D2 / D4, U-Series, Conversion to Dry Air Type Air Cleaner

Donaldson Filter was a common conversion supplier on the west coast.
Don't believe any of it is currently available new for the older machines.

If your considering dry filter conversions there is one major drawback. The filter elements actually have a shelf life and usable life. After the goo that is used on the paper elements burns off you no longer have an effective filter.

Works OK if you have heavy usage and maintain filter change outs but for the occasional use tractor your better off with the oil bath unit.

[quote="Old Magnet"]Donaldson Filter was a common conversion supplier on the west coast.
Don't believe any of it is currently available new for the older machines.

If your considering dry filter conversions there is one major drawback. The filter elements actually have a shelf life and usable life. After the goo that is used on the paper elements burns off you no longer have an effective filter.

Works OK if you have heavy usage and maintain filter change outs but for the occasional use tractor your better off with the oil bath unit.[/quote]

I for one did not know that. That bit on knowledge changes my attitude on changing over to dry elements.

What is the shelf life OM? I wonder how long my new filter for my 9U was on the dealer shelf.

OM: The shelf life issue is something to watch and manage. However for new parts the dry element type outperforms the oil bath type significantly in providing clean air to the engine. It is amazing the quantity of small particles (dirt) that can pass thru an oil type cleaner. Caterpillar tests in the 60's showed showed significant increase in engine wear life with the dry type. Caterpillar and the entire industry, including automotive, have been dry type for 50 years. Also with dry type you don't have to contend with oil weeping out of the canister when operating on steep slopes and the messy, oily, service job. For a working machines I highly recommend dry type. Oil type has merits of preserving authenticity on older machines.

I can't seem to find my info on the shelf life. Seems it was about a year.
Oz Dozer did a good article on this some time back if anyone still has it.
ebay is flooded with expired shelf life filters.

Did find in my 1989 Caterpillar Parts Sales Kit manual that Primary and Secondary elements should be in service no longer than one year.

I see no problem using dry as intended but amounts to buying and disposing of a lot of underutilized filter elements on the occasional use tractor if you adhere to the filter life recommendations.

Seems most filter suppliers are reluctant to state what shelf and service life is.

KCB
That sounds like a sales pitch.

I recently noticed a billboard advertising K&N washable filters for heavy duty application (over the road trucking, etc.). Has anybody attempted to retrofit an oil impregnated filter media instead of a dry type?

Wasn't aware that paper filters are considerd to have a shelf life...

Here's the filter cleaning instructions from the manual for my D6c...Of course that's from 1970's literature so the thinking may have changed since then.

Cat primary elements can be washed up to six times, depending on application...however, air elements should not be used longer than one year. Cat does not recommend the washing of the safety element. Its function is to provide additional filtration and protect the engine in case the primary element is damaged.

I'm still looking for the shelf life data.....I know it's out there just have to find it.

[quote="Old Magnet"]Cat primary elements can be washed up to six times, depending on application...however, air elements should not be used longer than one year. Cat does not recommend the washing of the safety element. Its function is to provide additional filtration and protect the engine in case the primary element is damaged.

I'm still looking for the shelf life data.....I know it's out there just have to find it.[/quote]

But we still don't know how long the dealer had the element. I would guess for my 9U it has been years,, even though its new to me..

I'm kinda interested in that K&N solution. Need to know more. Hopefully it would fit in the dry enclosure.

Yah I know that doesn't answer your question....I'm thinking there may be a date on the filters or packaging. I've got a couple of new ones on hand that I will look over for dates. May be in the bar coding.

There is a whole lot of hype on the K & N filters and marketing. In testing they show little flow advantage over paper. The cleaning and re-oiling is a mess. I junked the only one I delt with after junior bought one for my/his truck.