Thread: Toyota Hi-lux engine fault

I take a spare filter with me on trips and bang out the excess dust from the old one. When I get home I blow it out.
But when I worked in mines we sometimes changed haul truck filters twice a day in very dusty areas. The dusty filter was returned to Perth for "washing"..... what that involved I'm not sure.
As for the use of compressed air to blow them out, what's the problems if they're blown from the engine side outwards?
I caught the mobile mechanic I had servicing my Prado (I know and I'm sorry. But it really was good vehicle. ) blowing the filter with his compressor from all directions...inside out and outside in and across it.
I really got stuck into him but he was totally confused as to why I was more than a bit peeved..... I also caught the same bloke on my security cameras putting 5 different types of oil in it's engine!
I fired him of course and made him change the oil and filter and threatened to put it on YouTube if he tried any mechanic dirty tricks. He didn't, I watched him.
Yes a moderately dirty filter is better at catching fine dust but not a really blocked one. I've seen the results of a completely blocked filter on a blokes BMW motor bike..... not pretty as it sucked air from everywhere and dusted the motor. The owner had no idea on servicing etc.
AlanH.

Im confused here.

The cleaner the air the better that simple. You bring dust or any other particle into your engine its to that engines detriment.

If engines are tuned to have a certain amount of restriction (blocking) from the filter then thats CRAZY.

Air flow should be as free as possible and as clean as possible.

I really view things that simply.

Originally Posted by DAMINK

Im confused here.

The cleaner the air the better that simple. You bring dust or any other particle into your engine its to that engines detriment.

If engines are tuned to have a certain amount of restriction (blocking) from the filter then thats CRAZY.

Air flow should be as free as possible and as clean as possible.

I really view things that simply.

I know it is counter-intuitive but apparently a brand new filter actually lets more dust into the engine than a partially clogged one.

But then without the correct equipment how do tell when it is good clogged and bad clogged?

If I recall correctly, Ben has stated that on here before (he's an AULRO forum member).

Air filters are designed to work best when they are a little dirty, then it’s the balance of too little or too much! Hence why on big gear you have all sorts of simple to sophisticated ways of measuring.

cleaning a air filter by any means is fraught with danger, as tapping or blowing can damage the filter paper,the seal or dislodge dirt that you may not see and then enter where it’s not spose to go.

washing filters is really starting to fall by the wayside, while it’s still going on, all of the above reasons can apply, you wouldn’t wash your oil, so why bother washing your air filter, they are both not that expensive in the big picture.

I would change them as required and carry a spare.

jack

Originally Posted by DAMINK

Im confused here.

The cleaner the air the better that simple. You bring dust or any other particle into your engine its to that engines detriment.

If engines are tuned to have a certain amount of restriction (blocking) from the filter then thats CRAZY.

Air flow should be as free as possible and as clean as possible.

I really view things that simply.

As an air filter loads it's efficiency increases, ie. the more it loads the more and smaller particles it traps.
It then becomes a trade-off between pressure drop and efficiency.

BTW, the Dr Mullins quoted in the above article is our own isuzurover.

I'll dig out the laptop and link to the relevant threads where Ben/isuzurover tests various air filters

If you fit a Donaldson air filter according to their size recommendations then it will pass sufficient air for that engine until it is 75% clogged. Read their literature. Change or clean according to the tell tale or vacuum gauge.

Originally Posted by DAMINK

Im confused here.

The cleaner the air the better that simple. You bring dust or any other particle into your engine its to that engines detriment.

If engines are tuned to have a certain amount of restriction (blocking) from the filter then thats CRAZY.

Air flow should be as free as possible and as clean as possible.

I really view things that simply.

You’re viewing them wrong then

Airflow should be tuned just as Exhaust should.

Filtration will also be specced to meet the needs.

I’ve seen plenty of boy racers throw a car on a dyno, toss in a K&N or similar and drop power...

The filter builds up dirt. Not the engine air. And these particles help catch the next particles improving filtration.