Dirty air filter, B7510, 50 hours

btolle · Jan 14, 2005

I have a B7510 with 50 hours on it. While doing the 50 hour service I pulled the air filter and it was covered with black "soot", the whole filter element had a coating of coal black, very fine, carbon dust looking stuff on it.

Where I have used it is mostly brown dirt and with 77" of rain last year and about 3" so far this month I can't imagine it picking up that much dust. All we really have is mud.

I have been working in the woods a lot (probably 40 of the 50 hours) so I suppose it could be something that is coming off the pine tree bark. We also have a few assorted other trees, some of which have some pretty dark bark. Been pushing a lot o small trees over and piling them up using the FEL and toothbar. I know that the grille gets a lot of leaves, pine needles, and other "tree stuff" on it so I keep it wiped off regularly.

Bear in mind I don't know what I am doing, am not a diesel mechanic, and have never cleaned a diesel engine air filter before.

Washed it in detergent (per the perator's manual), rinsed thoroughly, and it is sitting in front of a fan drying out for now. Had to wash it a couple of time to get all the black stuff out.

Anybody else had something like that on their air filter?

Bill Tolle

DmansPadge · Jan 14, 2005

That is a bit surprising Bill. I changed my filter at 300 hours and it was only the second one the tractor had ever seen and it was fairly clean. It had a "nice" gray tint to it on the outside but the inside still looked pretty clean. No black soot or anything of the sort. I have seen diesels that have had that type of problem with the air filter but they are far different setups than what your tractor is. Is yours a single element? Mine is and costs about $27. I'd be more inclined to go ahead and get a new one versus cleaning the original.

DK35vince · Jan 15, 2005

Bill,
Do you have any type of exaust leak, or some exaust blowing under the hood somehow ?
I have seen air filters like that before that some way or another were sucking in some of its own exaust fumes.

btolle · Jan 15, 2005

The B7510 has a primary air filter (the one that with the soot) and then a smaller secondary filter inside of that one.

I have not heard an exhuast leak, the tractor runs pretty quietly. Will check for an exhaust leak tomorrow.

It is a new tractor. I bought it about 6 weeks ago and was doing it's first service at 50 hours when I found the filter so dirty.

I blew some soot off the filter with an air hose and it was dry and very fine. All of the filter surface material was covered evenly. When I got some on my hands it stuck pretty well and does look like carbon soot from an exhaust.

The exhaust comes out the left front corner at the bottom of the hood and is aimed down about 30 degrees, the air intake duct is on the top right side of the engine. It could be possible that the fan draws some of the exhaust back across the radiator where it could be sucked up by the air intake. The exhaust manifold is on the left side of the engine.

When it starts there is one puff of black smoke for about 1/2 of a second and then the exhaust is clear after that.

I have been running in the 1,500 to 1,900 RPM range most of the time since it is new and I have been varying the RPM's by 200 RPM or so roughly every 10 to 15 minutes.

Temp gauge shows it to be running cool, no overheating.

I've seen lots of automobile air filters in my life but never saw an air filter that dirty unless it had been run in dusty conditions for 25,000 miles or so.

Bill Tolle

L3010Ken · Jan 15, 2005

It could be tree pollen? The fir trees around here leave a dark residue on the metal roof of my shop. When cleaning gutters it is very apparent. Reminds me, I need to clean my gutters again.

_RaT_ · Jan 15, 2005

Be sure to look at the color when brand new too. My inner filter is black colored to start with. If I use my tractor at all near a brush pile that I burn, the outer filter fills quickly. Remember, that little diesel is probably sucking as much or more air then your car. A lot of air gets filtered very quickly.

btolle · Jan 15, 2005

( It could be tree pollen?)

I am about to conclude that it is some sort of pollen or other dust that some of the trees have on them.

I have been pushing a lot of small trees, brush, big privet hedges, and vines down. We have some vines that grow up the pine trees and can eventually kill the tree. Darn vines are as much a 2 1/2"-3" in diameter at the ground. I've had to use a chain saw to cut some of them.

Pine bark has a lot of powdery residue in it as well as stuff floating in the air that gets caught in the pine bark.]

Trees are so thick around here that I have cut some 12" trees and they don't even fall. Have to use a chain to drag the butt of the tree so the top will finally come loose from the other trees.

Only thing I know to do is watch it and make sure I keep it clean. Maybe when I get through clearing it will stop getting dirty so fast.

Thanks for everybody's input.

Bill Tolle

DanR67 · Jan 16, 2005

btolle -

If not pollen - and with all the rain you mention - could it be mold? I don't know about "carbon black" - but (unfortunately /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif ) I've seen some fairly dark mold.

I haven't pulled my filter yet...

Just an idea,

Dan

btolle · Jan 16, 2005

( btolle -

If not pollen - and with all the rain you mention - could it be mold?)

That is a thought. The tractor sits in a shed, but no doors and I have been working in the woods a lot where it is extremely humid, so the filter would be a little damp when I park it. Sounds like you are on to something here.

I need to wash the house down with bleach water. There is black mildew all over, much worse than a normal year. Even in a normal rainfall year (55") I have to wash the house down at least once a year.

And the mildew is pitch black like the stuff on the filter was.

Next time I check the filter I will hit it with a little bleach water and see if it kills it.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Bill Tolle

TractorTodd · Feb 7, 2005

Very common problem for B series. As the air filter collects debris it restricts airflow causing loss of power and black smoke(unburnt fuel). This residue is then pulled into the air cleaner magnifying the effect.