Dirt ingestion

[Scrubcadet10]

Have any of you seen issues with the Kohler 5400 series having issues with dirt getting past the air filter?
Have one in right now burning oil bad and I pulled the air filter off and the intake is caked fine dust and dirt. It's bad.
I bore scoped the cylinder and it doesn't look good at all, some pretty deep scores in it and very glazed looking.
Customer has done his own maintenance and used Kohler air filters. Brand new every year since 2022. The filter seems to seal well on the end and no obvious holes in it.

 

[MParr]

Does this engine have the cylinder shaped air filter? If so, it should also have a green foam pre-filter. The pre-filter should be cleaned and re-oiled every 25 hours. The filter should be replaced every 100 hours. The filter housing should also be cleaned ever 25 hours.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Does this engine have the cylinder shaped air filter? If so, it should also have a green foam pre-filter. The pre-filter should be cleaned and re-oiled every 25 hours. The filter should be replaced every 100 hours. The filter housing should also be cleaned ever 25 hours.

Yes the cylinder shaped l one,

I doubt he does that. He said he just puts a new one on on once a year.
I've offered to take care of his maintenance for him but "he don't need to pay no one to do what he can do"

 

[MParr]

Yes the cylinder shaped l one,

I doubt he does that. He said he just puts a new one on on once a year.
I've offered to take care of his maintenance for him but "he don't need to pay no one to do what he can do"

Yep! It's critical to service that pre-filter. It catches most of the junk. Washing it and oiling it every 25 hours is important. I like the aerosol foam filter oil. It's easy to apply and pretty tacky.

 

[SeniorCitizen]

Buy a electrostatic roll washable and cut to size . I've used it as a pre-filter for a cheep paper filter for our HVAC unit that was purchased new in 1980 . HVAC techs can't believe that unit is 45 years old but it is . On a mower engine I'd wash -- back flush electrostatic -- after 5 hrs depending on operation conditions, and replace the paper filter every year residential use .

https://www.amazon.com/140-Air-Vent-Filters-Electrostatic/dp/B0C6KLKLZB?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A8T2QUPG3UVLY&gPromoCode=sns_us_en_5_2025Q1&gQT=1&th=1

 

[slomo]

Have any of you seen issues with the Kohler 5400 series having issues with dirt getting past the air filter?

Every mower I've ever seen has a heavy grit trail past the air filter. Don't care what brand or type. I now silicone seal a new fresh air filter for the year per mower. I seal it up like a bank vault. Some good ol' 100% GE silicone.

Foam pre filters help but still do not provide a 100% dirt/grit seal. I used to oil and use dirt bike tacky spray oil on the foam pre filters. Still had grit past the filter. Junk goes straight to the rings.

Again this isn't a Kroller or Briggs only issue. Got to get drastic with the dirt fellas.

 

[MParr]

Every mower I've ever seen has a heavy grit trail past the air filter. Don't care what brand or type. I now silicone seal a new fresh air filter for the year per mower. I seal it up like a bank vault. Some good ol' 100% GE silicone.

Foam pre filters help but still do not provide a 100% dirt/grit seal. I used to oil and use dirt bike tacky spray oil on the foam pre filters. Still had grit past the filter. Junk goes straight to the rings.

Again this isn't a Kroller or Briggs only issue. Got to get drastic with the dirt fellas.

I use grease on the intake horn were the filter attaches. The fines will not get past the grease.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Have any of you seen issues with the Kohler 5400 series having issues with dirt getting past the air filter?
Have one in right now burning oil bad and I pulled the air filter off and the intake is caked fine dust and dirt. It's bad.
I bore scoped the cylinder and it doesn't look good at all, some pretty deep scores in it and very glazed looking.
Customer has done his own maintenance and used Kohler air filters. Brand new every year since 2022. The filter seems to seal well on the end and no obvious holes in it.

Sounds like he is mowing nearly bare lots and creating dust storm to have this kind of issue. An air filter even with the pre-filtered oil can only do so much.

Check the entire intake system for loose or missing gaskets.

 

[7394]

Look at those worm drive hose clamps. They tighten but do have gap at the screw area. I quit using them..