Oil from ARB compressor solenoid, ok to ignore??

[Kanaljen]

I had a front ARB locker installed with the small compressor on my 06 LC.

It seems somewhat like a common issue that the compressor discharge a mist of oil when you disengage the locker.

I searched and found that it is due to some o-ring inside the locker..

My questions:
- Where is this o-ring located? Would I need to open up the diff to get to? ( I had some leakage from the diff where the air line connect and just had to tighten things up a 1/4 turn and things has been good!)

- What could be the consequences of not fixing this? Some posts suggest that it's just an annoyance since you have a mist of oil spraying around the compressor..

- I haven't tracked this yet so let me ask: Would the oil ONLY come out when I disengage the locker or can the oil siphon up through the air line event when the locker is not engaged/disengaged?? If not, I’m ok with leaving it alone unless it hurts something else…

Thanks for any help!

 

[aussie75series]

Check diff breather first.

 

[bamachem]

check the diff breather to make sure it's not clogged. if it's clogged, then as heat builds in the diff, so does pressure. it finds a point of weakness to relieve the pressure, which is the o-ring.

the o-ring is in the differential, and it requires a rebuild of the ARB to fix it - if it doesn't correct itself by cleaning/unclogging the diff breather.

it's an anoyance, but not really an issue unless you get the oil in the compressor.

FYI: the oil is your differential oil. if it's a lot, or if you let it go like this for a long time, you will need to periodically check the level in the diff to keep it topped off.

 

[Kanaljen]

Thanks for some good input! Please help me clarify the following:

You say "check the diff breather". How exactly would I check it?
I assume I'm looking for any signs of it being clogged.. but how!? Draining the diff of oil and blow air thought the breather hose (I think I saw it stick up quiet a bit..)

You mention "not really an issue unless you get the oil in the compressor". The mist of oil comes frome the solenoid on the compressor... So the oil does get up to the compressor and overtime makes the area around the compressor messy.

My questions on this are:
* how bad is it for the compressor (some say that it does no harm..)
* What happens if I leave this un-resolved? Just some misted oil around the compressor?
* Do you think the diff oil can siphon up the air hose and leak out event when you DON'T use the compressor/locker?

In other words, I can check the breather hose regardless of what impact this has but I would be very hesitant to take the whole pumkin apart to get to some o-ring if the only impact is some misted oil WHEN I actively use the compressor/locker..

Thanks again, great info, appreciate the help!

 

[wildsmith]

Is it the internal seals that cause this or the little o-ring on the air fitting on the casing? It wouldn't take much overtightening to make the air line o-ring distort and leak. That is accessible from the outside. If it's the internal carrier seals then I know the fitting instructions warn about them twisting as they're fitted causing a leak.

If oil is leaking into the pipe then air is probably leaking out when you engage the locker as well. Does the compressor keep coming on once the locker is engaged or just come up to pressure and then stay off?

Mine don't mist oil but I've only done about 8k miles with them fitted so far.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I have this O ring problem on going for several years. It will take out the solenoid eventually if you leave alone and do nothing. You can put a valve in line to shut it off when not needed, IIRC slee use the valve system for some time. If will get worse before it gets better, mist today oil tomorrow. It not my DD so it has not been a huge problem for just a PIA. I normally purge the line prior to a 4WD outing.

 

[Kanaljen]

According to some, this is caued by some o-ring inside the diff carrier. You're talking about the fitting conneting the air line to the carrier; that is easy to fix if it leaks and it has nothing to do with the air line siphon up oil from the diff.

Oil is getting into the air line and mists through the solenoid. No air is escaping hower. If I leave the compressor on, it doesn't start until maybe 30 min later.

Is it the internal seals that cause this or the little o-ring on the air fitting on the casing? It wouldn't take much overtightening to make the air line o-ring distort and leak. That is accessible from the outside. If it's the internal carrier seals then I know the fitting instructions warn about them twisting as they're fitted causing a leak.

If oil is leaking into the pipe then air is probably leaking out when you engage the locker as well. Does the compressor keep coming on once the locker is engaged or just come up to pressure and then stay off?

Mine don't mist oil but I've only done about 8k miles with them fitted so far.

 

[Kanaljen]

Thanks Phil.

So, it might take out the solenoid eventually.. I can live with that.

What's your thoughts on my question around siphoning the oil EVENT when the locker/compressor is not used? I.e., if I would just cruise around town and never use my locker, would the oil NOT siphon up and things would stay clean?

You mentiona valve, which makes me wonder if the oil DOES find it's way up when you don't use the compressor. Please explain.

How do you purge the line before 4x4? By blowing some compressed air into the line to push any oil down to the diff?

THanks for your time helping!

I have this O ring problem on going for several years. It will take out the solenoid eventually if you leave alone and do nothing. You can put a valve in line to shut it off when not needed, IIRC slee use the valve system for some time. If will get worse before it gets better, mist today oil tomorrow. It not my DD so it has not been a huge problem for just a PIA. I normally purge the line prior to a 4WD outing.

 

[Kanaljen]

Also, can someone help with explaining this too:

You say "check the diff breather". How exactly would I check it?
I assume I'm looking for any signs of it being clogged.. but how!? Draining the diff of oil and blow air thought the breather hose (I think I saw it stick up quiet a bit..)

 

[wildsmith]

You're talking about the fitting conneting the air line to the carrier; that is easy to fix if it leaks and it has nothing to do with the air line siphon up oil from the diff.

Oil is getting into the air line and mists through the solenoid. No air is escaping hower. If I leave the compressor on, it doesn't start until maybe 30 min later.

The o-ring in the casing air line fitting seals between the copper pipe and the casing fitting. If it wasn't there or was faulty oil would leak into the fitting around the copper pipe and into the air line. Not saying this is the common cause just that it can happen and is more easily accessible to check the state of the o-ring.

30 min is a slow leak but still a leak ...

I would think there's always enough air in the pipe to prevent siphoning.