The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Replace Oil Bath Air Cleaner?

The truth be known- Oil bath air filters "ARE" superior to corrugated paper filters on nearly all counts. To explain the scientific principles of how a oil bath filter works would mean explaining it in terms of "physics", which may not be necessary. In some of the more simple terms that many of the previous repliers have used I will try to explain what is happening. Yes, you do have dust, dirt and other particles coming in from the air into the filter. Most heavier particles will be trapped quickly by the abrupt turn of direction of air flow over the oil(vectors). The remaining particles will become attached to the oil vapor (similar to how rain is produced), the saturated oil-particle will then attach to the mesh screening. The heavily oil-saturated particle will then travel down the mesh screen to drop into the pan at the bottom and the heavy particle will sink to the bottom of the oil. If you use an oil bath filter under very dusty conditions you should clean it every 6,000 miles, cleaning the mesh screen and replacing the oil in the bowl, being sure to saturate the mesh screen so that it will have a "wicking" effect.

The use of oil bath air filtration is used in industrial use in Cement Industry, Steel Plants, Foundries and other related industries. They are a most ideal filter where surrounding air contains high dust concentrations.
So, keep and use your oil bath filter, you cannot get a better one designed for the job at hand. If you truly need a more indepth explanation feel free to email me with your questions.