Air Filter Cleaning?

[MOOTS]

Knock out the big chunks and blow them from inside out with 90* wand. This is from a JD bunker rake used on a ball field.

 

[kubotafreak]

Hopefully it goes without saying not all are wash capable. Please refer to your literature since we are talking in general sense. Washable filters usually have foam, coated media, glass blown, or cotton reinforced elements. Some of the paper elements will literally dissolve in water.

 

[GeoHorn]

I actually DO trust tractor Mfr’s to give good advice on tractor maintenance,.... and Doctors to give good advice on medical matters.... and never trust political opinions on Doctors OR tractors.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Before following general advice along the lines of it worked for my grandpappy, consider which tractor you have, and the possible consequences to your engine. DPF common rail engines are picky about the quality of the air and the fuel they use. Is it worth ten bucks for a new filter once a year? I think so. My air supply breathes very fine dust from paper bedding about the same color as the filter. It never looks dirty. Just easier to change the filter.

 

[MOOTS]

Before following general advice along the lines of it worked for my grandpappy, consider which tractor you have, and the possible consequences to your engine. DPF common rail engines are picky about the quality of the air and the fuel they use. Is it worth ten bucks for a new filter once a year? I think so. My air supply breathes very fine dust from paper bedding about the same color as the filter. It never looks dirty. Just easier to change the filter.

Where are you buying $10 OEM filters from?

 

[sheepfarmer]

Where are you buying $10 OEM filters from?

Dealer, but maybe I am remembering with rose colored glasses. I don’t remember it being a whole lot.

 

[MOOTS]

Dealer, but maybe I am remembering with rose colored glasses. I don’t remember it being a whole lot.

Nowhere near that in Georgia. F3680,F2690,zd331 are all 25ish+!

 

[DustyRusty]

I have found genuine Kubota filters on eBay, but they are not always there. I bought a Kubota air filter just last week for $10, plus sales tax, and am waiting for the carrier pigeon to deliver it. First it said delivery by the 13th, and now it is the 16th. I don't have a dealer near by, so I purchase small parts from eBay, Amazon, or Messicks.

 

[kubotafreak]

Before following general advice along the lines of it worked for my grandpappy, consider which tractor you have, and the possible consequences to your engine. DPF common rail engines are picky about the quality of the air and the fuel they use. Is it worth ten bucks for a new filter once a year? I think so. My air supply breathes very fine dust from paper bedding about the same color as the filter. It never looks dirty. Just easier to change the filter.

The one for my l6060 is $69 from Messicks. The one for your l3560 is $22. Not $10, but I would be happier than $69!

 

[ThomasH]

Ill start this by saying Ive myself blown filters out before in the past. They have found that blowing filters out actually clog the pores more with compacted dirt. It also blows holes in the finer spots. So in theory your creating larger pores, and at the same time condensing dirt into more condensed clumps. You have to imagine the filter is thicker than just the thin pleats when your comparing to the find dust particles. The dust gets trapped at different points in the thickness of the filter on a microscopic level. Yes blowing them out removes dirt, no body doubts that. It is the damage caused by doing so, increased porosity and decreased filter efficiency. Soaking them in detergent seems bad, but it loosens the dirt in a way the dirt that will move will flow out with water. Its a pretty interesting science, but if you do some research in the larger equipment operating costs it will defy older convention. Basically a filter can undergo 20 washings and have 80% filter capacity vs 3 blown air cleanings for even less filtering ability.

Un doubt ably you will want one on the shelf to exchange out between drying times if you so choose to go this route.

Who is "They"?

 

[Tire Biter]

Be careful of eBay “genuine “ filters. I’ve gotten phony pirated so called OEM filters from there. They don’t fit right for starters. And stay away from aftermarket filters like the Kumar Brothers brand. Totally inferior. Just bought a new filter for a 2601 at Dooleys and it was $24.00. Not washable cuz it’s paper.

 

[JimmyJazz]

I have washed mine. I do it at the END of the day and let it dry overnight. (I also repeatedly wear again socks my wife washes regardless of how cheap they are.)

If Kubota recommends washing it despite the fact they sell new filters.... then I believe it’s OK to wash them.

