So last weekend we were in San Diego, and the weather was great, but thats another subject. My air compressor kept kicking on every 30 minutes or so and would run for 5 minutes each time. So I did my home work and read all the threads about air leaks and now I'm an expert. So today go to home depot and buy me some 4/6/11" blocks of wood. They only charged me 51 cents for all of them, bonus. Next I go to Sears and buy me the creeper I've wanted for a long time now, and I'm off to hunt for leaks. I spray and spray and I find nothing under the coach.....Hum, then I just sit quietly for a bit and I hear something coming from the rear of the coach around the engine compartment a hissing sound no less. With in seconds of opening the engine bay I find the offending hose. Now I need help identifying it.
This is a 2004 U320 with a Cummins ISM 450 hp.
The first Picture is the hose after I spray the water and soap solution.
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi341.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo367%2Fsurfndav%2F2012-06-01_12-00-39_983.jpg&hash=b95e76ffa80539b2e952147ca03d6804" rel="cached" data-hash="b95e76ffa80539b2e952147ca03d6804" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o367/surfndav/2012-06-01_12-00-39_983.jpg)
Next is no water
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi341.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo367%2Fsurfndav%2F2012-06-01_12-00-20_168.jpg&hash=3aa40b1af21ba6eb26d02607c3abd951" rel="cached" data-hash="3aa40b1af21ba6eb26d02607c3abd951" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o367/surfndav/2012-06-01_12-00-20_168.jpg)
I had to cut several zip ties so that I could follow the line and I found where it connects on each end. It runs from the right side to the left side of the engine up and over the back. I have no idea what it is.....
Next is a picture of what it attaches to on the left side/driver side of the engine. this picture is taken form the bottom looking up.
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi341.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo367%2Fsurfndav%2F2012-06-01_13-56-29_478.jpg&hash=81f08dc0c23f29d7c77e123c48d09170" rel="cached" data-hash="81f08dc0c23f29d7c77e123c48d09170" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o367/surfndav/2012-06-01_13-56-29_478.jpg)
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi341.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo367%2Fsurfndav%2F2012-06-01_13-55-59_956.jpg&hash=82f36a0ee2ce6ba68fa2e2c96cce643d" rel="cached" data-hash="82f36a0ee2ce6ba68fa2e2c96cce643d" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o367/surfndav/2012-06-01_13-55-59_956.jpg)
Next is the right side of the engine. It is on the upper left hand side of the engine. this picture is also taken from below looking up.
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi341.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo367%2Fsurfndav%2F2012-06-01_13-53-45_419.jpg&hash=6b9af631f6f758ed879a756279091bc2" rel="cached" data-hash="6b9af631f6f758ed879a756279091bc2" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o367/surfndav/2012-06-01_13-53-45_419.jpg)
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi341.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo367%2Fsurfndav%2F2012-06-01_13-54-10_628.jpg&hash=4f51e81d3036eb2956515e6ad595046b" rel="cached" data-hash="4f51e81d3036eb2956515e6ad595046b" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o367/surfndav/2012-06-01_13-54-10_628.jpg)
So, it looks pretty straight forward. The questions I have are. What is the purpose of this hose? Is it something that can be made or is it a part that is ordered as is? If I can get it, is it as easy as loosening the nuts and replacing? I know I would need to bleed the air out first.
So help me please.
Thanks, David
David,
Good job finding the leak. I would remove the hose. This way you can have the length needed and find any identifying markings on the hose. Go to NAPA and get the replacement hose. If you need new fittings, they should also carry them.
Good luck. You're almost there.
Peter
Dave, see if you can find an industrial hose and rubber dealer in your area, they should be able to make you a new hose check the routing of the old hose to see if you can reroute it,
and have the new hose made a little longer. ^.^d
I'll be pulling the hose off in the morning. I talked to a friend who's a mechanic, he said the NAPA near his shop does make hoses. This hose though has a steal braid around most of it. I would guess that's to protect it from coming in contact with the Hot parts in the engine compartment. Once I get it out of there I hope to see things more clearly.
I'll let you know.
Was the air leak at the end at a fitting or somewhere along the line?
Well it was not with out difficulty, but I got it done. NAPA was able to make me a hose that would work. The one I pulled out was a steel braided hose, the one I have now is a hydraulic hose. I had it made 2' longer than the old one, and I was able to reroute it away from anything that gets really hot. I used about 15 heavy duty zip ties to make sure that it stays in place and away from any moving parts.
The only difficulties I had were removing the darn thing. In order to remove it whole I would have had to pull the A/C compressor. I ended up cutting it to get it out. I was very happy when NAPA said it was no problem to make a replacement.
Thanks for the good advice, the alternative would have cost me any where form $500 to 3000 grand. Instead it was $45 to have the hose made and about 5 hours of my time. But Foretravel time is fun time, right?
I'm very happy. Thanks, David
Well done, Dave. I liked the cutting of the hose to save bunches of time. And, since you rerouted the hose no harm done. Karma to you.
Peter
David,
Did you ever figure out the purpose of that air line?
jor
Jor, No I still don't know what it is. I think my pictures were a little too close up for anyone to get a good idea of what it is. Whatever it is it didn't seem to affect that way the coach drives or stops/breaks.
At any rate, I did start the motor and get the pressure up to 125 psi. After about an hour it had only dropped 2 psi and that was with the level system in level mode, and the compressor never did kick on.
Still though I dumped the air and pulled the compressor 5amp fuse, I intend to leave it in that condition while it's in storage. If this is a bad idea, I'm all ears.
Thanks, David
Dick, the leak was in the middle of the hose. It did cross my mind that I could cut out the bad spot and splice in a piece of tubing and securing it with small hose clamps, but I think a whole new hose is better.
Thanks. I'm guessing then that abrasion/rubbing just wore a hole. Running a new line with extra length and securing it better should prevent that in the future.