What Is the Purpose of a Safety Filter?
Many Donaldson air cleaners contain two filters. The larger one is known as the outer or primary filter. The role of the primary filter is to remove contaminant in the air coming from the intake system as it passes through the air cleaner.
There is often a smaller filter fitted either inside, or sometimes after, the larger primary filter. This smaller filter is often referred to as a secondary or inner filter. We prefer to call this smaller filter the safety filter as this better describes its role.
The safety filter has two jobs:
- To act as a backup in the rare case of damage to or incorrect installation of the primary filter. This damage may not be apparent to the casual glance and could be caused during handling, or when the filter is serviced. Additionally, it is possible that the primary filter could be installed incorrectly, preventing a good seal.
- To protect the engine when the primary filter is removed during servicing by preventing dirt and other contaminant from entering the clean air side of the intake system.
The safety filter usually uses a different type of media from the primary filter. The media is more open for lower restriction and is less efficient, meaning it won’t plug on exhaust soot and oil fumes but will still stop small, engine damaging, dirt and dust particles. Depending on which air cleaner the safety filter is designed for, they can have a pleated construction similar to the primary filter, or can be a ‘slim line’ design often found in smaller air cleaners where space is limited.
With less contaminant holding capacity, the safety filter will plug rapidly on engine damaging particles that find their way past damaged primary filters. This alerts the operator that both filters need to be changed when the restriction level reaches the designated service point. If the safety filter is not changed at this time, the maximum restriction level will be reached very quickly.
Did You Know?
It is recommended that the safety filter is replaced with every third primary filter change unless there has been a failure of the primary filter. The engine should never be run with just the safety filter fitted.
The overall efficiency of the air cleaner is not increased by the safety filter, and it is not a secondary filter—it is ‘insurance’ for your engine. Our experience has shown that fitting a safety filter is the most effective and efficient method of providing additional protection for your engine.
Many Donaldson air cleaners are designed to be fitted with a safety filter as an optional extra for that added piece of mind. Please contact Donaldson and we will advise you of the correct safety filter to use.
