When do you drain air tanks on diesel MH?

[blackhawkscp]

Hi all,
I have a 2017 Ventana LE 3709 Diesel class A MH. I am confused as to when/if you should drain air tanks. I read in the maintenance schedule every 6 months, I read in other places every time after using you vehicle, and when I spoke to Freightliner I was told I didn't need to except perhaps after 3 years or so. For those with Diesel engines how often,if at all, do you do this? My first time with a Diesel.
Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Chuck

[BillJinOR]

It used to be as a part of pre trip walk around to drain the tanks ea time. Nowadays in motorhomes the air dryer keeps the tanks dry. It never hurts to give the Lanyards a pull just to make sure no water comes out, however If it does spit out water your air dryer has failed. How soon it fails or needs service is related to humidity you run in . Normally years
I would follow the 6 month guide just for consistency with Newmars schedule

[ewlee]

Your vehicle is equipped with an air compressor as you know. In addition, there is a dryer installed that is suppose to keep moisture from your air system. Every time you build air and the compressor pops off, with that pop off it also discharges moisture, if any. Freightliner will tell you that you pull the lanyards to see if there is any moisture in your air system. If when you pull the lanyards and you see moisture then your dryer is not doing its job. Then it is time to change your dryer cartridge/dryer. There is a requirement to change the dryer every three years.

So to get to the heart of your question, I rarely pull the lanyards for the first year, more often, probably every other month after that. I don't empty the tanks, just a short spurt.

[tom chelbana]

To pull the release valves for air tanks a awning pull rod works great and that way you don't have to crawl under coach. It is a 3 to 4 foot metal row with a bend on one end to pull the awning string down on the manual outside awning. If you put 20K plus miles on your coach a year maybe 3 months might be a good time to check air tanks.

[GaryKD]

Hi blackhawkscp,
I drain my tanks once a year during the annual maintenance. The tanks must be completely drained to get any water out. Water will come out last after the air is done evacuating. A quick tug on the lanyard does nothing to remove any water in the tank. In 12 years, never got any water out of the tanks. If you change your air dryer on schedule there should be no water in the tanks.