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Oil bath air cleaner

7K views 19 replies 7 participants last post by  Elwenil 
#1 ·
My 1977 W200 has an oil bath air cleaner.  I don't have any experience with that type.  Does that style cleaner filter as well as a paper element? What are the advantages/disadvantages?  What would be the options for converting to a paper element?
 
#2 ·
They typically filter better than a paper element but are restrictive and messy.  They also tend to not work well in a off road vehicle that get tilted at crazy angles.  You should be able to get either an aftermarket air cleaner or a used paper element air cleaner from a truck with a similar carb with no issues.
 
#4 ·
Ditto, they are ok for stationary engines, but not so good for vehicles.

Post up some pics of the engine, and carb, and we might be able to give you a direction to look.

Don't toss that one, without checking things out, it may be wroth something to someone with an antique vehicle restorer.
 
#5 ·
I bet it's stock.  My '74 W200 had one stock and I've seen a '76 with one also.
 
#6 ·
{noclue} My 73 had a paper type cleaner. I never seen a 70's truck with one. Nor are they mentioned in any of the FSM's, except for the 73, which shows it for the D600's
 
#7 ·
SuperBurban said:
{noclue} My 73 had a paper type cleaner. I never seen a 70's truck with one. Nor are they mentioned in any of the FSM's, except for the 73, which shows it for the D600's
All of my trucks and parts trucks from the 70's had paper element air cleaners too, either 2BBL or 4BBL, small block or big block.

The only time I've seen an Oil Bath Air Cleaner was on 1967 and older engines (or on a few early 70's heavy duty trucks, like you mentioned)
 
#9 ·
Trust me, they are stock.  My '74 owners manual lists how to clean and change the oil in it every 12 months or 12k miles.  The paper element ones are much more common but the oil bath air cleaners do pop up every now and again.
 
#10 ·
#11 ·
Why not?  I'm actually honest and tell it like it is.  ;D
 
#13 ·
 
#15 ·
KThaxton said:
Do these pants make my ass look big?
Not when you are standing next to Lanty. ;D
 
#16 ·
KThaxton said:
Do these pants make my ass look big?
The absolute wrong reply to that question when your wife asks it is, "It's not the pants, honey. Your ass is big." ;)
Thanks for all the replies. I'll get a pic of that air cleaner up as soon as I can. If not being level is a problem for an oil bath, I'm thinking I should change to a paper element; there's not much level ground here in WV.
 
#17 ·
The types of hills and such that you find on most roads, is not a problem. The time to worry, is going off road. Remember, they were used extensively from the 20's, to the 60's. Just need to make sure the oil level is correct.
 
#19 ·
Looks to be a standard BBD carb, any dodge 318 2 bbl air cleaner should fit.
 
#20 ·
Yup, that's the same air cleaner my '74 W200 had on it.  I remember thinking it looked like a pot sitting on top of the engine.  I hung onto mine for a few years after I swapped it out for the 2BBL air cleaner off my old Charger but I eventually scrapped it.
 
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