A more puzzling matter to me as regards air filters is the warning not to blow-out and re-use the secondary filter. If you pull it out they want it replaced.
It seems to me that pulling it out and sticking in a new one is no less hazardous than pulling out a used one and sticking it back in after it’s been blown-out with air. (I’ve never witnessed anything come out of a used secondary.... so I stuck it back in and that’s where it is now.... it’s mine so I get to decide.). YMMV

Maybe have your wife wash your filter.

 

[number two]

I might have missed it,but having been in the trucking for 18 years in several stints,but air filters become more efficient as they get a little dirty.
As the large pores become clogged,the smaller pores take over providing finer filtering.
Just don't ignore it!

 

[DustyRusty]

Be careful of eBay “genuine “ filters. I’ve gotten phony pirated so called OEM filters from there. They don’t fit right for starters. And stay away from aftermarket filters like the Kumar Brothers brand. Totally inferior. Just bought a new filter for a 2601 at Dooleys and it was $24.00. Not washable cuz it’s paper.

A filter not fitting correctly, means that it is the wrong filter. Basing quality on price alone, is not a scientific way to approach quality questions. I can only assume that your comment about "Kumar Brothers" filters as being "totally inferior" is based on opinion, not scientific fact. I am certain that they don't manufacturer the filters themselves, but purchase filters from one of the major filter manufacturers. Even Kubota doesn't manufacturer their own filters, but has filters made for them to their specifications.

I purchased a replacement fuel pump on eBay for my old BX, and it works as well as the OEM one that failed. It was about 20% of the cost of the Kubota pump. I would worry more about counterfeits in a Kubota box, then an aftermarket in a branded box. Paying more for a disposable commodity doesn't make sense when you do regular maintenance, if the quality of the part is identical.

 

[GeoHorn]

Interesting.... so Fleetguard says NOT to clean a filter....THEN tells you HOW to DO IT.

The biggest problem with servicing air filters is contamination of the canister! Pulling out a used filter and installing (either) a new one or a cleaned one.... is hazardous if you don’t take a damp rag and wipe out the canister and the surrounding area. Otherwise the dirt caught previously at the edges of the old filter is likely to be drawn into the intakes.

I cannot disagree with the Fleetguard comments... except to note that their comment that a “cleaned Used” filter which has only 75% capacity of a New filter.... is a relative matter. Even if true, It’s still more economical by 25% to re-used a cleaned filter... the answer simply being to reduce by 25% the allotted time-in-service before the next cleaning. After that... clean it again and only allow it 50% service interval.... etc etc etc. Fleetguard didn’t make ANY of the “sky is falling” claims a cleaned/re-used filter will harm your machine.

I clean and re-use my air filters like Kubota recommends and replace them with new only when they have been re-cycled a few times. I sleep OK at night.

 

[dan_m]

I bought 3 pack of donaldson filters for my bx 2380 last year from online - around $15/each. I also added secondary air filter per the same video from Messics . In the video, the OEM filter is made by Donaldson.

I don't recall how much, but filter from dealer cost more than $15 each for the Donaldson's

Dan

 

[JoannObrain]

It sounds like you've found a good routine that works for you and your Kubota. It's definitely important to be mindful of contamination when servicing air filters, as you mentioned.

On the topic of dpf cleaning, have you considered that as well? It's an important aspect of maintaining the health and performance of your diesel engine, and can even help save on fuel costs in the long run.

 

[nbryan]

I have just read the Kubota manual, and it surprised me to recommend washing the air filter in detergent, and then rinsing it well, and set out to dry. I have never heard of this before, and was wondering how many people here have done this. The filter isn't a particularly expensive item to replace, depending on where you make your purchase.

I got myself second air and fuel filters for my B2650 to rotate in when I service and wash the dirty ones at maintenance time.
Detergent wash, rinse clear and dry the air filter and clean the fuel filter in clear kerosene as per manual. Then they dry out and wait for the next service to rotate in.

 

[fried1765]

Dealer, but maybe I am remembering with rose colored glasses. I don’t remember it being a whole lot.

Check with Messick's, or Coleman Equip.
No $10 Kubota air filters there!

 

[My Barn]

I have just read the Kubota manual, and it surprised me to recommend washing the air filter in detergent, and then rinsing it well, and set out to dry. I have never heard of this before, and was wondering how many people here have done this. The filter isn't a particularly expensive item to replace, depending on where you make your purchase.

In the Japaneses motor cycle world they also say...Change the Oil and every other time replace the oil filter.
I have also blown filters out before, from inside out. Also washed them out and reused them next cycle!