Why is there still water in the truck's newly replaced dryer tank?
3 Answers
The reason why there is still water in the truck's newly replaced dryer tank is: The gas from the air compressor is usually at a high temperature. After the high-temperature compressed air is cooled in the air storage tank, water will condense out. This water will then settle at the bottom of the air storage tank. The liquid storage function of the dryer tank: Liquid storage is used to store and supply liquid refrigerant in the refrigeration system, so as to compensate and regulate the surplus or shortage of liquid refrigerant when working conditions change. Generally speaking, when the air conditioning system starts working, the load is large, and the required refrigerant circulation volume is also large. After working for a period of time, the load will decrease, and the required refrigerant volume will correspondingly reduce. The filtering function of the dryer tank: All components in the refrigeration system should be strictly cleaned and dried before leaving the factory. However, during the installation of pipelines, dirt may be accidentally brought in, and dirt such as oxide scale may also be produced in the pipelines. The refrigerant itself is not so clean, and there may be powder and wear debris from the compressor operation, etc. These mechanical impurities and dirt are removed through filtration to ensure the smooth flow of the refrigerant and prevent blockage from affecting normal operation.
It's indeed a common issue to still find water after replacing the dryer cartridge. Let me explain from the system's working principle. The dryer cartridge is mainly installed in the air brake system to absorb moisture from the compressed air. When you've just replaced the cartridge, there could be several reasons for residual moisture. First, the desiccant inside the cartridge needs time to activate and absorb moisture; second, there might be old water remaining in the system's pipelines or air reservoirs that hasn't been completely drained; furthermore, if you didn't thoroughly blow-dry the system when replacing the cartridge, moisture could have been introduced. If the compressor isn't operating efficiently, it can also continuously generate new moisture. I believe it's important to check for air leaks, especially at valve sealing points, as leaks allow more humid air to enter. It's recommended to start the vehicle and let the system run for a few minutes to drain any possible moisture. If water still appears, you should check the quality of the new cartridge or consult a professional mechanic. This directly relates to braking safety, so never take it lightly.
I just replaced the truck's air dryer tank a few days ago and still noticed continuous water presence. Based on experience, this usually happens when the purging step is neglected. Before installing a new tank, you must completely drain all air and water from the old system. Many people take shortcuts by directly replacing the tank, resulting in residual moisture mixing in. Also, ensure the tank is properly positioned and sealed to prevent air leaks from affecting drying. Another common issue is using different types of desiccants—some have poor activity and slow moisture absorption. I recall a case where a customer complained about water in a new tank, and upon inspection, we found the compressor was pumping excessively humid air, overloading the system. Now, whenever I replace a tank, I first let the vehicle run to purge air for a few minutes before installing the new one, which works much better. You might want to check if the pipeline connections are tight. If that doesn’t help, consider purging the entire system and starting over. Always refer to the manual guidelines before working to avoid trouble.
