How do I install a Donaldson air filter?

belfert · September 27, 2016, 01:28:55 PM

How the heck does one install the air filter in a Donaldson horizontal filter housing? I tried to do it once and couldn't do it. I could not figure out how to get the filter to stay centered while getting the cover back on.

It is a Donaldson P142100 if that matters. I am having a bit of trouble finding one in stock locally, but no issues ordering one.

luvrbus · September 27, 2016, 03:57:34 PM

Is that a cone shape or round filter ?

B_K · September 27, 2016, 07:34:08 PM

It is slightly tapered if I remember correctly Clifford, but I may be wrong.

Brian I always shoved back on the little ring at the end of the housing and held it with one finger while putting the cap back on. Once the cap is in place it stays by itself! (if you have trouble with using a finger a slim straight screw driver should work too!)

BK

BTW I never had a problem with NAPA getting me the filter the same day if I odered it before 9:30-10 AM

TomC · September 27, 2016, 11:30:00 PM

With the conical filter mounted in horizontal, I have the same setup and had the same problem. Solution-make a small wood block that you can put under the paper filter to hold it in place while you put the cover back on the can. Good Luck, TomC

belfert · September 28, 2016, 07:07:21 AM

This is a conical filter. I thought about putting a small block of wood to hold it in place, but I figured it wasn't a good idea to leave something in the housing.

It appears NAPA might be able to get the filter easily, but the price is twice what other places charge. I was trying to find the filter in Salt Lake City with no luck. I am in Minneapolis now and I bet it won't be as hard to find. The air filter fills with dust out in the desert and then the dust turns to mud sitting in the humidity at home. The filter will have a layer of mud, but the filter minder won't move.

lostagain · September 28, 2016, 07:31:58 AM

Brian, those filter minders aren't always accurate. I quit using one. I can tell when the filter is getting clogged up by the smoke out the exhaust pipe, and reduced power.

JC

luvrbus · September 28, 2016, 07:43:48 AM

Quote from: lostagain on September 28, 2016, 07:31:58 AM
Brian, those filter minders aren't always accurate. I quit using one. I can tell when the filter is getting clogged up by the smoke out the exhaust pipe, and reduced power.

JC

Filter minders are a joke

DoubleEagle · September 28, 2016, 08:26:04 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on September 28, 2016, 07:43:48 AM

Filter minders are a joke

And a waste of money.

Sam 4106 · September 28, 2016, 05:11:01 PM

If filter minders aren't any good, how do you best determine when to change an air filter? Or do you just change them once a year like oil, oil filter, and fuel filters?
Thanks, Sam

DoubleEagle · September 28, 2016, 05:27:36 PM

Take them out and physically inspect them for any defects and excessive dirt. If there is just light debris, blow it off with compressed air from the inside, and put it back in. If it is really dirty and has turned color, and has any bad spots like splits or perforations, replace it. Some times a filter can last a long time, but if you get in an area of dirt roads and farm debris, and industrial junk, it could need cleaning or replacement quickly. Depending on a filter minder that may or may not respond to changes does not work well; it is best to open it up and see for yourself. On boats, there is no air filter because there are few dust clouds over the lakes.

Scott & Heather · September 28, 2016, 07:46:09 PM

If I can't see a bright light shone through it, it's in the garbage

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

TomC · September 28, 2016, 10:19:08 PM

At least on my air filter, the dirty air comes from the outside of the filter to the inside-then into the engine. Hence the little wood block has no way of getting into the turbo.
Highly recommend you do NOT use compressed air to blow out an air filter. In doing so, you can create small micro holes in the filter and allow dust into the engine-that will basically sand down the rings until they don't seal anymore, prematurely. Air filter elements are relatively cheap (>$100). Much cheaper than an engine overhaul. Good Luck, TomC

DoubleEagle · September 29, 2016, 06:30:39 AM

Quote from: TomC on September 28, 2016, 10:19:08 PM
At least on my air filter, the dirty air comes from the outside of the filter to the inside-then into the engine. Hence the little wood block has no way of getting into the turbo.
Highly recommend you do NOT use compressed air to blow out an air filter. In doing so, you can create small micro holes in the filter and allow dust into the engine-that will basically sand down the rings until they don't seal anymore, prematurely. Air filter elements are relatively cheap (>$100). Much cheaper than an engine overhaul. Good Luck, TomC

If you use too much pressure or hold the air nozzle too close to the filter, yes, but applying an air flow that is more gentle from a distance will not be much different than the air flow coming in when the engine is running. The big air filter elements are priced just a bit above my level of cheapness, but then, I am pretty frugal.

TomC · September 29, 2016, 07:18:42 AM

On my truck, I have a dash mounted (helps with front engine) air filter restriction gauge. You can see almost zero restriction when it is new, and gradually getting dirty. I believe change when it got to 10" restriction.
Also have a fuel filter restriction gauge for the same reason. Gives you warning that you need to change the filter well in advance of loosing power.
Just to give you an idea of how many gauges you can have, here's the list of what you can have (at least with a twin screw [tandem] drive) truck: Speedometer, odometer, trip odometer, tachometer, engine hour meter (in tachometer), engine oil pressure, engine oil temperature, engine water temp, pyrometer (exhaust temp), fuel filter restriction, fuel pressure, air filter restriction, volts, ammeter, trans temp, front drive axle temp, rear drive axle temp, front air pressure, rear air pressure, brake application. Going to add an altimeter (have one open gauge spot). Good Luck, TomC

luvrbus · September 29, 2016, 07:31:00 AM

Quote from: DoubleEagle on September 29, 2016, 06:30:39 AM
If you use too much pressure or hold the air nozzle too close to the filter, yes, but applying an air flow that is more gentle from a distance will not be much different than the air flow coming in when the engine is running. The big air filter elements are priced just a bit above my level of cheapness, but then, I am pretty frugal.

Cat has always allowed you to blow a filter out they even sold a fan type air nozzle to use.I even bought 1 of the washers they sold to clean the filter you added the chemicals in the rinse you could wash the filter twice.
It saved me tons of money the inner and outer filters on some of the equipment could cost $ 250.00 in the year 2000.
lol I never lost a Cat engine from a faulty air cleaner,Filter Minders sell air filters every piece of equipment I owned had 1 on the dash they were more trouble than they were worth IMO.
A friggn hung over operator would shut your equipment down because it was in the yellow just to take a nap I plugged every one on every piece of equipment we owned.My service guy was smart enough to know when the filter needed changing