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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Scott & Heather on April 10, 2012, 02:58:14 PM

Title: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Scott & Heather on April 10, 2012, 02:58:14 PM
Thanks to all of you for your experience. As an avid user of the "search" function, I found several threads and posts about the air filter, maintenance, as well as some horror stories of people not maintaining clean air and having to rebuild motors. That being said, I took my air box apart and really cleaned the sealing surfaces that seal against the filter foam seals. I want a tight seal...the other pic shows my solution to the coach not getting quite enough air. Fred Hobe did this, and I know some of you will frown on it, but I've noticed a difference in throttle response since I did this (mostly because the original air feed has been blocked by foam insulation). I will cut the opening straighter and paint it black behind the grate....but you get the idea. Coach is getting much more air now.

(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yyYK0lTsRDQ%2FT4SqN7fBAGI%2FAAAAAAAAFQo%2FQsWP8Vt5wIg%2Fs320%2FIMG_0146.jpg&hash=3815446e1c060488b9dcedea4f35433315c53e74)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-thX3SHQNs5Y%2FT4SqW3g4sWI%2FAAAAAAAAFQw%2FvHNt-zJQ39k%2Fs320%2FIMG_0150.jpg&hash=f6af74e37010600befa178853227a40b5aed5656)
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Gary '79 5C on April 10, 2012, 04:12:47 PM
Looks Great & very good job !!

Probably second of third importance only to oil maintanence.

Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Scott & Heather on April 10, 2012, 04:42:12 PM
Thanks! Honestly, maybe because I'm young and still in my twenties, but when I'm working on the coach, many times I work on it and do an extra good job because I'm thinking of the club and the kudos I'm going to get for doing it right. Sounds crazy but you guys hold me accountable
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: lostagain on April 10, 2012, 05:27:32 PM
Where was the air intake before? Was it in front of the radiator? Or did you just enlarge an existing grill?

JC
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Scott & Heather on April 10, 2012, 08:29:34 PM
The intake originally was built in between the walls of the coach. Not exactly sure where it got air from, but during our conversion we accidentally filled the gap with insulation thus blocking any air flow. Amazingly we drove the coach this way for 2000 miles.  I cut the skewed rectangular hole you see behind the grate which opens up the space where the coach air box feeds
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Mex-Busnut on April 10, 2012, 10:12:34 PM
Scott:

You are doing great on your bus project.

Maybe you can add a scoop to help catch the air when your vehicle is moving forward. Here is a picture of a scoop on mine.
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Bestekustoms on April 11, 2012, 01:21:30 AM
I Really Like Your Attitude... :o... Being Kept Accountable Is A Great Gift From All....
Now.....If Just Everyone Thought That Way.  ::)  What A Wonderful SAFE World It Would Be..

Great Job There Scott. Your Coach Is Looking Great. Keep Up The Good Work. (we are all watching)
You Guys Should Be Very Proud.

Thanks For Sharing

10-4
MrBreeze
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: lostagain on April 11, 2012, 07:04:12 AM
Scott,

your stock air intake was like it was on my 5C, and I think other 5s, and 8s and 9s:

the filter(s) suck air from a space where you cut out your grill. The air comes from the area in front of the radiator, just behind the rad grill. There are some vertical slot kind of holes along the left side of the rad, more to the outside along the inside of the grill. Hard to explain in my poor English, you have to look to see it.

I was concerned about water being sucked in to the air intake when using the misters, so I changed things a bit to take air through the engine door just below. And I can easily put on a pre-filter for dusty conditions.

JC

Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Scott & Heather on April 11, 2012, 05:35:05 PM
Yes I've seen the fins in the wall that directed air flow, but with the wall cut open it breathes wonderfully. Thanks again for kudos. :) 29 days and counting until our next journey from Orlando to Michigan to Wisconsin and then Ohio. :)
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: buswarrior on April 11, 2012, 07:50:16 PM
The engine intake is that little rectangular hole in the forward wall of the radiator intake.

Yup, that little hole.

Strangulation leads to higher engine temps...

