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AIR DOG ON A PREVOST
The Air Dog is being advertised on our Prevost Community web site. It is a product that is claimed to provide substantial benefits. The manufacturer has so much confidence in the product it reached out with an offer to install one on a Prevost coach for testing.
I was chosen because I have detailed records and can use them as an accurate benchmark for comparison. It helps that I tend to be cynical. Prior to the actual installation I did two things. The first was to do as much research as possible to understand the product and to determine the underlying reason for the product and how well it works. My efforts confirmed the problem of fuel aeration is a valid one and if the entrained air can be removed the benefits claimed are real. How to measure the benefits is easy with respect to mileage gains, not so easy with the other claims, but there may be a way to evaluate some of the other claims, specifically smoother idle and running and more power.
The second thing I did was try to figure out where and how to install the Air Dog. To say I shed a lot of blood trying to determine that is an understatement. On the Air Dog web site I found installation instructions for large truck applications. I realized immediately installing the Air Dog system on a truck is a piece of cake. Tip the hood forward, walk right up to the engine area and access for mounting, all fittings and all fuel lines is close at hand. Within an arm’s length an installer can mount the unit, connect the fuel lines, and even have easy access to an electrical power source and a mounting location on the dash for a system warning light.
On our coaches two concerns relative to installation arose. The first was where to physically mount the device. The second was how to access the return fuel line which is essential because that is where the air removed from the fuel is delivered.
The blood was caused by trying to stick my hands and arms in places where the return fuel line could be accessed and until the bus was at the Air Dog factory no one was sure where we were going to make the connection.
It all worked out quite well however, and in the article the installation process was described. It is likely based on what we all learned during the installation installing the Air Dog is likely to be as easy as any other installation.
Once on the road, returning from the installation the evaluation had begun. The measure of fuel economy has begun, but until a substantial number of miles has been run I will not be able to report on the Air Dog claims of improved mileage. But thanks to Jay Armistead of Air Dog I now have a way to switch my coach from the original fuel system condition to the fuel system that uses the Air Dog. So in the next several weeks I will be trying to get repeatable results on evaluating engine smoothness between the two systems, as well as a measurable means of evaluating the improvement of horsepower and torque. Right now with no proof other than my gut feel, I think the bus is running smoother than it ever has.
To read the article which will be featured in the next newsletter, go to the home page on PC, scroll down to see the latest posts and click on the Air Dog article.
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4 Replies
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AIR DOG PERFORMANCE TEST
One of the Air Dog claims is increased power. On their web site Air Dog provides details regarding how they tested and verified that claim, but I decided to verify the claim.
The process was simple. I picked a starting point and an end point. From a complete stop, with the engine fully warmed up I would start from a complete stop at the starting point, and time the bus as it ran between the two points. The transmission was left in Drive, the OTR was turned off, the transmission was put in performance mode, and as soon as I mashed my foot on the accelerator timing started, and as soon as the bus nose hit the end point timing stopped.
To be confident of the timing which was done by none other than Tom Chilcote using his smart phone two runs were made with the Air Dog functioning, and two with the Air Dog out of the system.
Our first impression was to determine if either of us could sense or feel a difference in vibration as the Air Dog was turned off. Neither of us could, and maybe prior to the completion of testing I can find a way to determine if there is a way to measure this stated benefit.
The timed acceleration runs were close. The numbers are below and it is up to you to determine if based on what we did and how we did it the numbers are accurate enough to verify performance gains due to more power as claimed, of if they are inaccurate or unreliable due to operator error.
AIR DOG “ON”, 22.65 SECONDS, 22.94 SECONDS
AIR DOG “OFF” 235 SECONDS, 239 SECONDS.
The Air Dog site does not state there are massive increases of power, but a 6% increase in torque.
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Since beginning the test I have not varied from how I use the coach, such as more or less towing with a toad, except for replacing the Hummer with a 1700 pound lighter Jeep Grand Cherokee. We use the OTR as we normally do, go to places we typically went to so things like hills, were no different than normal, and most importantly I drive with the cruise set at 1500 RPM (62 MPH).
Since the installation of the Air Dog the miles traveled have been 4413. The fuel added, minus 9.2 gallons attributed to the use of the generator was 686.828 gallons for a MPG of 6.43.
Testing and data recording will continue, but to date mileage seems the same as the prior 35,000 miles.
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Great intel…..thank you. I was just looking into this and was thinking about your post and wondering how it came out – while sitting behind the wheel from Indio to Houston earlier this week. Averaged what I considered to be great mileage for all the hills on I-10 coming back at around 6.14 to 6.42 mpg (average). Utilized cruise heavily and let the Detroit and Allison do their thing. I was happy and given the price of fuel, could not complain much. Keep it serviced at Prevost every 10K miles. Thanks again for this update!
Mike & Debra
2004 Prevost H345 w/stacker (2020 Jeep Gladiator TOAD)
Houston
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