Air dryer purge is making a mess!

[Chuck Jackson]

My 2008 contessa has a large sheet metal plate that is within a few inches of the air dryer purge port on the bottom of the air dryer. I've had to clean the top of the plate because it gets an oily residue after awhile. Does anyone else have this problem?

[Gerald Farris]

Chuck,
All air dryers will have some oily residue at the discharge port. The air compressor is lubricated with crankcase oil, and a small amount of it will enter into the compressed air. Therefore, when the dryer separates the moisture from the compressed air, it also removes the oil and exhaust it with the water in the purge cycle.

Gerald      

[Chuck Jackson]

Thanks Gerald. I figured this was normal but I'm wondering how I can keep the messy oil residue to a minimum. I'm thinking about fabricating some sort of slobber tube to direct the purge down below the frame and away from the horizontal plate that is underneath it.

[Jim Nichols]

I clamped a clear hose at the outlet and brought it to the side and bottom of the coach. That blast of air can make you jump, not to mention  bicycles when passing (an added bonus ).

[LEAH DRAPER]

I got tired of the mess so I cut a plastic soda bottle to fit underneath it and caulked it to the sheet -platform below it.  Now it drips into the plastic bottle.  If and when it needs replacing, I'll just remove it and the caulk and put a new cut bottle in place.  Simple fix guys.

Leah

[Chuck Jackson]

ahhhhh...great ideas! thanks guys!

[william thorup]

been wondering if that mess was only in my coach....thanks for the ideas





Bill Thorup
08 Contessa 42

[Chuck Jackson]

Ok I bought some 1" PVC and a couple of 90 deg elbows that I will paint satin black to blend in with the surroundings. Once installed, I'll report back on how it does/looks.

[LEAH DRAPER]

I hope your approach doesn't just spread the oil lower on your coach or the PVC get plugged up somewhere.

[Chuck Jackson]

Ok here is what I did. I used a 1" PVC and painted it black. It runs horizontally from the purge valve over to the backside of the frame and then runs down vertically and terminates with a 45 deg fitting. Right now it's held on with just tie wraps to make sure it works. Then I'll mount it to the frame with some SS mounts to clean it up. So far no mess!