'll put some heat on it and see if it fixes.

    Yes, glad I made it into this walmart !
     
  5. Taildragon

    Taildragon Heavy Load Member

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    When you are driving down the road at road speed, it isn't warm under the hood. In the old days we ran north a lot, Maine, Dakotas, and we ran alcohol evaporators, they helped a little.
     
    dannythetrucker Thanks this.
  6. dannythetrucker

    dannythetrucker Road Train Member

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    Well. It felt warm around the governor. Think it was just coincidence with tapping. I got a little bottle of Heet for fuel antifreeze. Probly not ideal but watcha gonna do ? Put 1/2 of it in on the intake side of compressor. Seems to be working out the ice wherever it is. Building air better and better each time I pump it down. Loading inside in the morning and usually takes 3-4 hours to load which will be a good thing for once. Give this thing a chance to thaw our.

    Guess I'll drain tanks and try to pick up some air system antifreeze ASAP to keep handy. Should have had some in here in hindsight.
     
  7. dannythetrucker

    dannythetrucker Road Train Member

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    Your probly right. Might have been just stopping and letting heat build up under there that worked out the ice more than the tapping and Heet
     
  8. Taildragon

    Taildragon Heavy Load Member

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    You are doing the right thing, like you said, drain the air tanks, then feed the alcohol through the system like you are doing, then leave the alcohol in the tanks, it will evaporate and go in to the trailer system also, it might be that since you have stopped, it warmed up and the alcohol is freeing up the system. They might have air line antifreeze in the Walmart, they carry Rotella T in gallons. But you are doing exactly what I would be doing. Lightly tap on the governor and it may free up, since you have already run some through.
     
  9. dannythetrucker

    dannythetrucker Road Train Member

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  10. jorlee

    jorlee Light Load Member

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    When was the last time the dryer filter was changed? If it's been more than a year change it.
     
  11. dannythetrucker

    dannythetrucker Road Train Member

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    New dryer 3 months ago. Good thought though.
     
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