Community Forums

cuba-doug · 11-04-2018, 04:42 PM

I have been told that there are additives to put in your airlines that help lubricate ride height valve adjusters and other parts of the air system. Any input on this?

Bigd9 · 11-04-2018, 05:18 PM

How would you add the additives?

I've never added anything to the air system, but I do change the drying filter every few years.

BFlinn181 · 11-04-2018, 05:27 PM

There are additives used in air compressors and systems to lubricate and prevent rust of the interior lines. Problem is, your airlines also have large rubber air springs and rubber diaphragms in the brakes. I wonder how compatible they are with the various additives. I've never added anything to my air system to lubricate it, I don't think I will worry about it unless someone can show me a good reason to do it.

Dutch Star Don · 11-04-2018, 07:30 PM

Any type of additive could foul the air dryer.

dons2346 · 11-04-2018, 08:29 PM

The only thing that should be in your air lines is clean,dry air.

Domo · 11-05-2018, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dons2346

The only thing that should be in your air lines is clean,dry air.

+100!!!!!

OP should not be reading about snake oil salesmen!

BFlinn181 · 11-05-2018, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Domo

+100!!!!!

OP should not be reading about snake oil salesmen!

But what would all those sellers of magic mystery airline lubricants do to make a living?

The airline treatments I found were for airlines in paint shops and garages with permanent air systems, I didn't see any that apply to the air system in a truck, bus, or RV.

NorthernDriv · 11-05-2018, 01:21 PM

Methyl hydrate is added to the air system to prevent FREEZING due to water in the air lines.

Bahamaniac · 11-05-2018, 02:19 PM

I am an industrial robotics and automation engineer by trade. Industry uses air line oil . Most industrial electr-mechanical valves and solenoids fire 60 to 200 times per minute, 24 hours per day. With the high cycling rate lubrication is needed for longevity. A very light (10 weight or less) oil is used and metered in small amounts. Also air is usually purged with each cycle so oil is essentially blown out of the system. If you enter oil in a closed loop system the oil has to be compressed and slows down an actuator. That's why you shouldn't use oil in your motor home. And using something like wd40 will actually wash the factory lube off of orings and cause premature wear and failure. I hope this helps.

Domo · 11-05-2018, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NorthernDriv

Methyl hydrate is added to the air system to prevent FREEZING due to water in the air lines.

That's probably why many MH's have air dryers and part of the standard operator maintenance is to bleed the low points of the air tanks every six months.

saddlesore · 11-06-2018, 12:12 AM

When I started trucking (and with farm equipment that had air systems), Yes we did use alcohol injection to lesson the water/icing conditions in air lines... HOWEVER>>> this was before the advent of air dryers for the tanks and air systems...
Since the late 60's the use of air dryers for the air systems in trucks/buses & equipment is widespread and we no longer have to depend on adding/injecting anything to the air system, the only exception is those few [specialized] systems that require the lube properties, and are designed for adding lube of some sort. motor vehicles are not one however...

guardrail53 · 11-06-2018, 01:19 AM

The only time a air line additive is needed if in the winter time you get frozen water in your air system! If this is the case, your air drier/heater is not working properly! It is a air line de-icer, and I had to use this stuff only one time in my semi in the very cold weather! Keep your air drier serviced and working properly, and you do not need anything added to the system!

On semi's, that are hooking to different trailers that are left sitting in the winter with the glad hands exposed to the weather, you can and will get water in them, and this is used to thaw the trailer system out!

On my own semi trailer, when I dropped it at my house in the country in the winter time, I had dummy glad hands made up, to put on my trailer hook up's, to keep the system dry and the elements out!

But the guys that did drop and hook in the winter time, would run into this problem of ice in the trailer glad hands and air lines!

On your MH's you should never need any of this, period! Rail!

saddlesore · 11-06-2018, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guardrail53

the only time a air line additive is needed if in the winter time you get frozen water in your air system! If this is the case, your air drier/heater is not working properly! It is a air line de-icer, and i had to use this stuff only one time in my semi in the very cold weather! Keep your air drier serviced and working properly, and you do not need anything added to the system!

On semi's, that are hooking to different trailers that are left sitting in the winter with the glad hands exposed to the weather, you can and will get water in them, and this is used to thaw the trailer system out!

On my own semi trailer, when i dropped it at my house in the country in the winter time, i had dummy glad hands made up, to put on my trailer hook up's, to keep the system dry and the elements out!

But the guys that did drop and hook in the winter time, would run into this problem of ice in the trailer glad hands and air lines!

On your mh's you should never need any of this, period! Rail!

exactly correct !!!