Air filter

[bartace]

Looking for experienced opinions... These pics are of the inside and outside of my air filter and pre filter. I know it's fairly dusty and in need of a compressed air blow-out. But with dusty air filters being a result of normal use, it means it's doing its job, am I right? Give me your honest opinion, does it look bad enough to restrict airflow enough to cause an engine to overheat and seize the piston and rings? Does it also show any signs of allowing debris ingestion into the engine top end? I appreciate any opinion from experience.
Air filter inside


Air filter outside

 

[Rivets]

If that filter has been in for more than a year, I would say normal use. It is recommended that filters be changed every year.

 

[ILENGINE]

Air filter has evidence of liquid contamination. Could be water, oil, gas. In some cases those can cause a restriction by themselves even after they dry. Normally when an air filter gets restricted it will cause over-rich running not lean which could cause overheating. Basically like trying to run the engine with the choke on. I never blow out an air filter unless absolutely necessary.

If you want to look for dirt ingestion past the air filter. look at the filter backing plate as well and the carb intake. Those are the area that dust and debris will stick to.

 

[MParr]

It's time for a new filter and pre-filter. It's been wet. It could be from water or gas. Always tip mower away from the filter.