Thermostatic Air Cleaners -- All Models: Operation: Notes
When temperature of air entering air cleaner is less than the setting of temperature sensor, sensor closes to allow engine vacuum to operate vacuum motor which closes damper assembly to outside air. Air is then drawn from around exhaust manifold, through heat shroud and into air cleaner as heated air. As air inside air cleaner warms, sensor valve begins to open. This bleeds off vacuum to vacuum motor. As vacuum to vacuum motor drops, air control door begins to open, allowing outside air to enter air cleaner. When air entering air cleaner reaches a specified temperature, air control door opens completely, thus closing off heated air from around exhaust manifold.
On some General Motors 151" 4-Cylinder engines, the air control door will be in the heated air position whenever the temperature is 50° F or below. The door will be in the full outside air position (closed to heated air) whenever the sensor temperature is 110°F or above.