Good job, I've got the hole cut in mine waiting for resumption of activities to put a suitable grill on it.

happy coaching!
buswarrior
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Scott & Heather on April 11, 2012, 08:20:26 PM
I used the stainless grill I Zipped off the front dash area of a donor coach. Keeps birds squirrels and mice from making a home in the massive filter. In addition we ordered a new filter :) $60 for the beast!
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: buswarrior on April 11, 2012, 08:23:32 PM
If you sliced that big bus air filter into slices suitable for the old Chevrolet in the driveway...

and then compare what they are soaking us for one of those little ones...

The bus filter looks to be quite a bargain!

happy coaching!
buswarrior
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Scott & Heather on April 16, 2012, 06:49:44 AM
true buswarrior...never thought of it that way...I'm slicing it right now in my mind...!!!
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Scott & Heather on April 22, 2012, 03:46:11 PM
And finally cleaned up the airbox. Rusty as all get out. sanding, powersanded, hand sanded. Never got it completely smooth but got the loose stuff off enough to help me sleep better when driving down the road knowing no junk is going flake off into my air intake...wow...it was rusty.

(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-OJ6jxwc86pY%2FT5SIxZyhUbI%2FAAAAAAAAFYM%2FPlKGCqk1eqo%2Fs320%2FIMG_0147.jpg&hash=c3cf3bd45ae928b1eed432adc8518b2c88d33412)(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-gZ3-gcTMCjU%2FT5SI5UdvU_I%2FAAAAAAAAFYU%2FXkGsZWY2p2c%2Fs320%2FIMG_0201.jpg&hash=94aab2b22db9459528ffd41983eaafba74eba7f1)(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-G9URq5ii_bs%2FT5SJBCaQz8I%2FAAAAAAAAFYc%2F9QUL76r36_o%2Fs320%2FIMG_0203.jpg&hash=4dcdab9dfd06cbda8b1b5719aec37ec60248a0dc)(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-szjewhwWfEw%2FT5SJEm1d9QI%2FAAAAAAAAFYk%2FarOjaxQwmZ4%2Fs320%2FIMG_0206.jpg&hash=ed3545cf70576e1c1a70cbe4fa2fae0990a5baa6)(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-GHJyY0OHU8Q%2FT5SJHlTGu6I%2FAAAAAAAAFYs%2FAVXc-9CMD_w%2Fs320%2FIMG_0207.jpg&hash=d9f7e10d0b42a4e568a2ea3b07eb6c8118859f87)(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-t24GPLnpNlI%2FT5SJKOUbDjI%2FAAAAAAAAFY0%2FKPqFhGB67Sw%2Fs320%2FIMG_0208.jpg&hash=0142ece689c9901b815a72ab515c3fd5987b04b4)
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: belfert on April 22, 2012, 04:46:15 PM
Does it get rust on the inside just from driving through rain and such?  My bus has a Donaldson water separator before the air filter that is supposed to remove water from the intake air.
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Scott & Heather on April 22, 2012, 05:53:20 PM
Not sure...Mine was so sealed up the only way water could get in was through the intake at the radiator...which means water vapor/spray only. It was bad. I should have forked over the $50 to get it blasted...but this was sufficient. How does your separator work?
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: bevans6 on April 23, 2012, 04:49:17 AM
The design of the stock air box on the MCI's includes an air/water separator between the intake slot and the air filters.  There is a drain tube there that you can see when you open the side engine bay door.  The air comes in through the vertical slot, goes down to a horizontal box where the water is caught, then turns and goes to the air filter.

Brian
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Scott & Heather on April 23, 2012, 08:40:04 AM
Nice...seen that tube a million times...and a million times wondered what it was.
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: bevans6 on April 23, 2012, 09:03:06 AM
I am starting to feel like Yoda - "Be one with the bus, Luke - FEEL the bus..."    :o

Brian
Title: Re: Air filter box maintenance (photos)
Post by: Scott & Heather on April 23, 2012, 06:42:38 PM
Ahahahah! That made my day! Lol