Talkin' Dirty

When performing a little self-maintenance on a sluggish vehicle, many a driver will pop open the air cleaner and pull out the filter element thinking a vigorous shake to rid the element of visible dirt will help. Should you be one of those folk who takes this a step further and give the filter a rap against the wheel, guard or ground - then STOP! This action can be the catalyst for major heartbreak.

Air filters designed for use in modern diesel engines actually work more effectively with a build up of dirt on the filter media. Suer that contradicts the belief that dirt an engines don't mix, but your truck's air intake system was engineered to work on the premise that a certain amount of dirt build-up is necessary on the filtration media which, in turn, attracts more dirt. So by shaking off the excess dirt you are actually preventing the filter from reaching its optimal working efficiency.

As for thumping a filter against any hard surface...a buckled, deformed or damaged filter will almost certainly result in contaminant getting through to your engine and that spells trouble. Even the simple act of popping open the air cleaner lid and removing the element exposes an engine to the unnecessary risk of contamination.

So when should you change out your air filter? It's easy-service air filters only by monitoring the restriction level. That means checking the restriction indicator on the dash or installing a manual indicator on the air cleaner housing. This is a small yet worthwhile investment. 

Why spend money on replacement parts more regularly than you need to?

Whether the vehicle is serviced by a professional or you opt to do it yourself, Donaldson Australasia can assist on the best practices you should follow to ensure selection of the right filter for your application, taking into account the dust conditions in which the vehicle operates. By following these instructions carefully and taking note of the above advice, you could save yourself a lot of heartbreak and a lot of money.

Got questions about your filtration needs? Send us your technical questions at thedspot@donaldson.com