Filters -Paper or oil?

[Lou Earle]

I have removed the "horsehair" and replaced it with a paper filter on several cars mainly for ease and no oil to spill.

However I am wondering it the paper filter is actually better than the oil bath as a filtering agent.

I know folks who swear by one of the other so let the debate begin .May the best filter process win.

Lou

[eric wissing]

"Paper or Plastic" is there a correct answer? waste precious oil or destroy the Rain forest? They don't even give me an option at the grocery store ( I mean the Supermarket) anymore. I haven't driven mine yet so I really can't say. I think the paper will be easier to visually determine if it needs replacing. Eric

[Norm's Coupe]

Lou,

I changed mine over for two reasons. One is like you said, easier maintenance. Two, you cannot get that horsehair clean after so many years. As for which is better, who really knows. I did notice a slightly better response with the paper filter though. However, that could have been because even though I soaked the old oil filter and cleaned it (or at least tried), it was still clogged a little.

[Guest 50Plymouth]

I went paper. I remember someone here talking about how in the unlikely event of a volcano eruption or something paper is superior with all that ash to clog things up Now here in IA we're not to worried about volcano eruptions, ..but I found it quicker and cleaner just to switch since I wasn't going for stock.

[Don Coatney]

waste precious oil . Eric

Who says fresh oil must be used? I would think used oil would work as well as fresh oil. If you want fresh oil find the least expensive oil available, Re-refined oil, ATF, or even diesel fuel should also work.

If oil bath air cleaners were smaller I would be using them on my dual carburetor setup. Problem is the carburetors are too close together to make oil bath air cleaners work.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Definitely paper...less muss and fuss...have converted mine...

[TodFitch]

If I recall correctly, the service manual for the 1963 Dodge truck I once had listed the oil bath filter for heavy duty use in dusty areas and the paper filter for light duty highway use. My impression from reading the manual was that the oil bath did a better job cleaning the air but at the expense of mess and possibly more restrictive air flow.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I think I remember reading where later the air cleaner choice was an option..

[Young Ed]

I believe the oil bath is more effective at cleaning but its certainly messy. Also heard a 5HP gain just from switching to paper.

[Norm's Coupe]

If I recall correctly, the service manual for the 1963 Dodge truck I once had listed the oil bath filter for heavy duty use in dusty areas and the paper filter for light duty highway use. My impression from reading the manual was that the oil bath did a better job cleaning the air but at the expense of mess and possibly more restrictive air flow.

Tod,

Maybe back in 63 when that book was printed the paper filters were not as refined as they are today. Let's face it, most of everything we use has been greatly improved since 1963, even the paper air cleaner filters for our cars and trucks.

[norrism1]

Tod,

My question is if everything is improved since '63. Why is my MPG still the same? You'd think with all the slippery stuff in the oil , ext. it would slide like Chevy Chase on the saucer in the movie- Christmas Vacation!

[Plymouthy Adams]

what was that?? non hardening nuclear cereal varnish..

that is my all time favorite Christmas movie...follewed by A Christmas Story.

[TodFitch]

Tod,

My question is if everything is improved since '63. Why is my MPG still the same? You'd think with all the slippery stuff in the oil , ext. it would slide like Chevy Chase on the saucer in the movie- Christmas Vacation!

I don't know about you, but I have averaged 44.1 MPG in my 2004 model "daily driver". That is actual miles driven divided by gas purchased, not based on the car's built-in MPG display.

I actually think that new cars deliver better power, comfort, safety and reliability than the old cars. However they are less durable (I don't expect very many of them to be around in 50 years), take a higher skill level and/or fancier tools to diagnose problems, and are not as much fun to drive.

But I think you are asking me a question you probably intended for Norm.

[Don Coatney]

But I think you are asking me a question you probably intended for Norm.

That is what I thought.

[Norm's Coupe]

Actually, when you add everything up the new cars do get better MPG than the old ones do. My Chevy van gets about 24 to 26 MPG on the highway with the V6 engine automatic in it. That's with the AC and all the other anti pollution fuel robbing stuff on it. I doubt you'll get that in a P15 or D24 without AC and anti pollution garbage on it.

My wifes little Kia with a 4 banger gets 36 to 38 MPG on the highway with the overdrive in it, driving at 65 to 75 MPH.

