Engine Systems
DETROIT DIESEL
Tighten the wing bolt until the air cleaner is securely
mounted.
Service the heavy-duty oil bath air cleaner as follows:
1. Loosen the wing nuts and detach the lower portion of
the air cleaner assembly.
2. Remove the detachable screen by loosening the
wing nuts and rotating the screen one-quarter turn.
One of the most important steps in properly cleaning the
tray type oil bath air cleaner is a step that is most
overlooked. Unless the filter tray is thoroughly cleaned,
satisfactory performance of the engine cannot be
realized. The presence of fibrous material found in the
air is often underestimated and is the main cause of the
malfunctioning of heavy-duty air cleaners. This material
comes from plants and trees during their budding
season and later from airborne seed from the same
sources. Figure 9 illustrates the severity of plugging in a
tray that is 50% plugged. The solid black areas in the
Fig. 7 Light-Duty Oil Bath Air Cleaner
mesh are accumulations of this fibrous material. When
a tray is plugged in this manner, washing in a solvent or
1. Loosen the wing bolt and remove the air cleaner
similar washing solution will not clean it satisfactorily. It
assembly from the air inlet housing. The cleaner may
must be blown out with high pressure air or steam to
then be separated into two sections; the upper section or
remove the material that accumulates between the
body assembly contains the filter element, the lower
layers of screening. When a clean tray is held up to the
section consists of the oil cup, removable inner cup or
light, an even pattern of light should be visible.
baffle and the center tube.
2. Soak the body assembly and element in fuel oil to
loosen the dirt, then flush the element with clean fuel oil
and allow it to drain thoroughly.
3. Pour out the oil, separate the inner cup or baffle from
the oil cup. remove the sludge and wipe the baffle and
outer cup clean.
4. Push a lint-free cloth through the center tube to
remove dirt or oil.
5 Clean and check all of the gaskets and sealing
surfaces to ensure air tight seals.
6. Refill the oil cup to the oil level mark only, install the
baffle, and reassemble the air cleaner.
7. Check the air inlet housing before installing the air
cleaner assembly on the engine. The inlet will be dirty if
air cleaner servicing has been neglected or if dust-laden
air has been leaking past the air cleaner or air inlet
housing seals.
8. Make sure that the air cleaner is seated properly on
the inlet housing and the seal is installed correctly.
Fig. 8 - Heavy-Duty Oil Bath Air Cleaner
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