No oil on air filter precleaner?

[Eric102]

Just noticed this in the X739 owners manual, "do not oil air precleaner" Is this something new to John Deere?

Every small engine I've had in the past has required the precleaner to be oiled. Is this a EPA thing or because the engine is fuel injected?

 

[beenthere]

You talking about the foam stretch pad added to the air filter?

I've never heard to oil them, and would not as oil would restrict air flow... in my opinion.

Any manuals suggest oiling them?

 

[ruffdog]

Oil the foam filters.
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About Foam Air Filters

Small Engine Foam Filter

The “foam only” style air filter system works by trapping dirt and debris through the use of motor oil spread throughout the oil foam holding medium. A dry or non-oiled oil foam filter will trap only the largest particles. If the air filter element is foam only, it MUST be oiled and serviced regularly. Your foam filter requires replacement every 3 months or after 25 hours of use, whichever occurs first, more often under dusty conditions.

 

[Eric102]

Yep, the foam filter that goes over the main pleated paper air filter. All my previous mowers, pressure washers, rototillers etc said to oil the foam prefilter. This is the first one I've had that said do not oil the pre filter.

 

[beenthere]

A search for more info, shows that motor oil should not be used, but that air filter oil made just for the foam filters is recommended.

I figure the foam is only to take out the larger particles, and the paper filter under will remove any smaller particles and last longer if not plugged up with the larger.

But in the end, I still won't oil the foam pre-filters. But don't have a problem with anyone who wants to do the oiling.

 

[RandyT]

In years past they said to oil the foam wrap around the paper filter. the problem is people tend to over oil the wrap which then causes the oil to get absorbed into the paper filter clogging it up. So about 3-4 years ago they started saying do not oil the wrap, just the foam only filters. Was discussed in my Kohler update seminar a few years back.

 

[beenthere]

That makes good sense. Thanks Randyt

 

[ruffdog]

In years past they said to oil the foam wrap around the paper filter. the problem is people tend to over oil the wrap which then causes the oil to get absorbed into the paper filter clogging it up. So about 3-4 years ago they started saying do not oil the wrap, just the foam only filters. Was discussed in my Kohler update seminar a few years back.

True, very, very light coating of oil. Try a teaspoons worth then squeeze, squeeze, squeeze, etc........

 

[fieldman12]

Our John Deere dealer said there where tons of issues where the mowers would not start and run because of the oil on the outside of the filter. They now tell all there customers not to oil them. My dad had this issue and did not use much oil. Now no issues after doing what the dealer said.

 

[RandyT]

Had a customer last year with a troybilt rider that they had left so much oil in the wrap that the paper filter was saturated, and I could squeeze oil out of the wrap. Must of been half a cup of oil come out of the wrap.

 

[Eric102]

Must have been a lot of "user" oiling errors out there, my JD 318 has ran fine for 27 years with an oiled foam pre-cleaner and normally I'd only clean it once a year. It would be caked with dirt at the end of the season but the paper filter remained clean and I'd usually go 3 or 4 years between changing it. When oiling the foam filter I'd always squeeze the crap out of it until no oil oozed out of it.

I'm hesitant to go with a dry filter because it seems like it would let a lot more dust through to the paper filter.

I wonder if the warranty would be voided on my X739 if I oiled the pre-filter?

 

[fieldman12]

I think it was the material they started using was allot finer that even hardly any oil would plug them. We have used many filter in the past that required a little oil and no issues.

Must have been a lot of "user" oiling error out there, my JD 318 has ran fine for 27 years with an oiled foam pre-cleaner and normally I'd only clean it once a year. It would be caked with dirt at the end of the season but the paper filter remained clean and I'd usually go 3 or four years between changing it. When oiling the foam filter I'd always squeeze the crap out of it until no oil oozed out of it.

I'm hesitant to go with a dry filter because it seems like it would let a lot more dust through to the paper filter.

I wonder if the warranty would be voided on my X739 if I oiled the pre-filter?

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you want to oil it, go for it. The worst that could happen is the paper filter clogs and you have to buy another one along with a new foam outer.

 

[ruffdog]

Why would the paper filter clog? A PROPERLY oiled prefilter will keep more dirt from getting to the paper filter. A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL. No pores in the foam should be filled with oil, just a VERY light coating.