Likely leak locations (was: Starting pressure at zero; formerly:Thomas versus Dana)

mark grady

New member
May 2, 1998
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Richard --

Now I know why you're under-inflated!

When I was in the leak chasing state-of-mind, I found that the pressure
manifold itself was leaking at a fitting. This is that large steel block
that holds the solenoids.

Also, one of my solenoids had a crack in the bottom where the inlet pipe had
been over tightened. I'd start there. Unless you've got a filter with a
small enough size to trap a water molecule, you may also still have a leak
in your check valve. Crap gets in the seat of the check valve and it leaks
back.

Its a pain, but pump up the tank and then open the line between the check
valve and the compressor. See if you have leak back. You could also have a
leak at the pressure switch itself. That is through the diaphragm of the
switch.

For the tank to go flat in 20 minutes, you've got a pretty good sized leak.
I guess slow is a personal thing, but 20 minutes is fast to me. You should
be going at least a couple of hours for a leak to be "slow."

I'm a set-level-to-auto kind of guy, and ours only runs a couple of times in
a morning or afternoon of interstate driving.

You should be able to find it with a stout mixture of Dawn detergent in a
cereal bowl and a foam paint brush. Put a dishcloth under the air system and
start daubing it on. I think you'll find a leak that size pretty quick.

Mark Grady
'77 K
North Webster, IN

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Richard Guthart
> Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 1999 11:03 AM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Starting pressure at zero (was:Thomas versus Dana)
>
>
> Mark,
>
> When I started working on the air system, both the schrader valve and
> check valve were leaking so I replaced them.
>
> Still have minor leak(s) to track down. If I set switch to "hold" the
> tank bleeds down in 20 minutes or so.
>
> (To get the time measurements for my recent post, I deflated the tank
> using its schrader valve.)
>
> BTW, any tips on where to look for the slow leak if soap solution
> reveals no apparent leaks from all tubing fittings?
>
> Richard
 
>I'm a set-level-to-auto kind of guy, and ours only runs a couple of
times in
>a morning or afternoon of interstate driving.
>

Mark,

I'm glad to hear that the system can be made to hold air that well!
I'll get out my soap bubbles again.

Actually, it hasn't bothered me much because the coach, when put in hold
mode, will sit for weeks with no apparent change in height, other than
fluctuations due to swings in ambient temperature (lower in the morning,
back up in the afternoon sun.)

Richard

- -----Original Message-----
From: Mark Grady
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Wednesday, February 03, 1999 10:48 AM
Subject: GMC: Likely leak locations (was: Starting pressure at zero;
formerly:Thomas versus Dana)