High performance air filter

[richardkillmon]

Hello experts,

I just took my bus on her maiden voyage - 17 days/5,000 miles
MCI 5B 1976 Detroit 8V71
Two small issues
1. running hot - fixed this
2. Air filter causing black smoke and reduced power - it was new

I was told by some that a K & N filter would increase performance by a least 15 HP.
I like the reusable aspect. $$$$$
Contacted company and they don't have one to match mine.
Does anyone have a suggestion of who to contact to get a high performance air filter?
My current filter is this - WIX 542459 or Baldwin PA2571
Specs are: round 16" high, outside 12.75", 8.25" inside

Thanks

Rick

[TomC]

DO NOT USE K&N. Yes they flow better, Yes they can be washed. But they do NOT filter out the fine dust that will destroy your engine. On a high performance car for racing-they are unbeatable. In a boat where the air is clean anyway-they are unbeatable. On a truck or bus where we maybe subjected to dusty situations, NOT good. There is a real good reason K&N doesn't make the big filters anymore-they don't filter well enough. I had one on my Kenworth, and when I opened up the intake hose, you could run your finger on the inside of the hose and get a fine dust. I quickly chucked the K&N and went back to the stock filter. I turbocharged by engine, hence I increased the hose size from 6" to 7" with a new air cleaner can from Donaldson.
Just change you filter more often. And NEVER blow out an air filter to try to get more life out of it. Blowing it out will cause micro holes in the paper element allowing dust into the engine. Just buy a new filter element-they are only about $150. Compare that to a $15,000 overhaul. Hope I answered your questions. Good Luck, TomC

[dtcerrato]

We still love our oil bath air cleaners...

[luvrbus]

? what is the CFM on the Baldwin PA2571 filter

[Beluga Bus]

Is black smoke not normal for a 8V71?

[luvrbus]

Is black smoke not normal for a 8V71?

A air filter is good place to start but there are a lot of thing besides air that will cause a 8v71 to roll black smoke

[richardkillmon]

Thank you all for the guidance
The black smoke disappeared once I changed the filter and left the hills.
I couldn't.t find the CFM on the K & N filters.
Most say stay with the paper filters - they caught small particles just change more frequently
My filter was only 9 months old but I had 5,000 miles on this trip

Thanks

[chessie4905]

Automatic or manual transmission. If manual, don't allow rpms get below 1600  climbing in mountains or steep grades. Keep it wound up. Causes overheating and smoke. Especially at high altitudes without turbo.

[richardkillmon]

It is an automatic transmission there is no tachometer in the bus

[buswarrior]

In loose terms, second gear below 38 mph, 3rd gear below 50 mph. Roughly, wherever the engine governor is, without bumping it.

All the time, every time, everywhere.

Force it with the shifter, "automatic" transmissions of this vintage were not smart eniugh to be left to make their own decisions. "Automatic" is best to be thought of as, no clutch to deal with...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior