Importance of regular replacement of air dryer filter element
Although the filter element of the air dryer is a common service component, it plays an important role in the compressed air system.
The filter element is usually part of the air dryer assembly and is designed to remove any contaminants from the air supply generated by the vehicle compressor.
Contaminants include oil, water and aerosols, all of which can shorten the life of downstream components, resulting in increased maintenance costs and downtime.
Excess water in winter will lead to pipe icing and blockage. In addition, oil and aerosol contamination may cause the rubber parts in the downstream air valve to rot.
Passenger car air systems manufactured by OEMs including Haldex, Knorr Bremse and Wabco are usually equipped with one of two types of air dryer filters: conventional, usually installed on older vehicles, and equipped with a desiccant filter element for removing water, and an oil separator element, which has a desiccant filter element for removing water and oil and an oil filter element for removing oil and aerosols. The oil separator filter element has a longer service life, and is recommended for vehicles with high air consumption.
If the air system is depressurized, the filter element can be easily installed through a quick and simple process. Replacement intervals vary depending on vehicle operation. For example, due to high braking demand and high air consumption, buses providing urban services need shorter replacement intervals than those on rural routes with less braking demand.
As a long-term OEM parts supplier, AYREST has rich air system knowledge. Therefore, we recommend replacing the filter element of passenger cars with high air consumption at least once a year.
1.Operating the reservoir drain valve is the fastest way to check the filter function. Clean dry air from the drain valve indicates that the filter is operating properly. If water, oil or both (yellow mixture) flows out of the drain valve, the filter needs to be replaced.
2.When replacing the filter, always check the compressor for oil residue.
3.Vehicles with slow air accumulation time may indicate that the filter element is blocked due to aging or carrying too much oil/water.
4.Make sure that the "purge" function on the air dryer assembly is working properly. This can be checked by establishing the vehicle air pressure. Once the air receiver reaches the working pressure, you should hear the air burst in the air dryer. This is the working principle of the purification function, which can discharge pollutants in the filter and dry the desiccant in the filter.
5.Always check for air leaks, as they will increase the working cycle of the compressor and air dryer, increase the amount of air passing through the filter, and shorten its life.
6.Check whether the exhaust port/muffler on other air valves (such as EBS regulator and relay valve) has excessive oil/water, which may indicate that the filter element is not functioning properly.
