Diesel air filters

[John F.]

I'm brand new to diesels. The 8.2 Detroits on Crows Nest have metal cages with foam for air cleaners. They clamp on to the turbo. The foam is degraded to the point that its coming apart, and is loaded with oil. I'm pretty sure that haven't been cleaned in 5+ years. I can either get some universal air cleaner foam and replace what I have, or get a set of K&N universals. I'm leaning towards the K&Ns. Anybody use 'em? Should I just get new foam? Thanks

[Ryan]

John, I like my K&N's on my 6BTA's. I clean them once a year and follow up with a good oiling. I think they pay for themselves in a couple years since you shouldn't have to replace them. Even have one in my wife's car now!

[Kevin]

John,
I put K&N filters on my diesels. Go to their website and you can see all the different sizes. They make just about everything....the trick is finding the one that meets your space constraint. I also clean mine once a year which is less than 100 hours.

[gplume]

Cummins 504's on shearwater has been 40 years with nothing more than a screen.....
They still run great.
Should i mess with it now?????

[Rawleigh]

Not much dust on a boat, so you don't need the most efficient filter available.

[Bruce]

Story, take it for what its worth.

Rebuilt a Yanmar 6LY 420hp diesel at a 16k cost for a couple of young brothers in a See Vee.
I left for vacation a couple days after the sea trial.
Brothers had the boat out, apparently there were plastic ice bags in the bilge from some where. Got sucked up and melted and restricted the intake.
Went back to the dock and removed it and got some hardware cloth over the opening with a clamp.

Loaded up the boat next day for the Bahamas. About 10 miles out another plastic ice bag floated around and got sucked into the engine this time. Plastic melted instantly and gummed open two intake valves and bang two pistons detonated and engine froze.

The boat was waiting for me when I returned with wtf did I do for a crappy rebuild?

Removed the engine, first thing I saw was no air filter, second was plastic residue on hardware cloth, third was air cleaner with melted ice bag around it.
Tore off the head and found residue on two intake valves, called the owner and presented the evidence to him and he let me know what happened.

Unfortunatly on that engine, block is not rebuild able due to hardness of the walls.
16k two weeks ago might as well took a match to it. New engine, 34k.

While dust is not a big factor, a basic foam or paper filter should be minimum.

[John F.]

Thanks for all the advice. Appreciate it.

John