Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

How to improve your Bluetongues performance

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • How to improve your Bluetongues performance

    I have a Bluetongue IV air compressor which I bought just before ARB released their new model compresssor. While the Bluetongue has a reputation for reliability I was a little disappointed when I compared its performance against the new ARB model. If only I'd known and waited a couple of more months. :cry:

    Well today I went down to Pirtek and got a new hose as the supplied one wont reach the tyres on the camper trailer from the engine bay. The hose is 6mm with Nitto style couplings and should now be long enough to reach the trailer. While sorting through the fittings the bloke at Pirtek said the pump should work a bit faster now due to the larger fittings and because the OEM hose was considerably smaller in diameter than what was replacing it.

    He wasnt wrong. Previously it took over 16 minutes to pump up all four tyres from 18 to 30psi (265 75) straight off the battery -thats around 4 minutes per tyre. Today I pumped up three tyres from 16psi, each one taking no longer than two and a half minutes to reach 32psi. I ran the engine for the last one and in two and a half minutes it went from 16 to 34psi.

    While it probably doesnt sound like much I think its a significant improvement, especially if you have to do the trailer tyres as well. The new hose cost a bit ($73 :shock: ), but its done now and after having had the pump for a couple of years the extra outlay wasnt quite as painful. It just makes me wonder if other compressors would also benefit from a hose upgrade?

  • #2
    Re: How to improve your Bluetongues performance

    Good one Rainman.
    Did you notice any difference with temp of compressor. Most get a bit warm after a while, and some of the temp is probably due to the back pressure of hoses & fittings.

    BTW, are you the same Rainman on perth4x4 site?
    Cheers

    Daz

    2004 TD GXL Auto Prado

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: How to improve your Bluetongues performance

      Originally posted by Daz
      Good one Rainman.
      Did you notice any difference with temp of compressor. Most get a bit warm after a while, and some of the temp is probably due to the back pressure of hoses & fittings.
      Took the words outa my mouth!

      Recently 'borrowed' one of the new ARB compressors, and it was too hot to touch after doing the four tyres. I couldnt release the 'quick release' on the hose for ages until it cooled down.
      2005 TD GXL Auto

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: How to improve your Bluetongues performance

        Originally posted by lofty
        Recently 'borrowed' one of the new ARB compressors, and it was too hot to touch after doing the four tyres. I couldnt release the 'quick release' on the hose for ages until it cooled down.
        She certainly gets hot! I keep a pair of gloves with my hose kit for precisely this occasion.

        Funny story... After my helper inflated the tyres I made certain to tell him that the gloves are in the back and that he'll need them to detach the hose 'cause it gets too hot to touch. My helper thought I was being prudish, and unknown to me went ahead and used his hanky :shock: to disconnect it. Suddenly I heard loud swearing and a bang as the end of hose bounced off some part of the engine. "THAT'S <bleepin> HOT!!!" My helper was a little too embarrassed to say much more... I let it slide - the lesson was learned .

        LFaR.
        [size=1][color=#770000]29Feb12:[/color][color=#777700]12GXLTD Auto, ARB Deluxe Winch bar, WARN 9.5xp Winch, IPF 900XS, Tow, Safari snorkel, Front + Rear Recovery points, ARB OME NC Sports, ATZ-4Rib[/color][color=grey], Silver[/color]. [color=orange][b]MaxTrax[/b][/color], [color=maroon]ScanGuage II[/color], [color=blue]ARB CKMA12[/color], [color=deeppink]UHF: GME TX3440 AE4018K1 UNH047SX[/color], [color=darkgreen]Bushranger Air Jack[/color], [color=green]Staun + ARB Deflators[/color], [color=brown]WindCheetah Roof Rack[/color], [color=green]Foxwing[/color], [color=red]Super Charge MRV70, Redarc BCDC1220[/color], [color=darkblue]ARB 60L fridge[/color], [color=blue]MSA Fridge Dropdown slide[/color], [color=darkyellow]DRIFTA Drawers[/color], [color=gold]TJM Bash Plates[/color], [color=brown]TG150[/color].[/size]

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: How to improve your Bluetongues performance

          Good stuff mate i will fit a bigger hose to mine now!

          joey
          Featured - issue 140 Australian 4wd Action.
          -issue 52 Modified 4wds .
          Locked ,Lifted, boosted Brut---"Pradzilla".
          [IMG]http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff268/bigfryy/_0481154045-2.jpg[/IMG]

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: How to improve your Bluetongues performance

            Originally posted by Daz
            Good one Rainman.
            Did you notice any difference with temp of compressor. Most get a bit warm after a while, and some of the temp is probably due to the back pressure of hoses & fittings.

            BTW, are you the same Rainman on perth4x4 site?
            The Bluetongue gets a bit warm, it is mounted in the engine bay and I have run a hose down to the front of the vehicle and attached it to an air barb mounted under the bull bar, that way I dont have to lift the bonnet to connect up.

            The connection point can get a bit warm, but with a quick disconnect I'm still able to use my bare hands. Next time I use it I'll check to see if the compressor is any hotter/cooler. I did notice that it has a much deeper note to it with the bigger hose, I guess that could mean its not having to work as hard?

            As for Perth 4x4, I refuse to answer on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: How to improve your Bluetongues performance

              Do you have part numbers or photos? At the moment I have different hoses and quick connects for the BT and the 240V compressor and it would be nice to rationalise. As a bit of a stretch to this I found after the deflating experience on Monday that my four pressure gauges (two on tyre fittings and two dial gauges that live in the cars to compare against servo gauges) were quite a bit different to each other. I did some research and found that the RACQ did a test of tyre gauges some years back.

              http://www.racq.com.au/__data/assets/pd ... survey.pdf

              I did a web search and came to about the same conclusion based on others comments and ended up buying the Jamec-PEM. I checked it against a calibrated gauge at a tyre place and it was spot on. You cannot deflate with it but I wanted a master gauge I could rely on and will use the others in the bsuh and allow for their inaccuracy. The dials are now marked +4, +3, -3, +1 accordingly.

              Michael
              My 150 build - http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread.php?27423-A-Random-approach-to-a-Bluestorm-150-GXL-D4D-automatic

              Comment

              Working...
              X