P38A EAS Compressor Kits - X8R vs 4x4AirSeals

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pwood999

pwood999

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I have been using X8R for quite a few years for my own compressors, and several others. Wondering if the claims by 4x4 Air Seals for their "new design" piston ring are realistic ?

Will probably order one of each and do some testing.

4x4AirSeals:
1702378394008.png




X8R Kit:
1702378335794.png
 
I've used both, TBH could not really judge one against tother, the only thing I thought when buying was the extra items that the X8R set comes with and the cylinder seemed a tad better. I have a couple of chrome steel cylinders that I have had for a while so I haven't had to use either sellers replacements for a while but I keep them on hand just in case. I may be wrong but I think the last time I bought the X8R set it came with the same style piston ring as the 4X4 air seals one (as in flat and not shaped) it worked a treat though.
 
I have ordered both. Plan is to refurb my two spares, and then bench test using a 5 litre tank & pressure switch. That way I can time how long each takes to fill the tank. Obviously less than the P38 tank, but should show any performance differences.

Will post feedback in next week or two.
 
pwood999 said:
I have ordered both. Plan is to refurb my two spares, and then bench test using a 5 litre tank & pressure switch. That way I can time how long each takes to fill the tank. Obviously less than the P38 tank, but should show any performance differences.

Will post feedback in next week or two.
Click to expand...

But fresh rebuilt will be so close could you tell the diff?
Its the life really that makes a diff.

Would be interested to see the diff in design, shape and material though.

J
 
I had this thought the other day and I am sure someone must have tried it.
If you were to get a standard large capacity suspension compressor, wire it from the loom of the P38s and then tee into the old compressors outlet would that not fool the system into believing it was filling the tank from the old one. Obviously the old one would be taken out of the loop with the exception of the feed for the compressor, you could probably still use the feeds for the thermal overload and pressure switch to the higher capacity compressor. Fill the tank in a tenth of the time maybe :)
That's my stoopid thought of the day, mine still works fine with the original kit but it would be nice to fill the tank in flash. As I use the access mode constantly (I'm an old codger) I have to wait for the tank to recover after dumping the air.
 
marjon said:
But fresh rebuilt will be so close could you tell the diff?
Its the life really that makes a diff.

Would be interested to see the diff in design, shape and material though.

J
Click to expand...
I just looked into my box of bits and it appears that the piston rings from both suppliers look the same as far as I can see, they are both the flat version with no cup shape and the materials seem the same too
 
cornishboater said:
That's my stoopid thought of the day, mine still works fine with the original kit but it would be nice to fill the tank in flash. As I use the access mode constantly (I'm an old codger) I have to wait for the tank to recover after dumping the air.
Click to expand...

But.....
If you drive somewhere and use "access" mode its just dumping air, when you come back to the car with your groceries the tank should still have enough (if full) to pop it up straight away?
Then it will charge up on your way home, and popup again the next day ;).

Think @Mark Piercy ran/runs a different pump.

J
 
marjon said:
But.....
If you drive somewhere and use "access" mode its just dumping air, when you come back to the car with your groceries the tank should still have enough (if full) to pop it up straight away?
Then it will charge up on your way home, and popup again the next day ;).

Think @Mark Piercy ran/runs a different pump.

J
Click to expand...
I do and does. It's an l322 pump. Fills in half the time. 😎👍
 
cornishboater said:
I just looked into my box of bits and it appears that the piston rings from both suppliers look the same as far as I can see, they are both the flat version with no cup shape and the materials seem the same too
Click to expand...
It's the cup shape that pushes the edge of the ring against the cylinder walls under pressure which also compensates for wear to some extent. I don't really see how a flat washer of a piston ring can work long term.
 
Datatek said:
It's the cup shape that pushes the edge of the ring against the cylinder walls under pressure which also compensates for wear to some extent. I don't really see how a flat washer of a piston ring can work long term.
Click to expand...
Hi Keith, that was what I thought originally but the one I am running at the moment has done 4yrs so far, when you install the flat one it forms to the cup shape and seems to give a much better fit/seal. They supply a tool (of sorts) to install it correctly so that it forms the right shape
 
cornishboater said:
Hi Keith, that was what I thought originally but the one I am running at the moment has done 4yrs so far, when you install the flat one it forms to the cup shape and seems to give a much better fit/seal. They supply a tool (of sorts) to install it correctly so that it forms the right shape
Click to expand...
OK so it starts out flat but takes up the correct cup shape when fitted. In that case it should be fine and seal better than the ones that are pre shaped.
 
Plan is to bench test when new. Then one in each P38 and test again after a few months.

@Mark Piercy where did you mount the L322 pump. I have a refurbed one but need to make a suitable mount.
 
Aah. Mine has the cruise bits behind the eas box which I guess yours doesn’t have. Will have to see where my L322 pump might fit, but that can wait.
 
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