4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

I just pulled in a 70 3/4 ton truck with 350 and factory oil bath air cleaner. I didn’t know they were still used up to 1970 year model. Anyone know the last year for oil bath in light duty trucks?

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

I thought oil bath breathers ended in the late 50s. Wow, I never knew.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

Never seen a 4bbl oil bath, well now I have

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

Unicorn! That is the only oil bath air cleaner for a 4 BBL carb that I have ever seen!

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

those are fun on a 25 degree hill ;-)

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

Fleet vehicle maybe?

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

Wonder about that myself -- or maybe special order for use in extreme dust environments?

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

First for me too. Owned/junked well over 200 of them and never seen one in a 70-72 with 4 barrel. Atlanta built truck and spent its life Alabama - not exactly a dust bowl. Could have been fleet, but doubtful since most fleet trucks were low option vehicles. This one is decently optioned - could have been the foreman’s truck!

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

Spid from truck I looked at and was a spec factory order by the sellers Dad to haul his 9 foot Camper. Shows Oil Bath Air Cleaner and LS9 350 4bbl engine too.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

I've also pretty much only seen them in farm country, fwiw.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

Does anybody know how much an LS9 350 cost vs. a 396 upgrade?

I have it listed on my SPID (1969) with a 350. I’ve been looking for one, so let me know if you ever want to get rid of it.
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Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

I have one on a 71 C/50 w/2bbl 350...

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

I had a 1974 F250 with a 390. It had a factory oil bath air cleaner. I changed it to a paper filter (with a different air cleaner housing). I think Ford offered them up to 1976 on the F250 and bigger.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

These prices are from the 1969 Vehicle Info Packet- the prices were omitted from the 1970 copy;
The K48 oil bath air cleaner was a $10.80 option.
https://www.gm.com/content/dam/compa...olet-Truck.pdf

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

^^Thank you, wow quite a difference.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

Right after seeing this post and being bummed by how rare they seemed to be, I was cruising Facebook marketplace and found this. The tower clamp says it’s from April of 1970.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

My first 70, it was a 250 6, had one. I have never seen one on a V8 before. Definitely an oddity.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

IMO, the original owner was an older buyer that insisted on this option, had them in all his previous trucks, they worked and were cheap to service.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

Some of the early Army CUCVs had them if my memory can be trusted.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

How do they actually work ?

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

The incoming air makes an abrupt turn. The dirt particles being heavier than the air molecules fail to make the turn and fall into the oil instead.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

^^^^ Yes, and if I recall (it's been about 58 years since I messed with them), there was a filter element that laid in the oil. I believe it was a bit like steel wool but extremely coarse in comparison.

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

Supposedly more efficient because a paper filter presented some air resistance, and can't stop as many particles as the oil. I remember what a sweetheart those were to clean. :rolleyes:

Re: 4 barrel oil bath air cleaner
 

The biggest advantage they give is that they don't clog up & cause a restriction. Therefore they are much better in dusty environments.