Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I tried to find it but could====it was a discussion about oiling the foam precleaner.    Brigg,s recommends oiling---Tecumseh does not.   What are your thoughts of this?  Who is right---Brigg,s or Tecumseh?   I want to believe Tecumseh-- for oiling makes for a mess and I am not too much on washing in soap and water and reusing.  I usually replace.   On my TVT-691 Tecumseh I merely blow it out  from the engine side and reuse it usually for a season and then replace>(sometimes both filters) Appreciate your thoughts on this subject.----Your friend Will

personally, i dont believe in oiling a foam precleaner that fits over a paper filter, eventually some of  the oil is absorbed by the paper element reducing airflow by clogging the filter pores. Id much rather take a few minutes after each tool use and blow compressed air through the foam part of the element from the inside out, or perhaps rince in soapy water if its extremely dirty then blow dry. same with paper elements, i blow compressed air through them from the inside out, being careful not to use too much pressure and blowing  a hole in the element.

Foam only elements i usually follow mfgrs recommendations.

I sometimes rotate the pre-filter where it gets dirty from the hole in the cover.  I agree with Marshall that blowing could make the filter holes bigger allowing the dirt to go through easier.  I guess holding the air away a bit might help.  I use my pre-cleaner and filter for about 2 years cleaning as needed, then throw away. 

http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/afo.aspx

I use this stuff. It works well. I don't think I would use it where it does not call for it.

We all had stuff that had no air filter at all and it worked fine. Just change the oil in the air box once in a while and keep going.

When you say Briggs says to oil the fillter, are talking about an all foam filter?

I agree with SP, I don't think it would be a good idea to get oil on the paper element.

I can't imagine there is a real difference between the paper in the filters of Tec and Briggs to make any difference.

Hi...

I'd do what the manufacturer recommends... oil... or no oil...

I believe the oil will catch and hold more debris...

The non-OPE K&N filters I've used are oiled...

Dave...

I agree with all who have said do not oil the pre foam cleaner. I maintane and fix many small engine equipment and if the air filter is not shot, I just clean via compressed air. If the filter is shot, I replace it. I would agree that oiling the pre foam cleaner is a mess and something I don't want to have to deal with!

I just recently removed the original air filter from my almost 5 year old lawn tractor, been cleaning and oiling the precleaner foam at least once, sometimes twice a year. So far I can't see that it's done any harm. The filter was dirty, but not terribly so. Next time I'm back in that store, will pick up another for a spare.

AZ

Will,
I dont really think that it matters all that much if you oil the pre cleaner or not.
I look at it like the pre-cleaner is there too collect the big "chunks" of garbage and the paper is there too get the little chunks.
I understand that the pre-cleaner is there too save the paper element from overwork....but at what price? The fine stuff still gets thru too soil the paper element. Oiling the precleaner just plugs the precleaner up faster.
Briggs even gives instructions in the box that they package the pre-cleaner element in......that if it is used on one model, then oil it. If it is used on another model...dont oil it.
The purist will villify for this....but if you have an air compressor....dont oil the pre cleaner and blow them both out with compressed air when they get dirty. (Not once every 3 years but when they get dirty!)
Save yourself some bucks and and use a little old school common sense. Micro-dirt doesnt kill these engines....outright abuse is what does it.

I dont oil my pre filters on my OPE, HOWEVER, aon my engines for my airplanes and RC trucks I do.  Some of these engines cost about $1,000 each, and one spec of dirt can ruin them.  ALL of the manufacturers of them I have ever owned has specific instructions about oiling them for maximum cleaning effectiveness.  My understanding is the oil helps catch the dirt more, and holds onto it.  Think of like a sliding patio door, if you oil the track, you catch all the crud building up on the track that prohibits easy sliding of the door, so instead if you use like graphite, it will lubricate W/OUT collecting dirt.    In review I would say if you want to catch the smallest of micron dirt particles, use oil, if you dont some may get by, BUT in an engine of that size/strength, I doubt you'll do any damage to them.  just my 2 cents. 

Will, if it says not to, then don't do it.

My Kohlers manual says to oil the foam pre-filter but, you only oil it so very slightly. If there is a mess, you used too much oil and it could be making it tougher for the engine to breath. Like Lint suggests, it probably doesn't make a lot of difference. But, I would rather catch as much as I can, within reason. If you can squeeze the foam and have oil bubble up, you used too much. I think my Kohler manual actually says to not use more than a dime or nickel size amount in your palm and rub (kneed) it into the foam pre filter.

I think I read something somewhere in the thread about oiling paper filters. Nope, no do dat! The K&N Filters for cars, trucks, bikes, etc, are a cotton/gauze material and oiling them really helps filtering but again, lightly.

Anyway, it's what I do, right, wrong or indifferent.

Thanks so much everybody---You covered the subject so  well. I Am a maintenance fanatic so I will probably keep servicing like the eng. manuf. advises.  It is so true what several of you stated---the precleaner is there to stop the bigger stuff---if it is oiled it no doubt will collect more, but is more messy to handle.  I do however believe, if you will check and clean every 25 hours, (either oil or no oil on the precleaner) you could get a lot of hours out any engine.   The problem I have seen over the years is the fact that most people will not  change oil or clean the air cleaner and maintain them properly.    They just keep running until damage is done..  Thanks again, all of you and may the God of this world watch over you and your family, now and always.     ====Will