The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Air filter cleaning

I need to clean the air filter on my 1948 Chevy truck (oil bath). The filter has a label which says to use Kerosine to clean. Is there a better way or product to do this?

pretty much any solvent that will cut grease. you need to be aware of the volatility/flammability level of whatever it is you end up using. And act accordingly. Personally I would stay away from water based cleaners, that is just what we need, to contaminate a little bit more freshwater. There is a lot of advice/information that was given back then that can be improved upon nowadays.

I use kerosene or diesel fuel.
In the open/shade - no flames or sparks nearby.

I use brake cleaner.

Been using kerosene in my solvent tank for 40 years now.
Change it out every so often and donate it to the guy down
the street who heats his garage with a waste oil burner. He's
glad to get some real heating oil mixed in with the drain
oil. Kerosene and diesel both have relatively high flash
points so they are fairly safe to use as long as you
apply some common sense to it.

As to your question, use any solvent, idea being that you just
want to flush out the crud that's been sucked thru the filter.
Then add your fresh oil.

dg

If you like your paint and decal be careful picking your solvent as many will also dissolve the paint.

Mike B

MS-140 Mineral Spirits (also sold under the brand name "Varsol") is safer than kerosene- - - -much higher flash point.
Jerry

clhaney- I have some of the "orange citrus" liquid cleaner I use sometimes. Sort of pricey but does a good job.

...don't want to hi-jack this thread, move it if needed, but here goes.
QUESTION: Does anyone know of something that can be added to varsol,kerosene and similar stuff to "mask" the smell?....unless its worst than the cleaner!

The smell of most cleaners I've used lately, including Varsol and kerosene, cause my sinus's & stomach, to give me a very hard time especially since my surgery back in May. With it being winter time and being closed up in the shop its even worst...and yes, I keep the lid closed.
Just asking. Thanks.

Try a little Oil of Wintergreen- - - - -most drug stores sell it, or it's probably available on Ebay. There's an oldtime oilfield workers' trick to mask the distinctive smell of "drip", an untaxed byproduct of crude oil production that will run a gasoline engine- - - -add a bottle of wintergreen to each tank of "gas" collected from the wellhead drips. One of the guys in my Air Force unit told me about that little trick. He came from a large family of Texas oil workers. It might mask the smell of Varsol the same way.
Jerry

If you want to clean it why use an oil? (diesel and kerosene are oils)

Get a gallon of mineral spirits. That will clean it and anything else petroleum based.

From my TM "... wash all parts in volatile mineral spirits paint thinner or dry-cleaning solvent, dry thoroughly, and reassemble."

Kero and diesel will not readily ignite. The VAPORS are what burn. You can put out a match with kero/diesel...