Quick question on new air tank

[SubaDrew]

I bought the aluminum air tank from harbour freight and it sound like there's liquid in it (i just opened it). Should I be concerned?

[GingerGSR]

I bought the aluminum air tank from harbour freight and it sound like there's liquid in it (i just opened it). Should I be concerned?

Man, I wouldn't think there should be any liquid in it unless it's some sort of anti-corrosion gunk. Is it desiccant beads maybe?

[aleliaert]

Didn't you see it on the news? This is how China is dealing with their toxic industrial waste problem... Put it inside stuff they ship to the US! :)

[SubaDrew]

I guess I should assume it's just moisture buildup and I should try to drain it somehow. Since it's aluminum, it shouldn't rust.

Perhaps I'll drain it into the drivers seat of a certain red miata. The toxicity could really add some HP.

[fast_eddie_72]

I guess I should assume it's just moisture buildup and I should try to drain it somehow. Since it's aluminum, it shouldn't rust.

Perhaps I'll drain it into the drivers seat of a certain red miata. The toxicity could really add some HP.

I know with compressors condensation in the tank is comon. I wonder if you fill it and use it a few times if it would just come out with the pressurized air?

[GingerGSR]

I know with compressors condensation in the tank is comon. I wonder if you fill it and use it a few times if it would just come out with the pressurized air?
No, that's why there are drains on air tanks. With the constant up & down of the pressure, it creates a little "weather machine" and all the condensation (Rain!) ends up in the bottom of the tank. If it isn't drained on a regular basis it will corrode the inside of the tank and will cause it to fail in a most spectacular manner... in the middle of the night... and the guy's in the black suburbans show up wanting to know why your messing with explosives... in the middle of the night… without a permit!!! :eek:

[fast_eddie_72]

No, that's why there are drains on air tanks. With the constant up & down of the pressure, it creates a little "weather machine" and all the condensation (Rain!) ends up in the bottom of the tank. If it isn't drained on a regular basis it will corrode the inside of the tank and will cause it to fail in a most spectacular manner... in the middle of the night... and the guy's in the black suburbans show up wanting to know why your messing with explosives... in the middle of the night… without a permit!!! :eek:

That's a good point. Not to thread jack, but why don't the portable air tanks have drains like compressors do? I drain my compressor tank all the time and get quite a bit of water. And it's not like I use it a lot. I would think a portable tank would do the same thing in a few uses.

[GingerGSR]

That's a good point. Not to thread jack, but why don't the portable air tanks have drains like compressors do? I drain my compressor tank all the time and get quite a bit of water. And it's not like I use it a lot. I would think a portable tank would do the same thing in a few uses.

Good point.
Perhaps the air is already "dry" from the initial compression/expansion in the compressors tank?
I guess you could turn it over and just let the water out through the air hose if it did build up.
Now that I think of it, my tank doesn't have a drain either. It's a steel NT unit.

[Matt Leicester]

The majority of water in air compressor tanks comes from the compressor itself, not from condensation on the tank walls. I'm sure condensation adds to the fun, but it's not the main source. To drain an air bottle, hold the bottle with the outlet hose at the bottom and run some air out the line - the water in the bottle is not in suspension in the air, gravity works and the water will be at the bottom of the tank.

As far as what's in the shiny new bottle, I would maybe let all the air out and unscrew the fitting and just pour the contents out - you don't have to worry as much about what will happen if the contents come out under pressure.

Matt Leicester