Oiling the foam...

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Get out of the yard once in a while and take a ride down a dusty road following another vehicle. Get back to us on your findings.

I have no intent to indulge you any further. It would be nothing but an exercise in futility.
 
actually i live in kentucky and have a little 100 acre farm, so im not in the city, and im conducting a poll in the automotive general forum, asking what is the dirtiest conditions, and ive only had 3 posts so far, but thats 3 in my favor, commonsence goes a long way!! but how do you have time to mow or drive down a gravel road? as you say "ive put more miles on a cycle going backwards than most ppl have going forwards" LOL!!! and i did say most ppl drive on paved roads! so im throwing your gravel road story out the window, as you and deeter agreed that a paved road is still dirtier than a lawnmower enviroment!! You cant change the rules in the middle of the game sir, and if you do try, ill gladly quote you
 
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Need to say you got to know the business on small engines...if you oil a pre foam filter it needs to be washed in soap....what quality is the foam filter made of? They will not last every time it's washed in soap. Worst case with oil on it. My last resort is to wash it in soap because I know the filter will not be the same. Rather use an air compressor and blow it out. There are many that don't have this luxury of having an air compressor.

The business wants the consumer to BUY more...air filters and pre foam filters..just the way it is.
 
I'd much rather gently clean the foam with soap and water, versus blowing it out with forceful compressed air. And the oil does serve a purpose, it catches the fine particles rather than letting it slip by to the paper element, thus you need to buy paper elements less often. Cost of pre filter...$2.50+ , cost of most paper elements....$15+, so in conclusion, not only do most engine makers recommend oiling the foam prefilter, but at the end of the day it is cost effective.
Maybe i do "know" the small engine business just a bit.
smile.gif
 
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Originally Posted By: big_impact
I'd much rather gently clean the foam with soap and water, versus blowing it out with forceful compressed air. And the oil does serve a purpose, it catches the fine particles rather than letting it slip by to the paper element, thus you need to buy paper elements less often. Cost of pre filter...$2.50+ , cost of most paper elements....$15+, so in conclusion, not only do most engine makers recommend oiling the foam prefilter, but at the end of the day it is cost effective.
Maybe i do "know" the small engine business just a bit.
smile.gif



It's not really a problem if you use oil on pre foam filters BUT a non oiled pre foam filters will do fine...it's a choice. Some manuals will state oil is to be used ... BUT also they do not compare to larger diesel type like Jacobsen R-311 http://www.jacobsen.com/r311 which creates far more dust. There is no pre foam filters because they would be clogged too easily negating air flow. A prefoam filter durability would be too weak to sustain the air suction.

A heavy duty dry air filters is used and needs to be air compressed every 4 hours of usage.
 
Originally Posted By: big_impact
I'd much rather gently clean the foam with soap and water, versus blowing it out with forceful compressed air. And the oil does serve a purpose, it catches the fine particles rather than letting it slip by to the paper element, thus you need to buy paper elements less often. Cost of pre filter...$2.50+ , cost of most paper elements....$15+, so in conclusion, not only do most engine makers recommend oiling the foam prefilter, but at the end of the day it is cost effective.
Maybe i do "know" the small engine business just a bit.
smile.gif

mambla Your specifying one brand/machiene, please reread my post and note the color, but you did make a good point, mowers see alot of dirt, but blowing thru an element is hardly the same a blowing thr a thin piece of foam, and if it isnt equiped with a pre filter, obviously you wouldnt oil it
 
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Originally Posted By: Mamala Bay

A heavy duty dry air filters is used and needs to be air compressed every 4 hours of usage.

I cant verify your correct in saying that, but assuming you are, you certinaly have proven my other point....mowers are in a much dirtier environment than passanger vehicles, unless someone can find a common street vehicle recommending cleaning the air filter at such little use?? I doubt it
 
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Originally Posted By: big_impact
Originally Posted By: big_impact
I'd much rather gently clean the foam with soap and water, versus blowing it out with forceful compressed air. And the oil does serve a purpose, it catches the fine particles rather than letting it slip by to the paper element, thus you need to buy paper elements less often. Cost of pre filter...$2.50+ , cost of most paper elements....$15+, so in conclusion, not only do most engine makers recommend oiling the foam prefilter, but at the end of the day it is cost effective.
Maybe i do "know" the small engine business just a bit.
smile.gif

mambla Your specifying one brand/machiene, please reread my post and note the color, but you did make a good point, mowers see alot of dirt, but blowing thru an element is hardly the same a blowing thr a thin piece of foam, and if it isnt equiped with a pre filter, obviously you wouldnt oil it


A prefoam filter without oil will also prolong the paper air filter. If the manual states it can be used fine...my experience is in extreme dust created situation ....I have much real world experience ... I MIGHT be ahead of myself...

Use the oil prefoam filter as you stated it will filter the finer stuff and protect the paper air filter.
 
I just find it odd that you specify one machiene/brand, makes me think that your working at a golf course/or such. As most "true" commercial cutters I know are running Scag, Exmark/toro, Ferris, or Dixie Chopper, in which most all of them are running what i call a "donaldson" set up, long round filter that does include a pre filter
 
Originally Posted By: Mamala Bay

Use the oil prefoam filter as you stated it will filter the finer stuff and protect the paper air filter.

I have gotten way side tracked, but this right here has been my whole point all along! This and a mower is in a dirtier envrioment than a passanger vehicle (commonsence)!
 
Originally Posted By: boraticus

Before making unfounded comments such as "silliest thing Ive ever read", it might be wise to leave your yard once in a while just to see what's "out there" .

Took your advice!! I left my yard to see whats "out there"! and it seems as if someone thinking a lawnmower is in a clean/controlled environment is "out there"! LOL
 
Originally Posted By: big_impact
Originally Posted By: ProStreetCamaro
I use 20W-50 and put a little in my hand. Then roll up the pre filter and place it in the oil. I squeeze it and flip it over a few times to make sure it is soaked well. Then I squeeze hard to get the excess oil out and reinstall the pre filter. Been doing this for years with out any issues. Actually by doing this the paper filters still look nearly new at the end of a season.

+1, only i use 30wt, and my paper elements always look new, i only change it every 4 or 5 yrs.
I read someone say "lawn mowers are ran in a clean/controlled enviroment"..........Thats gotta be the silliest thing ive ever read!! My vehicles are driven on paved roads (not much dust), but my mowers are always stirring up dirt/dust and grass


Just curious HOW many hours on the mower with paper air filter changed every 4-5 years.

Did any of the oil from the prefoam get suck onto the paper air filter. Could be different types of prefoam are used for oiling versus a dry application.
 
Originally Posted By: boraticus
You don't oil the foam pre-filter that covers a paper filter. The filtration system doesn't work like that. Paper filter systems are to be kept completely dry.


Most pre-filters come pre-oiled...
 
The owner's manual of my Kawasaki engined John Deere mower gives cleaning/reoiling instructions for the foam pre-filter that goes over the paper filter.

Ed
 
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