Summary
The most common air cleaner is called a dry-element type. It has a replaceable dry-element of pleated paper or cellulose fiber that doesn’t need to be wet or use oil to act as a filter.
The paper is pleated because that gives a much larger surface area in the space.
The element is designed to be fine enough to trap impurities, but porous enough to let air through easily.
Most heavy-duty air-cleaners incorporate a cyclone type pre-cleaner. It collects larger particles from the air before it enters a dry-element cleaner.
It can be mounted directly onto the air-cleaner unit, or the cyclone principle can be incorporated into the main air-cleaner unit.
This dry-element cleaner is fitted close to the engine and it’s linked to the cyclone system by a duct.
The name cyclone comes from angled vanes that give the incoming air a swirling motion. Centrifugal force throws the heavier dirt particles outwards. They can collect in a separate bowl at the bottom of the cleaner.
In the single unit cyclone element, it collects at the end of the air-cleaner case where it can be emptied out manually.
The air then continues into the dry-element air-cleaner.
An efficient cyclone pre-cleaner can remove up to 90% of particles before they reach the main element.
Some older vehicles may use an oil-bath type air cleaner.
The sudden change in direction of the air as it passes over the oil leaves the heavier dust particles to be caught in the oil.
The most common air cleaner is called a dry-element type. It has a replaceable dry-element of pleated paper or cellulose fiber that doesn’t need to be wet or use oil to act as a filter.
The paper is pleated because that gives a much larger surface area in the space.
The element is designed to be fine enough to trap impurities, but porous enough to let air through easily.
Most heavy-duty air-cleaners incorporate a cyclone type pre-cleaner. It collects larger particles from the air before it enters a dry-element cleaner.
It can be mounted directly onto the air-cleaner unit, or the cyclone principle can be incorporated into the main air-cleaner unit.
This dry-element cleaner is fitted close to the engine and it’s linked to the cyclone system by a duct.
The name cyclone comes from angled vanes that give the incoming air a swirling motion. Centrifugal force throws the heavier dirt particles outwards. They can collect in a separate bowl at the bottom of the cleaner.
In the single unit cyclone element, it collects at the end of the air-cleaner case where it can be emptied out manually.
The air then continues into the dry-element air-cleaner.
An efficient cyclone pre-cleaner can remove up to 90% of particles before they reach the main element.
Some older vehicles may use an oil-bath type air cleaner.
The sudden change in direction of the air as it passes over the oil leaves the heavier dust particles to be caught in the oil.
