What is the purpose of that little air pump that pumps air in my exhaust heat exchanger

Discussion in 'Ask Our Repairmen' started by matt30577, Jan 4, 2012.

  1. matt30577 Member

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    I'm talking about my late 90's prochem legend. Is it really needed
    matt30577, Jan 4, 2012
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  2. kamilboston New Member

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    I believe that pump is to have better gas burning therefore more heat.
    kamilboston, Jan 4, 2012
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  3. dgardner New Member

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    Your pump does what is called secondary air injection. The main purpose is to introduce excess oxygen so any unburned hydrocarbons are consumed. In an auto this is for emissions, but it does raise the temperature of the exhaust, so on your Prochem I believe it is for more heat (like kamil said).
    dgardner, Jan 4, 2012
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  4. matt30577 Member

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    Then shouldn't every truckmount with exhaust heat exchangers have something like that?
    matt30577, Jan 5, 2012
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  5. RDCCARPET Member

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    Prochem was over engineered. That air pump didn't last long and was to much money in my opinion. Trying to squeeze every little amount of heat or hp out of an engine just cause you can is not best for reliability.
    RDCCARPET, Jan 5, 2012
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  6. matt30577 Member

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    So you're telling me that the new truckmounts don't have those pumps on them
    matt30577, Jan 5, 2012
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  7. Ara Klujian Moderator & TMF Repair Expert

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    Without the airpump excess carbon will buildup in the catalytic converter.
    Ara Klujian, Jan 6, 2012
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  8. matt30577 Member

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    I took the heat exchanger apart and found a little buildup of that carbon. How can I clean that out?
    matt30577, Jan 6, 2012
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  9. Ara Klujian Moderator & TMF Repair Expert

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    You can spray some degreaser and hose it down. A little carbon is normal. Its when the carbon cakes up really thick is when there is an issue.
    Ara Klujian, Jan 6, 2012
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  10. JETVAC Member

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    with the legend the air pump is need to keep water hot .my air pump belt brock 1 day and i rain it with out it .water was still hot but not as hot as normal .got the job done then brought a new belt and put it in a 15 min job not a biggy.
    JETVAC, Jan 6, 2012
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