Auto Klean Strainer

[John Murch]

My car has an “Auto Klean” strainer/filter immediately before the autovac. I have always assumed that it was an original fitting. Does it look familiar to anyone?

The company still exists and sells a model that is almost identical, but they confirmed that mine is a 1920’s device.

[Martin Webster]

Hi John,
Neither the 3 or 4 1/2 owner’s handbooks refer to an Auto Klean filter unit. You are probably aware that the 3L Autovac originally had a drain cock beneath the Autovac to allow sediment to be drained as did the 4 1/2 which also had a Zenith filter underneath the unit mounted on the dash. It is similar in operation to the much later units fitted to the EPW chassis and its description in the handbook matches the appearance of your unit. Is it possible that Auto Klean was a trade name that Zenith used for some of their products and that is indeed what you have?
Martin

[John Murch]

Thanks Martin,
Auto-Klean started supplying their filters in 1922 to “high end” cars. Their website

auto-klean.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/aa-type-data-sheet-7917-ver-34.pdf

explains the principle which I found interesting.
My car went new to Australia and I wondered if it was a special extra.
I haven’t found a reference to a tie up with Zenith, but that may be the case.

[John Murch]

I sent the filter off to Auto Klean who stripped it and found that the internals had been butchered and a conventional filter element substituted. They have rebuilt it to original specifications so that instead of replacing an element, you turn the handle which results in the fine plates getting cleaned. Leave for a few minutes and drain off any rubbish.
I am so impressed with the service I received.

[Martin Webster]

It’s incredible John that they were able to restore the unit for you. Good old fashioned service.

[Christopher Carnley]

With "good old fashioned PTFE tape".