[ihc] re: oilbath filters

["ken.dunnington" <ken.dunnington@xxxxxxxxx>]

I likewise have seen data supporting the idea that more fine dust
particles make it through oil bath and K&N than a good paper filter.
Keyword here being GOOD.  I suspect the oil bath was the superior
filter of choice in the past when it was used by OEM.

However, there are varying types of oilbath design.
Detroit Diesel, for example, had both light duty and heavy duty
oil bath filters.  They are quite different in design and my manual
shows the heavy duty type does have the intake air actually pass
through the oil whereas the light duty type does not.  So, any data
collected should only be applied to that specific type of filter
and should not be generalized.  If the data was collected using a
light duty type, what good does that do if one has a heavy duty type?

Ken


JH> I grew up with oil bath air filters and always marveled at the gunk that
JH> collected in the bottom under the oil. Looked really efficient, so I assumed
JH> it was. 

JH> A number of our guys pointed out to me that the oil bath does not do as good
JH> a job as a good paper filter. Gave me actual test data, among other things.
JH> The oil bath relies on the dust "falling out of the air" and into the oil
JH> for its filtration. If the dust doesn't fall out, then it goes down into the
JH> carb.