A zealous, but poorly informed, service person can do a lot of damage to air intake systems in the name of hands-on maintenance. Here are some things that are better left alone.

• Don't remove the element for inspection, it invariably does more harm to the engine than good. You can't judge a filter's service by looking at it, and dirt can fall into the clean side of the filter.
• The only reason to tap on a filter is to destroy it. Embedded dirt won't be released by tapping, and banging hard enough to knock off lighter dust often damages the seal, opening a path for dirt to pass into the engine. It's safer to keep operating with a dirty filter until you can get a fresh replacement.
• Don't overlook a worn or damaged gasket in the housing. If the air cleaner has a cover gasket, replace it with a new one. Always check to be sure no piece of the old gasket remains in the housing.
• Don't use a warped cover on a housing. Replace it with a new one as soon as possible.
• Never leave an air cleaner open longer than necessary. If the element isn't going to be changed immediately, cover the opening.
• Leave the safety element (the one mounted inside the primary) in place unless a replacement is at hand. If the manufacturer's change interval is unknown, the Filter Manufacturer's Council suggests replacing it at every third change of the primary element.

Technical Service
Universal Lubricants, Inc.
0903.01
SOURCE: Construction Equipment

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