Air Filters - Three Basic Types

Air filters are essential for longer engine lifesaturated with oil. The filter medium is effective in
because they remove particulate from the aircatching the large particles, and the oil suspended
that would otherwise cause excessive wear onin the filter medium catches much of the very
the engine. When filtering air, only the relativelyfine particles with an action that resembles fly
large particles are removed. Fine dust and silt canpaper. Instead of replacement, these filter types
make its way past the filter and into our engine -are routinely cleaned and re-oiled.
this is normal as highly effective filtering would- Oil bath filter elements really aren't much of a
"load up" quickly and starve the engine for air.fine filter mechanism. They use an oil bath and
There are three basic types of filters in userelatively large mesh filter medium to catch
today. Here is what they are and how they work:particles and grab some of the dust that enters
- Paper air filters are most common on vehiclesthe air intake. They are common on vintage farm
and small engines. They are very similar to aand construction equipment. They are the least
vacuum cleaner bag - they allow air to passeffective way of filtering combustion air, and the
through while catching most of the debris that weeasiest to clean.
would like to keep out of our engine. These areSometimes different types of air filters are used
largely disposable filters.in combination. Cleanable filters and oil baths are
- Cleanable filters are more expensive, generallyused in many cases as pre-filters. Often they are
more effective, and eliminate the need todesigned to be cleaned regularly in between
periodically replace the filter element. They workchanging of the paper filter that they are there to
by utilizing a breathable filter medium that isprotect.