Finally cleaned my Oil Bath Filters (can't find my old thread)

[benherman1]

I finally got around to taking off and properly cleaning them. I've seen some pretty nasty stuff inside filters before but these were considerably worse. Unfortunately I don't have access to a parts washer  so I used an oil pan and a gallon of mineral spirits for the fun part. My assumption from what I saw is that they have never been cleaned at least since it was in service.

I also noticed one of the four air cleaner bowls doesn't match the rest. Does anyone know why or did one just get changed somewhere along the way?

[chessie4905]

In 50+ years, many things wont be original.

[Utahclaimjumper]

With air cleaners that look like that... what does the inside of the engine look like.??>>>Dan

[dtcerrato]

Imo - not good but a lot better than what's in the photos because they did exactly what they were designed to do - catch all the crap prior to entering the engine...

[luvrbus]

Oil bath filters on a 2 stroke only catch about 97 percent of the dirt and that is at 2100 rpm ,low rpms they catch very little back 50 years you had no choice now you do 

[chessie4905]

Very few put enough miles on their coaches for it to really matter.

[luvrbus]

Very few put enough miles on their coaches for it to really matter.

You are probably right but it will catch up to you sooner or later,when you tear into they are nasty inside from oil bath cleaners and you pull a oil sample one always comes back with high silica amounts

[chessie4905]

I can see that being an issue in many western states where there is more sand than grass or trees.

[richard5933]

Seems to me that the intended area of use plays into the type of filter. Operation in a highly dusty area, like miles and miles of driving on dirt and gravel roads, would clog a paper element much more quickly than an oil bath. Run on dirt roads too often, and it's easy to see how a paper element wouldn't be practical. Still see oil bath filters run in heavy equipment operated in similar conditions.

Perhaps part of the reason for the switch to paper elements was the switch to mainly paved roads?

[buswarrior]

Lots of that hea vy equipment is operated at steady, high rpm.

No doubt, part of the equation?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[luvrbus]

Seems to me that the intended area of use plays into the type of filter. Operation in a highly dusty area, like miles and miles of driving on dirt and gravel roads, would clog a paper element much more quickly than an oil bath. Run on dirt roads too often, and it's easy to see how a paper element wouldn't be practical. Still see oil bath filters run in heavy equipment operated in similar conditions.

Perhaps part of the reason for the switch to paper elements was the switch to mainly paved roads?

You don't see oil bath filters on heavy equipment unless it is old equipment oil bath filters are not used on turbo engines ,I haven't saw a oil bath filter on Cat equipment since the 60's ,they have a precleaner on the intake look up Donaldson pre-cleaners  that takes a few mintues to clean  but good paper filters are not cheap and that is the draw back to some bus nuts

[benherman1]

I'm on a pretty tight budget so I'll stick with the oil bath for the foreseeable future. I'd be interested if there's is a known difference in average overhaul mileage with oil bath vs paper though. As far as what the inside looks like I couldn't say but it runs nicely and starts quick. I'm pretty sure most of this damage was done during an 18 year stint sitting in the woods. Unfortunately the PO drove it from Arkansas to Indiana without checking or cleaning them so I'm sure something unpleasant has made it through. Either way the best thing do be done now is to keep them full and clean and see what happens.

[dtcerrato]

Now that you serviced the oil baths it'll be real easy & cheap to maintain them.

[luvrbus]

Stay on top of the service unlike paper filter you can monitor and paper filters when dirty will give you a warning with engine performance.Oil bath filters will just keep passing the dirt taking out the rotors and end plates on the blowert and it only gets worse from there it is called dusting the engine and they will dust a engine if not serviced on a regular basis