Replacement P38 EAS compressor seal gone hard

I changed the piston seal on the compressor about 6 months ago, can't remember where I got it from (it's beige in colour), but also changed the cylinder and O ring seals. The piston seal now seems to be failing, there's low pressure from the pump. On examination, the seal appears to be wearing as there was beige dust inside the pump and cylinder head, but the seal is not split, the cylinder liner looks fine, however the lip of the seal does appear hard and quite inflexible, it's not sealing very well inside the cylinder, hense low air presure. Anyone come across this type of failure?

How much & where did u get it.? ... I replaced mine , it lasted 6 months and wore the cylinder that time, so I bought a new unit from island 4x4.

one of the replacements doesn't like the cold either....

They do say this one (Dutch) will harden in a short time and ware out Range Rover P38 EAS Air Suspension Compressor Pump Seal | eBay

It was one of these:

Alan C said:

It was one of these:

From this seller:

P38 Range Rover Air Compressor Piston Seal & Liner Kit | eBay

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Looks like the Dutch stuff to me.

wammers said:

Looks like the Dutch stuff to me.

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Bugger - Another Dutch seal bites the dust (or rather turns to dust.......)
I've ordered a seal and cylinder from Symlise, hopefully this will last longer than 6 months. I was under the impression the Dutch seals were a darker colour than the Symlise supplied items?

Ive just fitted the same..... Complete kit including the cylinder.... Well it only took 15 minutes to do hope I haven't wasted my time...

Looking back through my Ebay history, I fitted this seal in early May, so thats 7 months ago, not 6. I've e-mailed the seller with a detailed description of the failure and awaiting his comments.

Alan C said:

Bugger - Another Dutch seal bites the dust (or rather turns to dust.......)
I've ordered a seal and cylinder from Symlise, hopefully this will last longer than 3 months. I was under the impression the Dutch seals were a darker colour than the Symlise supplied items?

Symlise item:

Dutch item:

Item I had fitted:

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:behindsofa:

The Dutch piston seals that I bought up until a few months ago were all grey in colour. I have also found them to harden up and become loose in the cylinder after a short time. I no longer buy them.
The cream coloured seal from "Symlise", I have found to be ok and now use them instead. I had a spare new seal from p38 spares and compared it with the symlise ones and they look and feel the same.
I also found that ordering from Rover Renovations in the USA worked out cheaper than from p38 spares. Rather than buy a new dryer, get a dessicant pack from Rover Renovations and just refill the dryer, it's ££££'s cheaper.

Irishrover said:

:behindsofa:

The Dutch piston seals that I bought up until a few months ago were all grey in colour. I have also found them to harden up and become loose in the cylinder after a short time. I no longer buy them.
The cream coloured seal from "Symlise", I have found to be ok and now use them instead. I had a spare new seal from p38 spares and compared it with the symlise ones and they look and feel the same.
I also found that ordering from Rover Renovations in the USA worked out cheaper than from p38 spares. Rather than buy a new dryer, get a dessicant pack from Rover Renovations and just refill the dryer, it's ££££'s cheaper.

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P38 spares is a rather expensive outlet. They do have a good range but an expensive range. The same stuff can be bought for much less elsewhere.

I also found that ordering from Rover Renovations in the USA worked out cheaper than from p38 spares. Rather than buy a new dryer, get a desiccant pack from Rover Renovations and just refill the dryer, it's ££££'s cheaper.

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I goggled it cant find it, I thought it was a sealed unit? I wouldn't mind changing mine seems a good idea, could you give a link please???????

There's some "genuine" orange seals at Island 4x4 for those who can't wait US to UK delivery time

I just found a genuine one for £4.60!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wammers said:

P38 spares is a rather expensive outlet. They do have a good range but an expensive range. The same stuff can be bought for much less elsewhere.

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They do Arnott Gen 2's at a good price from time to time, but I agree their other stuff can be a bit pricey. Good back up though if things go tits up

Dopey said:

I goggled it cant find it, I thought it was a sealed unit? I wouldn't mind changing mine seems a good idea, could you give a link please???????

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No top screws off. Just a spring and perforated plate on top of loose desicant.

Dopey said:

I goggled it cant find it, I thought it was a sealed unit? I wouldn't mind changing mine seems a good idea, could you give a link please???????

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:behindsofa:

Hi Tony...How's things ???

For those of you that don't know, Dennis had to change his website name and it's now www.truepoints4X4.com
I have looked on there and can't see the dessicant listed. Try sending him a mail to see if he still does it. It came in a plastic bag which was a full charge for the dryer housing and weighed next to nothing. Easy job to do, no need to depressurise the system...just remove the dryer, unscrew the cap tip the old stuff out and fill with the new. The housing never wears out so why replace what is essentially just a container.
Even after allowing for the postage charges frrom the US , all the consumables are cheaper than buying from P38 Spares in the UK and only take an extra couple of days to arrive.

Datatek said:

They do Arnott Gen 2's at a good price from time to time, but I agree their other stuff can be a bit pricey. Good back up though if things go tits up

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Yeah i suppose so Keith. But just a few items. Compressor P38 spares £199.99. Island £164.98. EAS driver P38 spares £219.99. Island £184.92. Drier P38 spares £44.95. Island £29.98. All the same parts. Suppose you have to look around, but i think they are pretty steep with their pricing.

Irishrover said:

:behindsofa:

Hi Tony...How's things ???

For those of you that don't know, Dennis had to change his website name and it's now www.truepoints4X4.com
I have looked on there and can't see the dessicant listed. Try sending him a mail to see if he still does it. It came in a plastic bag which was a full charge for the dryer housing and weighed next to nothing. Easy job to do, no need to depressurise the system...just remove the dryer, unscrew the cap tip the old stuff out and fill with the new. The housing never wears out so why replace what is essentially just a container.
Even after allowing for the postage charges frrom the US , all the consumables are cheaper than buying from P38 Spares in the UK and only take an extra couple of days to arrive.

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Just in case you are asking me. Don't know Dopeys first name. I am good John. Hope you are enjoying retirement from lecy fiddling.

Just in case you are asking me. Don't know Dopeys first name.

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Tony

Irish I'm fine m8, hope your all OK your end

I was thinking (I know dangerous eh??) if its ONLY desiccant that needs replacement then its all much the same , and you can buy sashes from almost any place, and if you have digital scales then you can get the weight right as well, its only Silica Gel and it all duz the same thing, just different sizes grades is all (they put them in sanitary pads as well!!) so now I know it just screws off I'm going to have a look and see who duz them (there are loads of manufactures of these anyway) and give it a bash, after all all it will do is capture moisture as the air passes through it, and any desiccant Silica will do that