Air Filters DOs and DON'Ts
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Never service air cleaners with the engine running.
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Never operate the engine without an air filter.
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Never judge filter condition solely by its appearance.
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Avoid over-servicing the air cleaner.
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Never install a dented or damaged filter.
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Always clean the filter housing area before opening it.
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Check that all required gaskets are present, of the correct size and in serviceable conditions.
Did You Know?
An aur filter does not operate at peak efficiency when first installed. The filter doesn't reach maximum filtering effeciency until it collects a layer of dirt. A porous layer of dust across the filter media face is known as caking, and it improves filtration efficiency significantly.
It's not advised to clean an air filter by blowing it out. Removing a filter and blowing it clean wit compressed air creates a cloud of dirt, much of which is deposited on the clean side of the filter. The filter seal and gasket are also much more apt to leak when the filter is reinstalled due to compression set and material fatigue.
The most accurate way to determine if a filter should be replaced is by measuring its resiriction flow wuth an airflow gauge. This assures a filter that may look dirty will not be replaced due to caking. In fact, that filter may currently be more efficient that a replacment will be, initially.
If an air filter is not installed squarely, the circular seal may not contact the seating area. This creates an air gap that allows unfiltered air to bypass the filter and enter the engine. Installing a new filter is not effective if dirty air has an alternate path around it.
Dented filter housings must be repaired or replaced. In servere cases, a blow to the housing may create an indention deep enough to dent the filter element as well.
Commonly used filter attachments include wing nuts screwed onto a threaded rod or a shaped metal bracket. If the rod or bracket is bent, the load applied by the wing nut will not be centered properly.
Tech Tips ___ Never:
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Service air cleaners with the engine running.
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Operate the engine without an air filter.
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Use oil in a dry filter housing.
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Judge filter condition solely by its appearance.
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Operate with a damaged element or housing.
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Operate an engine that has a damaged air connecting base.
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Remove filters from protective packaging until you are ready to install them.
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Operate the vehicle with a missing or leaking vacuator valve.
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Over-service the air cleaner.
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Install a dented or damaged filter.
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Open an air filter housing in dirty areas.
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Drop foreign objects into the filter housing.
Tech Tips ___ Always:
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Crefully inspect all new filters before installing them.
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Clean the filter housing before opening it.
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Clean the inner housing during a services.
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Vacuum dirt from the housing.
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Service elements based on restriction.
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Maintain a service log that records restriction reading are taken.
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Use only the correct filter size.
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Use only recommended filter elements.
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Inspect all gaskets and sealing surfaces for damage.
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Inspect all air passages for obstructions.
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Inspect air intake passages and connections for leaks.
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Repair exhaust leaks near the air inlet.
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Repllace missing, broken and loose filter covers.
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Check that all required gaskets are present of, the correct size, and in serviceable condition.
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Check filter length: filters with identical diameters may have different length.
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