RESERVOIR DRAINING
1. Per the guidelines shown in Table 3, check for moisture
in the air brake system by opening reservoir drain
valves and checking for the presence of water. If
moisture is present, the desiccant cartridge may require
replacement; however, the following conditions can also
cause water accumulation and should be considered
before replacing the desiccant:
A. An outside air source has been used to charge the
system. This air did not pass through the drying bed.
B. Air usage is exceptionally high and not normal for
a highway vehicle.
This may be due to accessory air demands or some
unusual air requirement that does not allow the
compressor to load and unload (compressing and
non-compressing cycle) in a normal fashion. Check
for high air system leakage. If the vehicle vocation
has changed, it may be necessary to upgrade the
compressor size. For assistance contact the Bendix
TechTeam at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE, (1-800-247-2725,
option 2) or bendix.com.
C. The location of the air dryer & reservoir system is too
close to the air compressor. For assistance contact
the Bendix TechTeam at 1-800-AIR-BRAKE, (1-800-
247-2725, option 2) or bendix.com.
D. In areas where more than a 30 degree range of
temperature occurs in one day, small amounts of
water can temporarily accumulate in the air brake
system due to condensation. Under these conditions,
the presence of small amounts of moisture is normal.
Recommended Service Intervals for Bendix AD-IS Air Dryers
Air
Usage
Typical Vehicle Vocation
Standard
Line haul, city, delivery
Double trailers,
Medium
light transit,
light off-highway
Multiple trailers,
High
city transit,
heavy duty off-road
*Change the desiccant cartridge more frequently if more than just traces of moisture are found in any of the reservoirs when draining them.
Table 3 - Service Intervals
CARTRIDGE REPLACEMENT
Adhering to a preventive maintenance schedule is crucial to
keeping a vehicle's air system clean and ensuring superior
performance of all components that utilize system air – such
as brakes, emissions equipment, and automated manual
transmissions. See Table 3 for Bendix
recommended cartridge replacement intervals for vehicles
equipped with a Bendix
More frequent intervals may be required depending on
the vehicle's age, its compressor condition, use of a
non-Bendix compressor, the operating environment, the
vehicle's vocation, and its usage. In conjunction with these
guidelines, fleets can determine the functionality of their
filters by checking for moisture in the air brake system
monthly. If moisture is present, the air dryer cartridge may
require replacement.
1. Visually check for physical damage, such as chafed or
2. Check the AD-IS air dryer and purge reservoir bolts for
3. Perform the Operation & Leakage Tests listed in this
This air dryer is intended to remove moisture and
other contaminants normally found in the air brake
system. Do not inject alcohol, anti-freeze, or other
de-icing substances into – or upstream of – the air dryer
& reservoir system. Alcohol is removed by the dryer,
but reduces the effectiveness of the device to dry air.
Use of these or other substances can damage the air
dryer and may void the warranty.
*Reservoir Drain Interval
(whichever comes first)
Axles
Hours Mileage
5 or
900
25,000 3 months
less
8 or
450
12,000 2 months
less
11 or
300
6,000
less
compressor.
®
broken air and electrical lines, and broken or missing
parts.
tightness. See Figure 1. Re-torque the three air dryer
bolts to 360-420 in-lbs and the four purge reservoir
bolts to 300-360 in-lbs.
publication.
Bendix
Standard
Cartridge
Time
Replacement
36 months
24 months
1 month
12 months
AD-IS
air dryer
®
®
PuraGuard
Oil Coalescing
®
Cartridge Replacement
24 months or
200,000 miles
18 months or
150,000 miles
12 months
7