Using a car oil filter as a compressor air intake filter

[metalmad]

As subject
Anyone done this and any comments on flow?
I have a hobby compressor and replaced the sponge foam type element with a spin on type oil filter to hopefully improve filtration and intake flow, however I'm not sure on how well its sucking air in.,...

 

[Shawn S]

It's made to filter a fluid. I can't imagine it's going to filter much from the air. Seems like it will let most things pass through.

 

[EOC_Jason]

^^^ Exactly... It's not going to be nearly as fine as an air filter...

Go on Amazon.com and search for "solberg"... Get one of those...

 

[bob15]

^^^ Exactly... It's not going to be nearly as fine as an air filter...

Go on Amazon.com and search for "solberg"... Get one of those...

^^^^^^^^^^^^
Both of these answers are correct

http://www.solbergmfg.com/ViewSeriesList.aspx?ProductLineId=1&src=hscroll

 

[metalmad]

Its a cheap hobby compressor, the filter it came with was a chintzy piece of plastic with a piece of what appeared to be dish cleaning sponge as an airfilter
Plus I'm in the UK, so a lot of the decent filter brands are sadly either not for sale or crazy money here...
Oddly I find the oil filter to flow less air than the OEM sponge filter, which shows the oem sponge isn't doing much in terms of filtering.
Compressor is going outside the shop in an insulated box to save my ears (its cheap,nasty and loud)

 

[Gmonkee]

If it isn't starving for air it will be ok. Those cheaper units are pretty flexible on the state of maintenance they will survive.

Most I seen in auto paint shops had no filter at all and sucked up all the dust. Anything is better than nothing.

 

[Handyfarmer]

why not use a car air filter?

 

[inyoyote]

Since oil filters are typically rated down to 10 microns, and they are known to reduce noise since they are used in home brew silencers, you may be on to something. I think you would need a pretty large filter to not create vacuum, at least 1” ID for the threaded bung. Oil filters are cheap and easy to change. This isn’t meant to be a replacement for a proper solberg, but it would definitely suffice for a basic home owner model. I have a cheapie air compressor that I may try this on for a little testing.

Thanks for the idea.

 

[apollo11]

I bet it would work fine

 

[Fretters]

They work fine. As long as it's not restricting flow, you're fine. They're far better than most of the **** you find as standard on compressors.

 

[PBCampbell]

I'd think you'd trip the bypass valve and be pulling at least a significant amount of unfiltered air.

 

[crewchief888]

or you can do like i did, and toss on a hi-flow intake filter like i did to my compressor...


picked up massive amounts of HP and torque

 

[Ji m]

or you can do like i did, and toss on a hi-flow intake filter like i did to my compressor...


picked up massive amounts of HP and torque

you need to rotate it up so it's good for water crossings too

 

[lakeroadster]

or you can do like i did, and toss on a hi-flow intake filter like i did to my compressor...

Yeah.. that's awesome.

 

[firworks]

you need to rotate it up so it's good for water crossings too

I would strongly consider a lift kit at that point too.

As subject
Anyone done this and any comments on flow?
I have a hobby compressor and replaced the sponge foam type element with a spin on type oil filter to hopefully improve filtration and intake flow, however I'm not sure on how well its sucking air in.,...

Do you have a picture of what you've done? I'd be interested to see it.

 

[rsanter]

Interesting idea.
Someone has to be the first to try it and let up know so I nominate you.

I could see how it may be too restrictive and let air thought the bypass but I would think it would be easy enough then to use two oil filters

 

[sberry]

How big is this comp? An oil filter isnt going to restrict a small comp.

 

[metalmad]

I would strongly consider a lift kit at that point too.



Do you have a picture of what you've done? I'd be interested to see it.

I will try and get out to the garage in the next couple of days

Filter has a UNF fitting on it, compressor was 1/2 BSP (so ~19ish mm)
Bought an adapter from a hydraulics / pneumatics supplier
screwed the adapter into the compressor and the filter onto the adapter

 

[Schurkey]

Since oil filters are typically rated down to 10 microns,

I'd have said ~20 microns.

I'd make sure there is no bypass valve built into the filter assembly.

"I" would install an automotive air filter rather than a spin-on oil filter.

 

[Mick56]

I made one out of an unused air filter I had laying around. Been on for many years.

 

[mbshop]

My little comp had a small, and I mean small, foam filter. It disintegrated and stuck one of the reed valves open. So after cleaning things up I was limited in space for the filter so I just used several layers of felt.
so far so good. If you are in a dusty are then get a good air filter for say dift bikes, etc. Even lawn mower, etc filters will do.

 

[Alchymist]

or you can do like i did, and toss on a hi-flow intake filter like i did to my compressor...


picked up massive amounts of HP and torque

Air filter for me also- doing about 11-12 CFM.

 

[crewchief888]

you need to rotate it up so it's good for water crossings too

 

[laser3kw]

I would strongly consider a lift kit at that point too.

 

[crewchief888]

it's already over 4 ft off the floor....

 

[manwithtools]

or you can do like i did, and toss on a hi-flow intake filter like i did to my compressor...


picked up massive amounts of HP and torque

OMG, NO...... You can't have PVC on an air compressor. Haven't you read your Garage Journal lately?

 

[LX-Markham]

I ran a FRAM PH8 on my home made compressor, it worked fine.

 

[crewchief888]

OMG, NO...... You can't have PVC on an air compressor. Haven't you read your Garage Journal lately?

really??


i had no idea

 

[laser3kw]

I ran a FRAM PH8 on my home made compressor, it worked fine.

Fram?
she's gonna blow!

 

[metalmad]

Filter setup
compressor
1/2BSP male to 1/2BSP male
1/2 BSP female to UNF male hydraulic adapter
Oil filter from a gen 1 Yaris / Echo

(no idea why the photo has went upside down as its the right way up on the computer)

 

[SirNik84]

A long time ago I picked up an old Fiat air cleaner, I don't even remember why I had it. After having in for years I finally deiced to put it you use as the air filter for my hodge-podge air compressor.