SERVICE MANUAL
Fig. 3 Cutaway View of AE-1 Alcohol Evaporator
CONSUMP"ION OF ALCOHOL
Complaints of inoperative alcohol evaporator or
excessive use of alcohol can be traced to either wrong
kit being installed or an incorrect installation of a kit. For
that reason the correct selection of a kit is very
important.
The consumption of alcohol will vary on different
vehicles. The main determining factor on properly
installed and maintained units is the percentage of time
the air compressor is in its loaded (compressing) cycle.
Since the alcohol is only used when the compressor is
compressing air, good maintenance practice should be
followed by keeping air leakage in the system to a
minimum and keeping the brakes adjusted.
It ii difficult to estimate the amount of alcohol a
vehicle will use. A guide to determine if the alcohol
evaporator is working properly is:
Alcohol Usage = 30 cc to 70 cc
(1 oz to 2 ozs) per
hour if compressor
is continuously
pumping .
Fig. 4 Cutaway View of AE-2 Alcohol Evaporator
Example: of a compressor on a tractor-trailer will be
loaded (compressing air) 20% of the total operating time
of 12 hours (or roughly 2-1/2 hours), consumption of
alcohol can be calculated by multiplying 70 cc of alcohol
(maximum usage) by 2.5 hours, or approximately 175 cc
of alcohol (1/3 to 1/2 pint) in 12 hours. Additional
calculations reveal that if a compressor operates a
greater percentage of time, more alcohol will be used.
TYPE OF ALCOHOL
It is recommended that only pure methanol alcohol be
used in the air brake system. Certain types of alcohol
and antifreeze solutions contain ingredients which leave
residue or deteriorate parts in the air system.
Bendix Heavy Vehicle System Group markets alcohol
under the name "Air Guard."
1 Qt. Can - Part No. 242100
1 Gal. Can - Part No. 246972
CTS-4079 - CHAPTER XIII - Page 4
