Dirt ingestion

[outdoorpowermike]

The Kohler motor has a vent tube that goes under the plastic air filter housing and will dry and crack then fall off and suck anything in. Maybe check there.

 

[slomo]

Years ago I put a "fingerprint" of grease inside the clean side of a motorcycle intake wearing a K&N air filter. Checked a couple weeks later to find the fingerprint full of grit. The K&N went in the trash. Genuine Honda paper filter, same test, passed.

Smart man. Seen the same thing. K&N's are the worst for anything off-road. Well on road as well. Had a 2016 suburban with a K&N. Pulled the filter to clean it once. All down the intake pipe was grit city. All that was heading right to the rings.

 

[slomo]

Grease the junction between air filter and housing to "glue" the seam and possibly catch stuff if an opening appears.

I tried the wheel bearing grease trick. Not good for under hood temps in summer or mowers. Made a mess when the oil separated from the grease.

Went full on 100% GE silicone caulk on a new filter. Air filter is now glued to the filter housing with zero chance of grit passing.

 

[VegetiveSteam]

All that was heading right to the rings.

Yeah, and it's not doing the intake valve stems and guides any favors either.