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Cat c32a. Coolant leaking out of the air filter.

Discussion in 'Engines' started by Hatt54, Oct 5, 2019.

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  1. Hatt54

    Hatt54 New Member

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    Has anyone seen or heard about coolant leaking out of an air filter on C32 A Cats ?
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Coolant or air filter oil?
  3. Hatt54

    Hatt54 New Member

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    It looks like coolant. The marina cleaned the air filters. Have not had a chance to ask what they used. Have you heard of coolant coming out of the air filters because i have not.
  4. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Coolant? I don’t see how that’s possible. The air filters are supposed to be cleaned and lubricated with a special oil.

    “The Marina cleaned the air filter”. Unless they are Cat specialist that’s a red flag: I would NEVER let marina employees near A pair of C32s.
  5. cnvsback

    cnvsback Member

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    Perhaps it is the air filter oil normally dyed red, that you are mistaken for "coolant"?

    Normally a product is used to clean the filter, then once dry the oil applied.
  6. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    You may think it's coolant because of it's red/pink color.
    By design, The Air-Sep system the C-32 use would not let any thing come out of the turbo.

    If the marina cleaned the filters and now you see this, It is new filter oil draining from the filter media.
    This oil is a special additive and a part of filter cleaning.
    Couple of good hours of running under load should clean up any excess oil. Slow speed operation won't draw enough air, to clear the filter media of the oil.

    I used to managed a Hatt with C-32s. Filters were serviced just before my owner purchased the boat. Same problem.
    New owner never ran over a warm idle and months later, the filters were still leaking red media oil.
  7. Hatt54

    Hatt54 New Member

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    I did not think coolant could leak out of the air filter. The marina has a mechanic that is the person who cleans them. Is it a big deal if the filter oil leaks out of them?
  8. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    If it's the K&N red media oil as we are sure it is, not at all, it's just messy.
  9. Hatt54

    Hatt54 New Member

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    Ok thank you. For your help
  10. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Woud it be normal to use so much oil on the filters that it would drain like that? My Air seps have never emitted a drip of filter oil....
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    It just takes a few drops of oil to service the filter media. Those that don't know, just can not understand; you need not use all the oil in the K&N kits.

    I'd say the kit comes with enough oil to service the filter 3 times. So I keep the extra and use Scrubbing Bubbles or any mild foaming cleaner, rinse, dry overnight and use the left over oil next time.

    This reminds me, Time to clean & service mine. Stuff buried in the warehouse,, somewhere..
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2019
  12. cleanslate

    cleanslate Senior Member

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    Yup, got my K & N stuff at the local automotive store. I can not remeber if the cleaner or the oil comes in a spray bottle...if at all. But I have the red oil in a spray bottle and lightly spray the Air Seps filter. As CR said you don't need a lot of oil, nor should you use the entire bottle.