GX 390 wet air filter

[CliffordK]

I agree, it looks like those wires got mashed around a bit from mishandling.

Oil bath filters have been used for a very long time.

 

[Jens767]

Hi again ppea

Sorry, I didn’t realize that you had cleaned the filter already on your photos. A few weeks ago I cleaned my air filter also, and this is how it looked after I had cleaned it:



After 13 years and 400 working hours, it looks almost as new I would say. I am very puzzled how your filter ended up looking like it does

Looking at your photos, I think that there might be the risk that some of the missing material has entered the engine. As your engine runs great though, I wouldn’t worry too much, and the fact that you have found some particles in the oil, is evidence that they at least didn’t enter the engine.

Thousands of these types of engines are running without any problems every day worldwide, so I wonder why you would want to switch to a paper filter. It could be interesting to hear from some of our members who have done that, but it doesn’t help to explain how your filter got damaged in the first place.

If I remember correctly, you use your Grillo primarily for mowing, which I wouldn’t call very dusty conditions. My tractor has spent 90 % of its working hours mowing, and the air filter looks like new, as you can see.

To me it looks like your filter has been abused at some point in time, but as I have come to know you in this forum, I know that you take very good care of your tractor, and you certainly wouldn’t damage your filter with a screwdriver or anything like that. Have you perhaps had your maintenance done somewhere else at one point, and that someone else had his hands on your filter?

I would install a new steel wool element to see if that would solve the problem, as that would be the quickest and cheapest option, I think.

Thank you for sharing this problem with us, and I look forward to hear more from you on this topic.


Best regards

Jens

 

[marnebcs]

Again, when mowing most of the time, I would not worry about the filter, especially if it's not flail mowing on bare soil.
But when doing dirt work or lot of clearing jobs with the flail in dusty conditions, I wouldn't think twice switching to an enclosed paper filter. Dust is the enemy.

 

[ppea]

Update: I change the oil air filter with a chinese paper because the original filter was not on stock, but alot of dust passed through the filter.The original one can make a better job?

 

[leonz]

Your wire mesh element is damaged and needs to be replaced.
If the reservoir is low on oil the combustion air can and would
carry dust and debris that would impact the wire mesh and
cause it to break.

You need a new wire mesh insert or a complete oil bath filter.

Are you using 30 weight oil in the reservoir?

Are you using the engine on slopes?

 

[leonz]

Update: I change the oil air filter with a chinese paper because the original filter was not on stock, but a lot of dust passed through the filter. The original one can make a better job?

The oil bath air filter is better and will not clog as long as the reservoir
is cleaned and fresh 30 weight motor oil is added back to the full level markings.

The oil bath base is there to do one job, act as an oil reservoir and dirt collector.
The intake air is pulled through the top of the canister and then down where it impacts
the oil and the dust held by the oil and drops to the bottom of the oil cup.

The combination of the oil level in the cup and the mesh that the cleaner air passes through
to the combustion chamber is what stops the dust from damaging the engine and allowing the
full flow of combustion air to enter the combustion chamber of the GX390 engine.

Any fine dust that is not in the oil is trapped in the above it and drops into the oil when the engine
is shut down.

 

[ppea]

I don't use oil air filter anymore.I put a paper one but the original paper filter was not in stock i put a chinese paper filter.I order an original paper air filter.