Keeping your volvo vnl air compressor within good shape is basically the secret to staying on the road without the major headache. When you've spent any time driving associated with a VNL, you understand that the air system is the lifeblood of the truck. It's not merely about halting the rig along with your air brake systems; it's about your suspension, your seat ease and comfort, and even exactly how your transmission adjustments if you're operating an I-Shift. When that compressor starts acting up, the rest starts to feel a little bit sketchy.
Most drivers don't ponder on their air compressor until they spot the primary plus secondary gauges getting forever to ascend throughout a pre-trip. You're sitting there in the cab, waiting around for the needles to hit that will 120 PSI tag, also it feels such as you could've grabbed a second mug of coffee in the period it's taking. That's usually the first sign that things are heading south.
Why the particular compressor is the heart of your VNL
Think of the volvo vnl air compressor since the lungs associated with your truck. It's usually tucked away on the side of the engine, gear-driven and constantly functioning to keep individuals air tanks topped off. In the Volvo VNL, which usually is often driven by a D11 or D13 motor, the compressor was designed to be a workhorse. But even the best workhorses obtain tired.
The particular compressor needs to offer with a great deal of heat. Compressing air naturally creates high temperatures, plus that heat can lead to carbon buildup within the discharge lines. In the event that you've ever drawn a discharge collection and seen it filled with dark, crusty gunk, you're taking a look at carbon. This happens when the essential oil from the engine bypasses the piston rings in typically the compressor, gets baked by heat, and turns into a strong. Once that line starts narrowing, your own compressor needs to function twice as hard to push air via a smaller hole. It's a vicious routine that eventually leads to total failure.
Spotting the indicators early
A person don't want in order to wait for a complete air loss in the middle associated with a steep grade to realize your volvo vnl air compressor is definitely failing. There are usually usually a several "hey, look at me" signs before it completely quits.
One of the most obvious is noise. If you start hearing a loud banging or a heavy vibration whenever the particular compressor cycles on, that's a poor omen. It may be a bearing venturing out or even an issue with the connecting rod in the unit. A healthy compressor should sound together with a consistent tempo. If it sounds like a coffee may full of marbles, it's time to get it checked.
Another big reddish colored flag is essential oil in your air system. If you drain your air tanks and a bunch of milky or oily sludge comes out, your own compressor is "passing oil. " This particular means the internal closes or rings are usually worn out. Not only is this bad with regard to the compressor, yet it's also a nightmare for your air dryer and your brake valves. Oil eats rubber seals intended for breakfast, so the leaky compressor can easily turn into a $5, 000 repair bill if it ruins the rest of the system.
The air clothes dryer connection
You can't really speak about the volvo vnl air compressor without talking about the air dryer. They're like the married couple—if one particular is miserable, the other one is going to suffer too. The air dryer's job is to catch the moisture plus oil before this hits your reservoirs.
If you haven't transformed your air clothes dryer cartridge in the while, the compressor needs to work much harder. A blocked filter creates backpressure, making the compressor run longer plus hotter. Most VNL owners find that will swapping that cartridge out every year (or even every 6 months in frosty, humid climates) saves the compressor from an early plot. It's a cheap bit of insurance for an extremely expensive part.
Dealing with gradual pressure build-up
If you discover your volvo vnl air compressor is taking way too long to achieve the cut-out stress, it might not be the compressor itself—it could possibly be the unloader valves. These little guys are responsible for informing the compressor whenever to stop pumping air. If these people get stuck or gunked up with carbon, the compressor might just keep spinning without in fact moving any air into the storage containers, or it may struggle to get started.
Before a person go out plus buy a whole new compressor, it's worth checking the unloader kit. Occasionally a simple cleaning or an inexpensive seal kit can get you back in business. However, if the bores where the particular unloaders sit are usually scored or broken, you're probably searching at a full alternative anyway.
Is it worth restoring or should you just replace this?
This is usually the age-old question for any owner-operator. Once the volvo vnl air compressor starts acting up, would you try to rebuild it or even just swap it for a brand-new one?
To tell the truth, most shops today will inform you to simply replace it. Reconstructing a compressor is a meticulous work. If you get one speck of dirt in there or don't hone the particular cylinders perfectly, you'll be doing the job again within three months. In addition, the labor costs to get a rebuild usually get close to the price of a remanufactured unit.
When you're searching for a replacement, you've got a several options. You are able to move with an OEM Volvo part, that is usually a Bendix or a Wabco unit. These are usually great because they're designed exactly regarding your engine's specifications. Then there are usually aftermarket options. Some are high-quality, whilst others are well, let's just say a person get what a person purchase. Given just how critical air will be to your basic safety, this isn't actually the place in order to try to save fifty bucks on a no-name part from a random web site.
Keeping things cool
The particular volvo vnl air compressor is usually cooled by the engine's coolant system. If you've been having overheating issues with your truck, your compressor is usually feeling that high temperature too. It's furthermore common for your coolant lines visiting the compressor to develop leakages or get frail over time.
During your regular inspections, get a peek with those small coolant hoses. If a person see any crusty green or reddish residue (depending upon what coolant you run) around the fittings on the compressor, tighten them upward or replace the particular hoses. A little leak there won't just leave you low on coolant; it can let air into the particular cooling, which causes all sorts of weird temperature spikes which are hard to diagnose.
Winter is the genuine test
When you're driving with the northern states or Canada, the wintertime months are whenever your volvo vnl air compressor really proves the worth. Cold air is dense, plus moisture within the outlines is a formula for a frosty brake mechanism.
The good thing you may do for your compressor in the particular winter is to make sure your purge device around the air dryer is snapping off cleanly. If a person hear a fragile "pssh" rather than razor-sharp one, moisture is staying in the machine. That moisture may freeze inside the particular compressor's head, leading to permanent damage when you attempt to start the truck within the morning. Some guys use air brake antifreeze, nevertheless if your compressor and dryer will work correctly, you shouldn't really need this.
Final ideas on maintenance
At the end of the day, the volvo vnl air compressor is a pretty stout part of machinery. It's made to go 100s of thousands associated with miles, but it won't do this on its own. It needs clean air (check your engine air filters! ), clean oil, and a functional air dryer to stay joyful.
If you're pre-tripping your VNL and you spot the air pressure will take more than 2 minutes to get from 85 in order to 100 PSI with a fast nonproductive, don't ignore it. That's your truck trying to tell you that this compressor is struggling. Dealing with it while you're at a port or near a store you trust is a whole lot better than getting your springtime brakes pop out there while you're touring down the interstate. Keep an eyesight on the oil, listen for odd noises, and deal with your air program with a little respect—it'll definitely return the favor whenever you need this most.