metal air filter gunky ??

[jflatt]

I have a 1991 sea ray bow rider with a 454 carb and the filter is covering in solid gunk. it looks like the oil breathers from the valve covers are just spraying oil on to the filter. the PO i guess never checked this and i don't know how long it has been building up. it is bad enough it looks like it has a cotton filter on it soaked in dirty oil. can i just get breathers this or does the vacuum of the intake needed for the breathers? and should there be a filter or dust cover used on this filter?

Also Does any one have issues with oil filters clinging to the filter housing and not letting go? i put my filter on lightly and two days later i could not take it off by hand. is there something i can use on the o-ring besides oil (which i did) or on the threads for the filter? Thanks in Advance.

 

[Lazy Daze]

There shouldn't be a cover on that flame arrestor. It simply looks neglected. Yes, oil vapors SHOULD be routed back into the engine - that's normal.

You have a serviceable flame arrestor. Get a can of Brakleen and spray it (mostly) from the inside out. Let it dry, put it back on and go boating.

Your last question is about the engine oil filter (what you wrote kind of all runs together)? The way you did it is normal - should be about 2/3 to 1 full turn after the rubber touches.

 

[jflatt]

lazy daze Thanks for the help.

 

[Lazy Daze]

You got it! Also, it's not uncommon to not be able to remove it by hand. But it will "usually" not be too hard to remove with a wrench... usually...

 

[skibum]

I always hand tighten my oil filter, and it always takes a cup type filter wrench with the largest 1/2" breaker bar that I have to get it off. I think the fact that it is upside down causes it to tighten up when the engine is shut down and the warm oil runs down into the pan creating suction. That's the only explanation for it tightening itself up that I can think of.

 

[boatman37]

i just cleaned my spark arrestor last week with carb cleaner. looked like new when i was done