How to Avoid Air Leaks and Associated Downtime

Air leaks, minor and major, are a large expense for fleets. They cause the compressor to work more. The extra fuel consumption is not extreme but it does exist. More to the point, they can lead to many downstream problems and can quickly lead to problems at inspection time. Different jurisdictions have different tolerances for air leaks and what constitutes a major or a minor, but either way they are an infraction because they can be dangerous.

This isn’t meant to be a sermon, suffice to say you want your braking system working as well as it can. Same for suspension and any accessories on your truck or trailer. That’s why it can be an expensive infraction, and it’s why you want to have as few leaks as possible. While no truck or trailer will ever be 100% perfect, you want to get as close as you can. If a few hours after parking a vehicle there is no air left in the system, something has to be done.

Treat the air system properly + Empty air tanks regularly

The first thing you want to do is make sure the internals of the air systems is given the best chance to succeed. This means regularly replacing the air dryer as a part of regular maintenance and emptying air tanks a little after every shift to empty any water in the bottom of the reservoirs. Water is abrasive at the best of times for valve diaphragms and freezes as well as damages valves a lot in the winter. By regularly removing any water in the air system, you put odds in your favor to not have air leaks coming from valves.

On older and high mileage vehicles it is worthwhile to check the air compressor itself isn’t adding contaminants to the air system. Oil is not the end of the world for valves but it’s more contaminants that do add up in a system. It’s very easy to see if your compressor is spitting out any oil, and it should be verified every year or two as well as when oil levels are dropping more than acceptable.

Consider treatment for the diaphragms

Some products are billed as anti-freeze for valves in the winter. They often also come with a lubricating property for the diaphragms inside air valves. It’s not the metal casing or housing that causes most air leaks it’s the diaphragm. It is hard to make the case that these products make a significant positive difference in the long-term health of the valve, but if they can get into the budget, it deserves to be given a chance. Many of the leading fleets in northern North America trust it.

Properly secure hoses

The other major cause for leaks minor and major is from the airlines themselves and connectors. Quick-connect connectors are notorious for leaking. Brass fittings can leak, mostly if improperly installed, but the quick-connects should only be used when there is no space for a proper brass fitting. Either way, a hose that moves around too much will rub, and wear out leading to a leak. And a fitting, be it a quick-connect or a brass fitting, that moves around too much can also easily leak. As with wiring, over time between vibrations, repairs and maintenance, air hoses, usually in bundles, will loosen. The more they get loose the more they will wear out. Typically a bunch of hoses left not properly secured is in a hard-to-reach place. Where you can’t install a proper brass fitting. So make it a part of regular maintenance to inspect for loose or rubbing hoses and prevent expensive problems and downtime.