Mudfly Posted August 11 Posted August 11 I have a Ford 4600 diesel and it has an oil bath air cleaner instead of a dry filter element. I see that there were options for dry element air cleaners. My question is would it be worth looking for the parts to change over to a dry element filter or should I just keep it as an oil bath? It seems like the oil bath is actually cheaper to maintain but not sure if they are as good of a filter. I thought I read somewhere that oil bath cleaners can be just as good as a dry type but are limited on air flow after a certain amount of cfms. thoughts? Opinions? Quote
MTB98 Posted August 11 Posted August 11 It’s survived 50 years with an oil bath cleaner and there many other tractors even older still chugging along with the oil bath filters. I don’t see any reason to change it, just be sure to follow the maintenance procedures and clean it out properly when required. 2 Quote
New Englander Posted August 11 Posted August 11 I don't have anything with one anymore but I was always amazed at how much they caught in the oil even at short clean-out intervals. Certainly cheap to maintain. 1 Quote
Rawleigh99 Posted August 11 Posted August 11 There's nothing wrong with an oil bath air filter. I always heard that they were actually more efficient than the paper element type. They certainly do seem to catch a lot of dirt. Just be sure to keep the oil topped up and every few years take the metal part out and clean it in a bucket of diesel fuel. 7 Quote
Mudfly Posted August 11 Author Posted August 11 5 hours ago, MTB98 said: It’s survived 50 years with an oil bath cleaner and there many other tractors even older still chugging along with the oil bath filters. I don’t see any reason to change it, just be sure to follow the maintenance procedures and clean it out properly when required. Concur that it has survived 46 years. It has maybe 2000 hours on it in those 50 years. I bought it last winter. I high suspect it was used to plow snow on an asphalt driveway and that's about it. Not the dustiest environment. Not that I'm putting it in the worst environment, but at the same time I'm just asking if a dry element filter would be a better option for air filtering. Even a 1980 diesel engine has a lot tighter tolerances than a 1950s Farmall. I believe oil bath filters really went out of style in the 60's and 70's. I'm assuming there was a reason why, even if it was just ease of maintenance or the need to keep a filter small enough to fit under a hood (dry filter element is more efficient with space). Neither will work well if not maintained. 1 Quote
Dirt_Floor_Poor Posted August 11 Posted August 11 In bad conditions, an oil bath air cleaner would need to be serviced after every long day. We have tractors that we farmed with that have oil bath and have never been overhauled. Some have pre-cleaners and if working in dirt they will catch a lot. They didn’t have easy lives, but had very good maintenance. I wouldn’t worry about yours. 4 Quote
Binderoid Posted August 11 Posted August 11 The oil bath air cleaner is specifically sized at the factory for the max airflow of a given engine . There is no reason for the CFM to change unless a larger engine is installed. Turbo 2 precleaners work very well for lessening the load of the air filter. They cost a lot, but this is one case where you get what you pay for on the positive side. Quote
560Dennis Posted August 11 Posted August 11 I would suggest you stay with the oil bath. With correct oil they function as designed . I used one a rebuilt Chevy 283. Drive it 1 Quote
tractorholic Posted August 12 Posted August 12 I think an oil bath air cleaner might be superior to wondering if you bought a good quality paper filter in this day and age 3 Quote
stronger800 Posted August 12 Posted August 12 Exactly. No way would I ever think of removing that. i have two (newer old fords) with the dry filters and four, older old fords, with the oil bath. Infinitely more hours than you’re talking….oil is good. less plumbing and connectors too 1 Quote
mmi Posted August 12 Posted August 12 8 hours ago, Binderoid said: The oil bath air cleaner is specifically sized at the factory for the max airflow of a given engine . There is no reason for the CFM to change unless a larger engine is installed. Turbo 2 precleaners work very well for lessening the load of the air filter. They cost a lot, but this is one case where you get what you pay for on the positive side. Best option,cheaper PC can be found,paper is going to be $50> and in 6 months NLA so $100+, just like 1930-2010 wheel seal last year $9 ...this $75-200 + 19.99 ship. Works better longer as designed/serviced....2nd/inner paper was in response to finer dust for extended periods. Quote
12_Guy Posted August 12 Posted August 12 I would guess that the main reason they went away is the maintenance. It can be a dirty, messy job and you have to dispose of the oil. Pleated paper is cleaner and quicker to change or clean. 2 Quote
Binderoid Posted August 12 Posted August 12 The inner filter is known as a "safety" element. (per Caterpillar Tractor Co.) For when the operator bangs the outer filter on the track to clean it an potentially puts a leak in it. Quote
cobfly Posted August 12 Posted August 12 8 hours ago, 12_Guy said: I would guess that the main reason they went away is the maintenance. It can be a dirty, messy job and you have to dispose of the oil. Pleated paper is cleaner and quicker to change or clean. Who disposes of old oil when there are so many uses for it? 1 Quote
stronger800 Posted August 13 Posted August 13 changed every hundred, or even 200 hours, the oil in my Ford oil bath cleaners looks just like new 30w oil but with flies and small pieces of hay in it. I have absolutely poured the oil through a filter, screen, and put it right back in. I also had an elderly neighbor 20 years ago that did not realize you should even change the oil, his looked more like road tar And I used a putty, knife And solvent to get it out. Another neighbor purchased that tractor and he is still making hay with it to this day. The same guy also owned a 886, not nearly as old as his Ford, and I used screwdrivers to pry the original air filter in it out from the housing inch by inch because there was so much material Stuck to it, that Tractor was also still in use last I had heard. He also never would stir the sugar or cream that he put in his coffee. Layer of sugar would Be in the bottom of the cup when he was done. Quote
DT Fan Posted August 13 Posted August 13 I don't mind them at all. Service mine more often than most, they get used engine oil, from a gas tractor. I believe there is a sticker on the Orange ones to "service daily, more often in dusty conditions." I don't get that extreme about things. Like stronger 800's story above, when I get a 'new' one home, the more liquid and less putty-knife work on the oil-bath, the better I feel about the tractor in general! Quote
Diesel Doctor Posted August 13 Posted August 13 The only issue with an oil bath is the cost of the oil? Quote
yellowrosefarm Posted August 13 Posted August 13 17 minutes ago, Diesel Doctor said: The only issue with an oil bath is the cost of the oil? A couple of quarts oil is still a lot less than a $50+ paper air filter. 3 Quote
Matt Kirsch Posted August 13 Posted August 13 11 hours ago, 12_Guy said: I would guess that the main reason they went away is the maintenance. It can be a dirty, messy job and you have to dispose of the oil. Pleated paper is cleaner and quicker to change or clean. They can also sell paper elements. Honestly, both are very tolerant of neglect. 1 Quote
wild one Posted August 14 Posted August 14 I read an article recently I believe on a caterpillar forum about the old Cat D7. They first came with the oil bath air cleaner and when the turbo chargers were added they went to the paper filters. According to the article engine life was greatly extended with the paper filters Quote
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