Hustler Turf Super Mini Z manual Engine oil filler tube, Engine oil Engine oil filter Drain plug

	Kawasaki Engine
Engine oil filler tube

		Engine oil
Engine oil filter		drain plug
	Figure 11-11A
	Engine oil filler tube	Honda Engine

Engine oil

Enginedrain plug oil filter

Figure 11-11B

Kohler engine

Engine oil drain plug

Engine oil filter

Figure 11-11C

Engine air filter

Perform engine air filter maintenance per the Service Interval chart on page 11-8.

A specially designed dry filter is standard equipment on the Super Mini Z tractors and supplies clean combustion air to the engine. Fig. 11-12

Recommended service procedure

Many engine failures can be attributed to improper air cleaner servicing. Ingested dust and dirt will cause cylinder, piston and bearing damage in a few hours. “Dusted” engines will result from:

1.Overservicing the air filter element.

2.Improper installation.

Pre-cleaner

Canister

Figure 11-12

3.Damaged filter, seals or canister.

4.Incorrect air filter element size.

5.Use of poorly designed aftermarket air filter elements.

Air cleaner servicing is an inexpensive maintenance check that can prevent costly non-warrantable premature engine damage.

Overservicing

Overservicing occurs when an air filter element is removed for cleaning or replacement before it is necessary. Each time the filter is removed a small amount of dirt and dust could fall in the intake system. This accumulated dirt can cause a dusted engine. It only takes a few grams of ingested dirt over the normal service life of an engine to cause a dusted engine.

Do not clean element, replace with a new element only. Cleaning used air filter elements, through improper cleaning procedures, can get dust on the inside of the filter causing dirt ingestion and engine failure.

It is important to note that whenever an air filter element is cleaned by any method, the person or company performing the cleaning assumes responsibility for the integrity of the filter from then on. The Donaldson warranty for air filters expires upon cleaning or servicing in any manner because the condition of the filter after servicing is completely out of their control. Therefore, on a dust ingested engine failure, there will be no warranty consideration if the air filter element has been cleaned or serviced in any manner.

A partially dirty air filter element works better than a new element. Therefore, a dirty filter element is not bad for the engine unless it is excessively restricting the air flow and engine performance is affected. The reason is simple. The media in the filter must be porous to allow air to pass through it. When dirty air passes through the filter, the dirt plugs some of the holes in the media and actually acts as part of the filter media. When the next round of dirt enters, the first dirt helps filter out even smaller particles making the filter more efficient at stopping dirt from entering the engine. This is referred to as barrier filtration.

Of course, at some point the filter media becomes too clogged to allow air to pass.

The mowing conditions will determine the frequency of air filter element changing.

Improper installation of an air filter element

Dust must not leak past the seals on each end of the air filter element. The filter must be aligned within the canister and properly seated for an effective seal so that no dirt can enter the engine.

Damaged filter, seals or canister

Never bang or bump the filter element against the tire or any solid object, as dust and dirt particles will be forced through the media causing continual passing of dirt into the engine. Visually inspect the outside of the air cleaner canister periodically for external damage and replace if necessary.

11-12 302620 8/06