Changing or cleaning filter in oil bath air cleaner

dalma

Does anyone one know if it’s possible to take out the filter in an oil bath air cleaner and either clean it or replace it?

charles4d

Yes it can be replaced Fram makes them don't have the model number off hand someone  will chime in on it I'm sure 

54coupe

The filters in oil bath air cleaners that I've seen, look similar to coarse steel wool between two heavy steel screens. I rinse them in a bucket of gasoline and shake them off and reinstall. I have used a bucket of Simple Green also. Submerge it and agitate, shake around, twist back and forth, etc., then rinse well with water, and let it drain well overnight before reinstalling.

tigermoth

oil bath oil bath filters are pretty efficient. If the medium is still in place, just clean and service per the maint manual..unless it says clean with gasoline.. use mineral spirits or perhaps kerosene. 

Regards, Tom

50SuperFalcon

If I’m not mistaken some where fitted with coconut hair and if you use gas or kerosene it will disintegrate
just a thought 

superwasp

50SuperFalcon said:

If I’m not mistaken some where fitted with coconut hair and if you use gas or kerosene it will disintegrate
just a thought 

Yes, coconut straw is what was in most. It's pretty durable and the Service Manual does indicate kerosene should be used as the cleaning agent. 

50SuperFalcon

superwasp said:

50SuperFalcon said:

If I’m not mistaken some where fitted with coconut hair and if you use gas or kerosene it will disintegrate
just a thought 

Yes, coconut straw is what was in most. It's pretty durable and the Service Manual does indicate kerosene should be used as the cleaning agent. 

How ever so interesting , I’ve had it fall out in a ball of mush but then again it could have been the type of kerosene I was using . House instead of standard kerosene 

superwasp

50SuperFalcon said:

superwasp said:

50SuperFalcon said:

If I’m not mistaken some where fitted with coconut hair and if you use gas or kerosene it will disintegrate
just a thought 

Yes, coconut straw is what was in most. It's pretty durable and the Service Manual does indicate kerosene should be used as the cleaning agent. 

How ever so interesting , I’ve had it fall out in a ball of mush but then again it could have been the type of kerosene I was using . House instead of standard kerosene 

That's weird. I wonder if a PO used something destructive and the kero simply finished the job. I believe the only difference in the kero grades is the amount of impurities. 

cheyenne7271

Also after cleaning the filter and letting it dry, I thought you were also supposed to wet that medium with fresh oil. 

superwasp

cheyenne7271 said:

Also after cleaning the filter and letting it dry, I thought you were also supposed to wet that medium with fresh oil. 

Oddly, the manual says to do that with the gauze type filter, but is mum on the oil bath. I never understood why. 

50SuperFalcon

I guess the question comes up does one of the other orphan car groups have a manual that indicates how to service one? Maybe Packard ,Nash ,Studebaker ?

superwasp

This is actually a good read and explains why the Service Manual says to oil the gauze 'standard' element, but not the true oil baths with the coconut shells. True oil baths oil themselves with oil saturated air.
Although, I love the PC move of telling you not to use kero without naming an alternative.  

https://www.hagerty.com/media/maintenance-and-tech/old-fashioned-air-cleaner-service/