Oil Bath Air Cleaner

Kevin - Illinois

Kevin - Illinois

Senior Member
I'm new to the early V8's so please be patient with my stupid questions...

I have a 53 Mainline with a stock 239 and want to swap from the little chrome air cleaner back to the original oil bath. My brother happened to have one off his old flathead from years ago that is in very good shape.

I was wondering if people who use the oil bath are actually using oil in them or if they are running dry? I want to know more about the oil bath...any information would be helpful!

Thanks!
Kevin
 
The oil bath air cleaner was designed to use the oil to catch dust/sand, etc. before it could get into the carburetor. Using an oil bath without oil is tantamount to running no filter element in a non oil bath air cleaner.
 
Thanks Vic! The screen does look pretty porous. So is there any advice on using them as designed with oil? Can they be problematic? The little chrome air cleaner that came on the car takes the dignity from Henery's flathead and I want to stay original looking...
 
The only problem you'll run into, is spilling oil when you remove the air cleaner... :eek: If you are like me, you'll have to remind yourself not to tip the air cleaner when you take it off the carb ;) oh, and don't over fill it.
 
What is the best method to clean it? It has been sitting for many years with oil in it. It's not rusted at all. I'm assuming there is sludge in the screen.
 

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If you have a parts cleaner, I would submerse it in the cleaning fluid and let it soak. If not, I'd get as much of the sludge out as you can, using brake cleaner and/or carburetor cleaner to remove it, and dry it out with compressed air. You know you are having fun when you start getting old grease and oil all over the place...;)
 
I'm still rinnin' one on the '50, and yes remember to keep it level when removing it or you'll have a mess.
 
Vic Piano said:
The oil bath air cleaner was designed to use the oil to catch dust/sand, etc. before it could get into the carburetor. Using an oil bath without oil is tantamount to running no filter element in a non oil bath air cleaner.
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The airflow thru the air cleaner does not flow thru the oil. Whatever particles, dust etc. that are heavy enough, fall into the oil, the rest is drawn into/thru the horsehair and some into the carburetor.
 
51 MERC-CT said:
The airflow thru the air cleaner does not flow thru the oil. Whatever particles, dust etc. that are heavy enough, fall into the oil, the rest is drawn into/thru the horsehair and some into the carburetor.
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51MERC-CT, does anyone make a conversion for a paper element for the old oil bath system?
 
51 MERC-CT said:
The airflow thru the air cleaner does not flow thru the oil. Whatever particles, dust etc. that are heavy enough, fall into the oil, the rest is drawn into/thru the horsehair and some into the carburetor.
Click to expand...

Yes, I know that. If air went through the oil, you'd have a real mess... :eek:
 
green50 said:
51MERC-CT, does anyone make a conversion for a paper element for the old oil bath system?
Click to expand...

Don't know of any kits. There is not any filter that I know of that will replace the original but this is what can be done after cutting off the original from the lid.
This one was done to mount on top of the inlet with the lid as the cover.
A larger filter can be utilized to fit down into the filter base with a spacer to fit under the lid.
There are different ways of doing it, all depending on the imagination and ability of who ever is doing it.
 

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I don't know of any tests that show replacing the oil bath function with a paper filter is better (for old Fords, low mileage, paved roads). But guys are always trying to "improve" their Ford. Cutting or uncrimping the top destroys the ability to return to oil bath. And hard to find another one. Like Vic says, it is a messy job (1 hour) to clean and re-oil but keeps the car as built. JMO
John
 
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I don't mean to hi jack this thread, but is there a way to ID the air cleaner as to what is proper for what year? I have an oil bath air cleaner with no markings on it other than "oil level". I have a dry filter (brillo pad style) with "HH" stamped into the bottom. With all the sub contractors that Henry used, I have to assume that any markings would be from a subcontractor. But what sub contractor made the air cleaner for what years?
 
A caution, I was always warned, never tested tho, the inside seams are like knife edge. Take care not to run your fingers on the inside seams.
 
Funny thing.... I was tuning my flatty and it back fired and blew the loose oil bath air cleaner clean off...that little pint of oil went every where. Including all over me....ha.ha now..not then
Randy
 
I jus bought one for my 53 engine 94 carb they are not the same as 97.
make sure you get the right bottom. No oil is ok in my book nothing can crawl in carb ,back fire and you don,t hear the noise going down the road.
 
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