Oiling Pre Filters

[WHX?? 54,282]

Who actually does this? I know what the book says but when you do it it seems to make a mess of the air box collecting more dirt no matter how much you squeeze the excess out. 

[Racinbob 12,595]

I never do for the same reason.

[Ed Kennell 44,530]

33 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Who actually does this?

You may be the only one.

 

 

Well, maybe oily Pete.  

Edited 17 hours ago by Ed Kennell

[lynnmor 8,513]

I follow the instructions on the label so the fine dust gets trapped.  After oiling the foam work it in, then remove the excess by repeatedly squeezing the foam with paper towels layered in.  With no oil you will not trap anything but the large particles, the paper filters are getting expensive and blowing tiny holes in them with compressed air is not a wise move.  

[702854boy 446]

1 hour ago, WHX?? said:

Who actually does this?

We usually do this on our Cub Cadet as it has a prefilter but the Wheel horses don't.

[Mike'sHorseBarn 3,414]

I always throw the prefilter away.........

[Achto 30,712]

2 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Who actually does this?

 

I usually spritz it with light coat of K&N filter oil. I've had the same can for about 6yrs.

 

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/k-n-engineering/k-n-engineering-12-25-ounce-air-filter-oil/kan0/990516

 

I check it over at oil change time. If it looks dirty then I grab the K&N cleaner, spray it down, scrub, rinse, and re-oil. Again, this stuff goes a long way, think my cleaner bottle is about the same age as the oil.

 

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/k-n-engineering/k-n-engineering-1-quart-oiled-cotton-air-filter-cleaner/kan0/990621

[rick 264]

I do as @lynnmor does.  No mess in the air box but plenty of fines on the prefilter.

Dawn dish soap and warm water easily clean the foam, I squeeze the foam dry in paper towels and let it air dry a day or so before oiling with the same oil I put in the crankcase.

Edited 15 hours ago by rick
To add cleaning detail.

[lynnmor 8,513]

28 minutes ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

I always throw the prefilter away.........

 

The only difference between the two available Kohler filters on my zero turn is that the commercial filter uses a pre-filter, so I added one.  

[Racinbob 12,595]

As I said, I never oil it. After every mowing I'll at least knock off the crud it catches. Every few mowings I'll remove the paper filter and tap it clean. I figure the paper filter is all a lot of engines get and it works fine. The pre-filter just catches a bunch before it gets to the main filter. Even without oil.

Edited 15 hours ago by Racinbob

[SylvanLakeWH 30,400]

I always do. The amount of crap it catches is proof positive that it works. Never any residual in the housing...

 

I guess I have to ask why wouldn't you? So what if it's a bit messy. Am i missing something?

[702854boy 446]

25 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

So what if it's a bit messy. Am i missing something?

In my mind, better in the filter and filter housing than the engine. Easier to clean a little mess than to rebuild an engine.

[Racinbob 12,595]

For many years (decades) pre-filters were never used and nobody thought a thing about it. I have no problem not using the foam at all for that reason. I see the pre-filter as just that. Used for stopping the frog size chunks from getting to the real filter. It works well for me, for that purpose.

[midpack 1,101]

I use them and use the foam filter treatment I used to use on my dirt bike air filter. That stuff works great and doesn't make a mess in the air cleaner housing

[WHX?? 54,282]

3 hours ago, lynnmor said:

paper filters are getting expensive

Not as bad as oil filters ... 

 

3 hours ago, 702854boy said:

has a prefilter but the Wheel horses don't.

Gotta pull the trigger on the right ones. 

 

2 hours ago, Mike'sHorseBarn said:

I always throw the prefilter away.........

Wadda you go to the Pullstart school of just ain't  right?? 

 

4 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

maybe oily Pete. 

Not a squeaky filter in the house ... 

 

4 hours ago, lynnmor said:

blowing tiny holes in them with compressed air is not a wise move.

No never supposed to blow out air filters except for maybe the shop vac. Guys to to blow out furnace air filters but all that does is loosen it up to get sucked through,

 

Little known fact ...  a filter catches smaller particles the dirtier it gets. The holes air must pass through get smaller and smaller till it won't pass air at all.

 

That's when that dash light won't come on because the nipple broke off the back of the sensor ... 

[Handy Don 15,722]

1 minute ago, WHX?? said:

That's when that dash light won't come on because the nipple broke off the back of the sensor ... 

[squonk 45,276]

I'm not a slob and oil the prefilter and no mess. I also have a spare for each size. Take out the dirty, oil up a clean one and put it in. Clean up the old one and put it in the cabinet after it dries for the next time

[lynnmor 8,513]

1 hour ago, WHX?? said:

That's when that dash light won't come on because the nipple broke off the back of the sensor ... 

 

I do inspect nipples regularly.

 

Only had the dash light come on one time on a 520H.  I pulled the air filter and at first glance it appeared almost new.  Putting a bright light inside showed it was rather clogged.  That tells me that the oiled pre-filter was doing a super job and closer inspection of the air filter is necessary, the 20 HP engine uses enough gas without restricting the air intake.  Maybe that is part of the reason so many claim that the Onans are gas hogs.

[cleat 8,664]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

I'm not a slob and oil the prefilter and no mess. I also have a spare for each size. Take out the dirty, oil up a clean one and put it in. Clean up the old one and put it in the cabinet after it dries for the next time

 

I do that exact same thing. Last summer was dry and dusty so I had to do that every other mowing.

 

I give it a light spray with crown oil in an aerosol can.

 

The pre-filter gets very dirty but the main filter stays clean. I have been using the same one in my mowing tractor for years.

 

[702854boy 446]

6 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Gotta pull the trigger on the right ones. 

 

We have a 702, 854, 1257, and a 63 Lawn Ranger the was k181 swapped and we don't think there is enough room in between the metal cover piece and the filter for a foam element.