Simple Green for Cleaning AFE etc Air Filters??

[hammersley]

OK - I hate paying the huge cost - like $10 for a small air filter cleaner solution - now I don't want to ruin anything but I was thinking - why wouldn't Simple Green Work?????



All-Purpose Cleaner

 

[WCPoe]

Simple Green is my AFe cleaner choice

I had been using the AFe stuff for a while but the spray bottle they provide is a pain to saturate the filter media with so I just started using my Simple Green stuff with their better sprayer and all. Seems to work well, I just let it soak for a while and then spend a fair amount of time using my shop sink to rinse from the inside. My filters seem to come really clean and it doesn't seem to disturb the media at all. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Bob4x4]

Simple green is not as strong so it will take longer to break down the oil but after a couple of applications or longer soak time it will work. But you still need to buy the oil



Bob

 

[WCPoe]

Yeah, Like Bob4x4 said, I let mine soak a long time with the Simple Green. I spend a good bit of time rinsing it until the water runs clear. Then I dry it by setting on one of those "box" floor fans that pivots and can point upward. It dries within a couple of hours. After the filter is completely dry I do use the AFe oil and coat the media completely. I like to let it sit for a while to insure all the media is saturated.

PS - I went ahead and bought a second filter so I wouldn't have any significant downtime. After the clean, rinse and oil routine, I rebag it in the packaging it was shipped in so it's ready for the next install. (I got caught doing the filter one day and a situation came up that required the truck right then and I was fumbling around with a wet filter. )

 

[drag racer]

but I was thinking - why wouldn't Simple Green Work?????



All-Purpose Cleaner

that's what I use on all my K&N filters and it works fine for me.

 

[JFlagg]

I use dishsoap, I imagine any degreaser would work well, all you need to cut through is the old filter oil with alot of dust in it. I just put mine in a bucket of hot water with some dishsoap and let it soak till the water is cool enough to put my hand bag into and rinse it in the bathtub. Note: Clean bathtub well, greasy smudges on the white porcelain will **** off the wife:-laf

 

[DBohl]

Yeah, Like Bob4x4 said, I let mine soak a long time with the Simple Green. I spend a good bit of time rinsing it until the water runs clear. Then I dry it by setting on one of those "box" floor fans that pivots and can point upward. It dries within a couple of hours. After the filter is completely dry I do use the AFe oil and coat the media completely. I like to let it sit for a while to insure all the media is saturated.

PS - I went ahead and bought a second filter so I have anywouldn't significant downtime. After the clean, rinse and oil routine, I rebag it in the packaging it was shipped in so it's ready for the next install. (I got caught doing the filter one day and a situation came up that required the truck right then and I was fumbling around with a wet filter. )

I also bought a second filter, the blue, (standard) one and run that one in the winter months when there is not as much dust in the air.

 

[Bob4x4]

I am getting a kick out of how hard some of you work to avoid using the right stuff :-laf



Bob

 

[hammersley]

I am getting a kick out of how hard some of you work to avoid using the right stuff :-laf



Bob

The right stuff is questionable - let me ask you a question..... Do You use a DODGE FILTER - ain't that the "right stuff" - according to Dodge? Or How about MOPAR OIL??????

 

[Bob4x4]

The right stuff is questionable - let me ask you a question..... Do You use a DODGE FILTER - ain't that the "right stuff" - according to Dodge? Or How about MOPAR OIL??????

No, what I meant is going to all the trouble of using a bathtub to wash the filter instead of a simple spray from AFE. If you have read any of my post,You know which products I use.

#ad




Bob

 

[Bob4x4]

Almost forgot your other question... ... ... ..... I do use Mopar oil :-laf



Bob

 

[JasonCzerak]

I also bought a second filter, the blue, (standard) one and run that one in the winter months when there is not as much dust in the air.

Funny, I figure all the salt in the air after a nice salting in the winter would leave more crap in the air then a typical summer day. , unless you live in/near/around a desert.



my new filter was white last year, this summer I went much much longer with the prefilter before it needed a cleaning.



I suppose it's the area.

 

[dsherman]

No, what I meant is going to all the trouble of using a bathtub to wash the filter instead of a simple spray from AFE. If you have read any of my post,You know which products I use.

#ad




Bob

If my memory serves me correctly Bob 4X4 works for a Dodge dealer as a mechanic,DieselTech, Also a vender selling AFE products.

 

[JFlagg]

I am getting a kick out of how hard some of you work to avoid using the right stuff :-laf



Bob

Well, when you buy it used off Ebay and don't have the "right' stuff to clean it with, you use whats handy:-laf I do use the spray oil though. And the bathtub is actually quit convenient, hot water right there and if I spill it, it goes right down the drain. I also found it dries alot faster if you use hot water, imagine that! And in the winter I've even let it dry in front of the vent on the wood stove, it dries REAL quick that way



And even though I like the filter setup, I think I'm going to the dry filter from amsoil, oiling everytime gets old...

 

[JasonCzerak]

I got my AFE stage 2 from a local friend of a friend... quickly purchased a NEW filter as it was only $150-ish. the rest of the kit you can't really "mis use". In the end I got the stage two kit for $250, or half price.

The filter I got was BLACK and un-clean able. I could not get the color to lighten up. Even the blue oil never showed as blue, I figured this thing was destroyed. No worries, I didn't want the non- PG7 filter anyways. PG7 + pre-filter and I was all set.

The fibers are not ment to be put under hot water or dried with a hot air source, if you get things to hot you'll shrink the stuff and make bigger then intended holes.

Take the time and do it right, warm if not cold water only and a fan on slow at most. At this point, I would start with a new filter media.

 

[CumminsPower98]

And even though I like the filter setup, I think I'm going to the dry filter from amsoil, oiling everytime gets old... [/QUOTE]



I finally went with the Amsoil to get away from the high BHAF cost. I noticed there is a lot of crud that doesn't blow out of the Amsoil filter so I have since started washing them and so far so good as far as I know. I have two so I can keep one ready. I have left over K&N cleaner from my gravel screen days but will probably use Simple Green or some other cleaner when that runs out.

 

[p-Bar]

I buy condensed degreaser at a janitorial supply and dilute it as needed for my cleaning application. Works great on the filters.