1951 1952 Kaiser oil bath air cleaner $50

[rrdcorvair]

1951 1952 re-conditioned oil bath air cleaner (will include decal) for sale. $50 plus postage  Bob Dayton   rrdcorvair@yahoo.com

[konrad]

Okay, now this is something that has confused me about these cars.  I've done a bit of research on oil bath air cleaners and I get the general principles, how to clean them...

But what I don't know yet is what type of oil do you use in the oil cup, where is the oil cup, what sort of filter material is used and where is it installed in the cleaner?

Yeah I know...lot of questions...but every car I've ever owned including my '62 Plymouth used a paper cartridge air cleaner filter...

I'm inferring the cup is that central reservoir in your third pic?  How much oil should be put in it?

[joefrazer]

According to the 1951 Kaiser shop manual, 40W or 50W oil is generally recommended. Most folks use 30W oil as it's most readily available today. If you look closely at the third picture above, you can see a section of embossed letters, that's actually noting the fill line.

[rrdcorvair]

Jims correct although I generally use the same oil as I have in the car, usually 10-40W.  Engines have been rebuilt and clean.  There is a filter (removable) that has a fiber type weave within, kind of like a Brillo pad only not metal.  It is cleaned with kerosene and reused.  The third picture is the bottom pan which has a line to fill the oil to, the big air silencer, the filter, and then the pan are assembled into one unit and then installed on the car.  If you want to see the filter part I can send a picture, I just didn't post it but it comes with it.

[konrad]

Thanks guys!  I have a much better understanding now. 

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Oil Bath Air Cleaners were optional on some cars in the 1950's or standard equipment on the more expensive cars.  The Oil Bath Air cleaner was more costly to make than the paper filters but could last for the life of the car if properly maintained.  The oil trapped dirt and other airborne crud that the engine sucked in to the carb before it got into the motor.  Maintenance information for this unit and other unusual things in a Kaiser, Frazer, HJ or Allstate can be found in the shop manuals and the lubrication section of owners manuals.