Air Issue (Not A/C) and Motor Cleaning

[Kevin McKeown]

Greetings again,

Another little problem...when airing up the BB after sitting for a
few days (all air in tanks depleted), the pressure climbs and stays
at 30 PSI, and won't go any higher. I shut down the BB, and listen
through the open hatch underneath the bed, and hear air excaping
somewhere near the compressor. When it gets down to almost no
pressure, I hear a click, and the hissing abruptly stops. I start
up the BB again, and pressure climbs like normal up to the usual 125
PSI or so, and no hissing. This happens almost every time with the
same result.

I've kind of got used to the routine, but naturally I'm afraid of
getting stuck somewhere with only 30 pounds of air pressure (can't
release the brakes, suspension dumped, etc). Any ideas? I know
there must be some kind of valve that is sticking, but I can't find
it in all that mess of hoses and wires. Any sugestions?

Also, looking down through the engine hatch underneath the rear bed,
the engine is pretty gunked op with old oil, dirt, and the
usual "road cake". Can I hurt anything by soaking it with engine
degreaser (Sam's Club Purple Cleaner), and hitting with a hose or
pressure washer? I'd like to get the snail shells, mouse poop, and
the grime washed off so I can see what I'm looking at. The top of
the motor makes a nice dining room for the neighborhood little
critters, and I guess the snails are tasty but their shells aren't.
OK to pressure wash it clean?

Thanks, like always....

Kevin McKeown
Yorba Linda, CA
1986 38' PT
8V92