15 Oct How Often Should You Service Your Air Dryer?

How often do you find out what’s going on inside? Even though you may be told your dryer cartridge is good for 3 years, 2 years, 1 year does that mean it’s set in stone? Usually what you read or what you are told is a guideline, because truck conditions are not the same for everyone.

Things that can change the time of required service can be the condition of the air compressor, is it running too often because of an air leak? Is it pumping oil from age? Either one can shorten the life of the cartridge, when the dryer was last serviced was it cleaned properly? If only a new cartridge was put in without cleaning the sludge and/or contaminants out they would shorten the life of the new cartridge.

Extreme temp changes can cause heavy condensation, taking some time out of your cartridge, example: taking your truck in and out of a heated shop everyday in the bitter cold of winter. By servicing your dryer every year you could find a potential problem and prevent yourself from being stranded by the roadside in extreme climates.

Also inspect the routing of your air lines, avoid 90’s when possible use 45’s or better yet straight fittings, no water trapping dips and curls, steady downhill lines. Make sure your air dryer heater is functioning. For emergencies carry a 1/2 pipe coupler and two 1/2 pipe plugs to bypass a failed dryer in winter weather.