What am I looking at??
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Denver CO
What am I looking at??
In looking at the V8 Flat head, I am trying to better understand all of the components of the engine. As mentioned earlier, I have little experience (at this point) in working with these type of engines, I have a stupid question for you.
Above what I believe is the carb., it looks like a air filter. however, when I open it up, it has oil it in. In fact, it references an oil level. What am I looking at? Sorry for the dumb question.
Above what I believe is the carb., it looks like a air filter. however, when I open it up, it has oil it in. In fact, it references an oil level. What am I looking at? Sorry for the dumb question.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,000
Likes: 9,890
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Oil bath air cleaner. They were in use up to the early 60's on regular vehicles and up through the mid 70's on heavy duty vehicles.
A lot of people get tired of the mess of them and convert them to take a paper element. Its fairly easy to cut the guts out of one so a paper element will fit and still leave you with the stock appearance.
Bobby
A lot of people get tired of the mess of them and convert them to take a paper element. Its fairly easy to cut the guts out of one so a paper element will fit and still leave you with the stock appearance.
Bobby
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach/Crestline, Ca
Nice thing about an oilbath air filter .. you always have the correct part on hand..usually takes a quart.. change when ya change the oil ...dump .. wipe out any sludge.. add a quart.. that large clamp looking thing with the long handle sticking out from the bottom unscrews till you can lift the whole assembly off.. remove center nut.. remove center section and dump the oil in the lower half..
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,571
Likes: 22
From: Oxford, Indiana
Possibly useless oil bath air cleaner trivia -
The oil bath filters have a mesh of some sort in them. Sometimes it's steel, sometimes it's horse hair, etc. The idea is that engine vacuum and its resultant air flow draws the oil up into the mesh and coats it. The dirt sticks to the oil on the mesh as it passes through and is then carried back down to the reservoir as the oil drains back when the engine is shut down so it can settle out. It's sort of a self-cleaning design. Supposedly, they are actually more efficient than a regular paper filter - especially in dusty environments that would quickly plug a paper filter. That's why they were so popular on older vehicles that spent a lot of time on gravel roads and can still be found in use today on some construction machinery and heavy equipment.
The oil bath filters have a mesh of some sort in them. Sometimes it's steel, sometimes it's horse hair, etc. The idea is that engine vacuum and its resultant air flow draws the oil up into the mesh and coats it. The dirt sticks to the oil on the mesh as it passes through and is then carried back down to the reservoir as the oil drains back when the engine is shut down so it can settle out. It's sort of a self-cleaning design. Supposedly, they are actually more efficient than a regular paper filter - especially in dusty environments that would quickly plug a paper filter. That's why they were so popular on older vehicles that spent a lot of time on gravel roads and can still be found in use today on some construction machinery and heavy equipment.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 3
From: Sapulpa OK
BlueOvalRage has it right. Early days of the automobile most of the driving was done on dirt roads where a paper, or cloth, element would plug up soon and leave you with an engine that wouldn't run. The oil bath air cleaner would not filter down to the same micron level an modern air filters do but they were self cleaning. That was a big selling point back in the day.
As you drove the velocity of the air being sucked up into the wire mesh would carry oil up with it to wet the mesh and cause it to become sticky. The dirt would stick to the mesh and as more oil was drawn up the old oil would drain back down into the reservoir taking the dirt with it.. It would stay clean as long as there was oil in the reservoir. They were very efficient.
As you drove the velocity of the air being sucked up into the wire mesh would carry oil up with it to wet the mesh and cause it to become sticky. The dirt would stick to the mesh and as more oil was drawn up the old oil would drain back down into the reservoir taking the dirt with it.. It would stay clean as long as there was oil in the reservoir. They were very efficient.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,174
Likes: 4,781
From: Burbank, WA
They may be efficient, but that doesn't change the fact they're extremely messy, not to mention heavy. And for 99.9% of what we use our trucks for and where we drive them, that added level of efficiency just isn't necessary anymore. I have considered modifying one to use a paper filter, but not sure where/how to find a filter with the dimensions I would need. Any suggestions?
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,680
Likes: 1,251
From: Jefferson City, MO
Here is a link to an article on this site about how to convert your oil bath filter to a paper element while keeping the original look.
Flathead V8: How to convert an oil bath filter to paper element .: Articles
Flathead V8: How to convert an oil bath filter to paper element .: Articles
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
This is an old debate (just like TP oil filters!) Engines only used to last 75,000 miles. Drinking lots of dust was one reason. Oil bath's aren't more efficient, they have a pore size of about 1/4" compared to microns on a paper filter. Some big trucks still use them because they're cheap, and if you price a big-rig paper element you'd see it isn't small change. But then neither are rebuilds on a Mercedes truck diesel engine.
Down here in the dust bowl, I won't even run a K&N, you can see the dirt on the throttle body or carb within a few months. I typically change air filters about every 6 months, and they are real dirty. A friend up in Portland told me he checks his every 2 years -- I couldn't believe it! He said he usually just raps it on the driveway and puts it back. My point being, where you drive makes a huge difference in whether an oil bath is adequate.
Down here in the dust bowl, I won't even run a K&N, you can see the dirt on the throttle body or carb within a few months. I typically change air filters about every 6 months, and they are real dirty. A friend up in Portland told me he checks his every 2 years -- I couldn't believe it! He said he usually just raps it on the driveway and puts it back. My point being, where you drive makes a huge difference in whether an oil bath is adequate.
