Washing air filters

[Anonymous-0]

Does anyone wash the regular paper filter air filter elements? For example, the orginal owner of a 1969 140 JD garden tractor - still the original engine - told me that he always soaked overnight / washed his air filter in dishwashing detergent, rinsed well with luke warm water, let air dry and only actually replaced the filter every two or three years or so. I've washed a few like he described - they seemed pretty clean after they dried out completely using the old trouble light to see light shining through the element. I have never used air to try and clean or dry one after washing. I also use a foam pre-cleaner that I wash occassionally and re-oil before installing.

 

[Walt Davies]

Some of the big filters on heavy equipment say wash with mild detergent. I wouldn't waste money on small one but those huge filters that say you can are well worth the effort.
Walt

 

[buickanddeere]

Gentle and inspect very closely are the key words.

 

[RobMD]

We've had a 140 H-3 since it was brand new. Still going with thousands of hours on it, and all we've ever done is bang the air filter on the hood of it until the dirt stopped coming out of it. We always put an air filter on it every year, and always had a foam precleaner on it too.

 

[showcrop]

Caterpillar manual says watch the air intake restriction indicator, don't open up until indicator says to, then blow out with air pressure not to exceed about 50lbs. and never bang it. in two and a half years and 35,000 miles it,s still not showing much restriction.

 

[Kentb of SWMO]

On small engine like the K321 used in a 140H3 buy the foam overwrap preclener. Oil it when installed and clean every 3 weeks or so depending on condition and you will rarely need to change the paper element.

Kent

 

[Jerry/MT]

My Ford 4610 has dual filters and the manual says you can wash the outer one out but to never blow it out with compressed air unless it is completely dry. I have a centrifugal bowl type precleaner ahead of the filter.

 

[Kevin in OK]

The foam precleaner elements we take out and hand wash with a little dish soap, Dawn or the like. Let it air dry, then a little motor oil rubbed into it. I've never tried washing a paper element, but we usually just tap the filter on the concrete or other hard surface to knock most of the dirt and dust loose. I don't know how well it works, but it's cleaner than when it came out.

Kevin

 

[Bob]

An air filter for a DEERE 140, part #AM31400, is just over $4.00 at the Deere dealer, and perhaps even a little cheaper "aftermarket".

A new engine, imstalled, will be around $2000.00.

$4.00 for a new filter every now and then seems like a pretty good deal to me, campared to the alternative, if the engine gets ruined by a damaged filter!

 

[Mike M]

I knew a fellow who did some damage to his JD 1020 engine by doing that too much ! The book says you can do it , but after one cleaning or something ? to get a new one. The reason for this is what I saw on this 1020 the paper pores open up after so many washings.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks for the experiences. I also have a compact tractor that the manual calls for washing the element. Over the years I have done both washing and replacing. I have never had any problems washing them - so I guess I'll keep on doing it. Hope all the Fathers had a great day - I did.

 

[Anonymous-0]

A fellow used to have a business cleaning the huge ones from Cats, etc. when they were building the powerplant. He did it right and they might have used special filters and only done it a few times before throwing away the filter.

For small motors, especially with automatic chokes, carbs can get screwed up and engines won't run if the filter fibers are compressed or modified which is certain to happen by washing them. I saw this happen to someone. A new filter and their engine ran fine.

It's better to buy new ones as needed.