Oil Bath Air Filters query

I have just read an article that explained how oil bath filters work and that droplets of oil may carry into the motor.

The question I have is wouldn't most of it get caught in the mesh so the amount entering the carby is very little.

I have been using an upper cylinder lubricant along with unleaded fuel. Given that Inters like mine had a habit of burning valves am I better off to keep doing this as the cost of the lubricantis very little compared to the costs of having a head rebuilt and while it may not be doing any good it won't be doing any harm.

any suggestions?

Bparo,

I think with the super high performance engines that the inters have I don't think we would be much of a chance sucking in much oil!

Any droplets should be caught in the mesh. I would assume that if you used a fairly light grade oil in the oil bath then you would have a greater chance of carry over.

But I believe that this is why the air cleaners are so large to ensure that there is plenty of mesh to try and catch the oil droplets but also to have a large volume to slow the air down so that the heavier oil droplets that is in suspension will fall back down. I can see that if the engine is using a lot of air there would be a possibility of oil being sucked through. But you will notice that as the engines get bigger and if they still retain an oil bath. The oil bath also gets bigger. The amount of oil and the air volume also.

Don't forget that if the oil from the air cleaner does get into the engine it would not be a major issue as it will just burn. And would not protect for burning valve etc. Not like the upper cylinder lubricant which have additives to protect from this. Also the upper cylinder lubricant will also be mixed in with the petrol and not just drippling down the carb and into the engine. Which the heavier oil from the air cleaner will do.

One last thing both the Inter and my Thornycroft both run oil baths and I have never noticed any residue inside the air intakes. I suppose it all comes down to medium grade oil and the baths filled to the required level.

Hi everyone, as i under stand it my 1950 Landrover has a oil bath and when i do service i check it because if you have been traveling in dusty places the dust particles settle to bottom.
This is why you see lot of old tractors run oil baths to stop dust getting into the motors, these oil baths were on Landrovers up the early 80's. So i hope this is a help Deadly

Sorry to reinvent an old topic. You will still see in some military and extreme condition earth moving gear they still use oil bath air cleaners.
The fundemental differance between these and their dry paper counter parts is they dont lose efficiency as they collect dust so engine performance is not effected. Weight and there messy servicing has killed them. As bparo before the correct weight oil and level is critical to the way they work. They are also at their peak efficiency at high revs where the air velocity is higher and the heavier dust cannot change flow direction and is thrown into the oil. Next time you clean one out have a study of the relationship of the parts to each other and you will find they are a tricky bit of kit the way they work.
Barry

having old tractors and trucks with oil baths and chronic dust at times I have been impressed with their efficiency but did manage to stop the beddie dead in a rough paddock when half the oil bath went down the carby. Still a better proposition than expensive cardboard replacements :-X

l agree with Barry the old oil bath is a dirty job and when the drop make a lovely mess. The big red Inter R200 has the oil bath air cleaner on it and helps keep the air flowing to the high horse power petrol sucking engine. Podge