How to tell if compressor is bad

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by clhart426, Jan 9, 2013.

  1. clhart426

    clhart426 Bobtail Member

    43
    1
    Dec 15, 2011
    Toledo,OH
    0
    This particular compressor is only building up air pressure if your running the engine at more than 1500 rpm. I took the discharge line(to dryer) off at the compressor and its only lightly puffing air out. I replaced the governor with 3 different ones, two Benedix one part smart. Same results. It's on a m11 cummins. So took the same line off of another truck and that compressor is pushing a lot of air out. Another reason I think it could be the compressor, the driver dumped air antifreeze into the compressor fresh air intake line last week when the truck had ice in the lines. So I guess my ?s are if there's another good/better way to test the compressor, and if dumping that alcohol in through the intake is what could've done it in. Thanks
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. flc120

    flc120 Heavy Load Member

    916
    122
    Jul 11, 2012
    Miami,FL (yeah i know :( )
    0
    i dont think the alchol down the intake did anything to the compressor now, if it aint puffing air out either A compressor is no good or B what drives the compressor is worn or broken. This is if you changed governor as you say you did.
     
  4. Pablo-UA

    Pablo-UA Road Train Member

    7,604
    1,642
    Oct 11, 2010
    Borispol, Ukraine
    0
    what brand, model?
     
  5. GrapeApe

    GrapeApe Road Train Member

    2,215
    2,211
    Jan 7, 2013
    0
    The unloaders could be sticking, pull the cover and see how gummed up things look. Unloader kits are easy to do. Airline anti-freeze shouldn't hurt the compressor, but if the valves are all coked up with burnt oil, flushing liquid through could knock loose some chunks loose and keep the valves from fully seating.
     
    CellNet Thanks this.
  6. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

    7,752
    6,185
    Feb 4, 2009
    0
    The air brake anti freeze definitely could have damaged the compressor. Fluids do not compress. Anything could have happened. Try removing the intake right at the compressor and see if the flow/volume from the discharge changes.
     
  7. Flightline

    Flightline Road Train Member

    2,345
    1,165
    Oct 1, 2011
    Almost There
    0
    Not likely dumping alcohol trashed the compressor unless it was on it's last leg. Difinitley not the best thing for it though.
    It should build pressure up at idle and it a timely manner like 2-3 minutes.
     
  8. clhart426

    clhart426 Bobtail Member

    43
    1
    Dec 15, 2011
    Toledo,OH
    0
    I'm unsure of model tonight, I can report bk with that tomorrow. Driver said he had dumped close to 3 qts through intake. I was thinking that could be too much and not really wanto compress, but I guess I thought of compressor more so of a pump, not really compressing bc there's nothing to fire the pisytons bk down /gear driven. I can see how it could've knocked some crud loose. By removing the cover, do you mean the head? The "top" plate on the compressor? I believe I'd end up having to remove engine intake manifold unless the bolts are shorter than 1". I did remove intake hose to compressor, no difference in air coming out. It does puff continuous air, just not any real pressure, and I removed hose from dryer to tanks, and since there's hardly any pressure entering dryer, hardly any coming out of dryer. I also had replaced the dryer, as a whole unit, not just cartridge. Along with three different governors. I forgot to add in the first post that after running for a road test, the final governor quit allowing compressor to pump at all. I adjusted governor and now builds up to 140psi. But no difference in pressure coming out of compressor. (Whew, that was a lot to type) . Thanks for replies, any more help/input is greatly appreciated.
     
  9. Flightline

    Flightline Road Train Member

    2,345
    1,165
    Oct 1, 2011
    Almost There
    0
    3 qts.? That is an extreme. That might be enough to lock it up.
     
  10. clhart426

    clhart426 Bobtail Member

    43
    1
    Dec 15, 2011
    Toledo,OH
    0
    I'm assuming it wasn't all at once. Actually about impossible. But if he ccontinuously added, would it cause some type of failure?
     
  11. allan5oh

    allan5oh Road Train Member

    1,557
    556
    Jan 6, 2010
    Winnipeg, mb
    0
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.