How To Drain An Air Suspension Tank

Unlike spring or coil-over suspension systems, air suspension kits will require some maintenance to ensure your air suspension components are running at their best. One of the most important air suspension maintenance tasks is draining your air suspension tank. In today’s shop talk article, we will discuss why you need to drain your air suspension tank and how to actually drain your tank.

Why Do I Need To Drain My Air Suspension Tank?

Your air suspension air tank stores compressed air created by the air compressors to be used throughout your suspension system. When air is compressed, it creates heat in the air, meaning the stored air is usually hotter than room temperature. As your air tank cools while you are not using your system, the air inside will cool as well and can cause moisture to build up inside of your tank.

If you have a steel tank, this can create rust, permanently damaging your tank and potentially damaging other components of your system. Our AccuAir ENDO tanks are made from DOT-approved aluminum to prevent rusting and give you a better overall tank. While these will not rust with moisture, draining your ENDO tank of any built-up moisture will ensure you remove any moisture and water that could get sent through your system.

How Often Should I Drain My Air Suspension Tank?

At AccuAir, we suggest draining your tank once a month under normal use. If you live in a humid climate or use your system more than most, you will want to drain your air tank every other week. After a few drains, you can start to build a routine depending on how much moisture you drain from your air tank. It is better to drain it more often than not to ensure you are staying ahead of any potential moisture buildup.

If you are draining your air suspension tank and notice an orange slide or liquid coming from your drain, you most likely have rust inside of your tank. Rust will only happen in steel air tanks and will usually require you to purchase a new air tank in the near future. You will not want these liquid or rust particles getting into your air system.

How To Drain An Air Suspension Tank

Draining an air suspension tank will vary from tank to tank. Most high-quality air tanks will come with a pre-installed drain port to allow you to easily install an air tank drain kit for easy draining. Air tank drain kits will usually include a drain port connection connected to a hose that has a Shrader-style valve at the end. Using a Shrader valve tool or specialty air tank drain tool, you can easily purge the system and remove any air/moisture from the air suspension tank by pushing the valve or removing it completely.

Our AccuAir ENDO air tanks will feature a ⅛ NPT port at the bottom of the front face of the tank. This will allow you to easily drain your air tank and ensure your AccuAir air suspension system stays properly maintained long-term.