My wifes previous car 1990 Sundance was 12 years old when we sold it. Didn't have a speck of rust on it and was still running strong. She just wanted another car after 12 years. My Lumina van is now 11 years old and still running strong. Have no plans to get rid of it any time soon either. The only reason our old cars lasted this long is because we rebuilt them and take car of them. If you take care of a newer car the same way, it will probably last as long too.

[grey beard]

Back in another life when I taught diesel technology at a liberal arts college in Ohio, I had a film made by Caterpillar that showed a very nice comparison between oil and paper air filters. Bottom line was that the oil filtered just fine if it was serviced regularly and you could keep the filter media clean - UNTIL the engines idled. At very low speed, the air was sucked through the oil in bubbles. These bubbles of air carried dirt with them. It was for this reason plus a much longer service interval that the industry turned to paper filtration media. At higher engine speed, the oil was agitated hy the air flow enough to rilter pretty well.

By he bye, didja' know that large semi-size paper filters can be dry cleaned and reused? Many fleets use this service to save money on the cost of replcing filters.

Old Case tractors used a large cast iron oil bath air filter. Printed in the cast iron on the side were these instructions. " Service daily and fill to mark with used crankcase oil." Go figure . . . . . .

[Don Coatney]

Old Case tractors used a large cast iron oil bath air filter. Printed in the cast iron on the side were these instructions. " Service daily and fill to mark with used crankcase oil." Go figure . . . . . .

I rest my Case:cool:

[Plymouthy Adams]

OIL BATH AIR CLEANER

In the oil bath air cleaner, shown in Figure 3–7, air

is drawn through the inlet and down through the

center tube. At the bottom of the tube, the direction

of air flow is reversed and oil is picked up from the

oil reservoir cup. The oil-laden air is carried up into

the separator screen, where the oil, which contains

the dirt particles, is separated from the air by collecting

on the separator screen.

A low-pressure area is created toward the center

of the air cleaner as the air passes a cylindrical opening

formed by the outer perimeter of the central tube

and the inner diameter of the separator screen. This

low pressure is caused by the difference in air current

velocity across the opening.

The low-pressure area, plus the effect of gravity

and the inverted cone shape of the separator screen,

causes the oil and dirt mixture to drain to the center of the cleaner cup. This oil is again picked up by

the incoming air, causing a looping cycle of the

oil; however, as the oil is carried toward another

cycle, some of the oil overflows the edge of the

cup, carrying the dirt with it. The dirt is deposited in

the outer area surrounding the cup. Oil then flows

back into the cup through a small hole located in the

side of the cup. Above the separator screen, the

cleaner is filled with a wire screen element, which

removes any oil that passes through the separator

screen. This oil also drains to the center and back

into the pan. The clean air then leaves the cleaner

through a tube at the side/top and enters the intake

system.

[Furylee2]

Lou' date='

I changed mine over for two reasons. One is like you said, easier maintenance. Two, you cannot get that horsehair clean after so many years. As for which is better, who really knows. I did notice a slightly better response with the paper filter though. However, that could have been because even though I soaked the old oil filter and cleaned it (or at least tried), it was still clogged a little.[/quote']

Norm, I have a 41 coupe, and I'd like to convert it. I was looking at your WEB site and then my air cleaner, and wondered if I could convert this one? I even went so far a to pick up the NAPA filter. Did you have to cut something apart to get the old element out? Thanks, Lee

[Norm's Coupe]

Norm, I have a 41 coupe, and I'd like to convert it. I was looking at your WEB site and then my air cleaner, and wondered if I could convert this one? I even went so far a to pick up the NAPA filter. Did you have to cut something apart to get the old element out? Thanks, Lee

Lee,

You only need to cut the little tabs that run across the bottom of the top section. If you cut them close to the outer edge, the whole center section will then just fall or pull out easily with the old filtering material at once. There may be a honey cone area at the very top that has another flat filter in it. You can use tin snips to cut the honey cone out, then you can also get that dirty filter out. Smooth the edges where you made your cuts and you're done.

Don't know if you saw the note on the page or not. Some of the air cleaner housings are different size (height). With that in mind the filters I used may not fit. If that's the case with yours, just take the whole air cleaner to the parts store and fit one. You want to keep at least about 1/2 inch gap between the top and bottom sections with the new paper filter installed to maintain the proper amount of air flow.

[Furylee2]

Thanks Norm, I pull it off again and take a closer look. Lee

[garys_bc]

Thanks for the removal tip. I have been looking at doing this to my 47, and

been shakin' my head to figure out how it comes apart. As usual this forum has all the answers.