aFe cleaning kit is junk!

[Rosco]

I cleaned my aFe Pro7 filter using the aFe cleaning kit and I'm very disappointed with the results. First of all, I sprayed the cleaner and rinsed the filter 3 times, each time following aFe's instructions to the letter. After 3 cleanings the filter still has a yellow tint to it. Figuring this is the best I could hope for from the cleaner I let the filter air dry for 5 days.



Today I reoiled the element and what a disaster. The oil comes out of the can in a very course spray and it's tough, maybe impossible not to over oil the element. Also, since the filter remained yellow after cleaning I cannot tell if I missed any media while reoiling because there is no color differential to go by.



All in all the aFe Pro7 filter is a great filter. However, with the lousy cleaning kit they sell I guess I should just throw away the filter and start over. #@$%!

 

[RWood]

the last time I cleaned my air filter I poored half of the cleaner into a five gallon bucket and filled it till it would cover the filter with luke warm water. My filter was very sooty from an exhaust leak and it ended up cleaner than ever before.

 

[whamby]

Good idea RWood. That would cure wearing out my finger pumping the bottle with the cleaner in it.

 

[Rosco]

the last time I cleaned my air filter I poored half of the cleaner into a five gallon bucket and filled it till it would cover the filter with luke warm water. My filter was very sooty from an exhaust leak and it ended up cleaner than ever before.

Well I just tried pouring the whole bottle of cleaner into a plastic container and soaked the filter for for 15 minutes. This was followed by a rinse and then I did the whole procedure over again. The filter is drying now and it still has a yellow tint to it.



What bothers me the most is how the oil comes out of the can. It's a narrow spray as opposed to a nice fan pattern and it comes out under a lot of pressure. With all the talk I've heard that over oiling is bad I can't imagine not over oiling with this type of application.



I called aFe's tech support 3 time today to inquire about this and got a recording every time. On the third call I left them a message so hopefully they will call me back.

 

[JWilkinson]

I just put about 1 tablespoon of TSP in about a gallon of water, warm preferably, in a pan. I can clean the filter in that. Rinse with cold water. Let it dry, then use any brand filter spray oil. I think you will be surprised. A lot better than most. A lot cheaper too.

 

[Hawkeye 04]

I run K&N in all my gassers and their cleaning solution is a lot better than the afe crap. So I clean it with the K&N cleaner and oil it with the afe oiling agent. Works great!

 

[PJ]

My vote is with the TSP idea. . I use it on my Spa filters and they are totally white after an over night soak. All body oil is off. I also tried it on my K&N that was in my 98 12v. It also worked great. It will cut through all the oil.

 

[JHardwick]

I posted on this subject about 6 months ago.



After I bought my aFe I called them asking about using K&N cleaner and oil since I had tons of the stuff left over from racing dirt sprint cars.



aFe claimed that K&N cleaner would damage their aFe filter. I bit and bought an aFe cleaning kit ... ... ... ... ... . what a watse of time



I pulled out my K&N cleaner and had that filter clean in no time Oo.



a little addition to the story ... ... ...



A few months back, I was in the feed store buying a couple ton of horse feed when one of those cool looking K&N vans pulls in wanting a bag of dog food.



Me being the quiet type, I said "hey!"



To make a long story short, this guy claims K&N made aFe filters for a long time until aFe started to make thier own ... ... ... . the kicker is, it's all surgical gauze and aFe never got the oil/cleaner formula. Based on my results, I'm inclined to believe him.



I still have his card somewhere if any of you want to challenge him with a phone call!

 

[coobie]

I just put about 1 tablespoon of TSP in about a gallon of water, warm preferably, in a pan. I can clean the filter in that. Rinse with cold water. Let it dry, then use any brand filter spray oil. I think you will be surprised. A lot better than most. A lot cheaper too.

I guess I don,t know what TSP is :{ . I am going to install a afe stage 1 air filter this weekend. Thanks for any info. coobie

 

[BigBlackDodge]

I recently installed my proguard 7 filter but did not have any AFE oil so I called a local diesel shop to get some. I told him I had a left over bottle of K&N oil from another truck, I asked him about using it and he assured me it would work fine on the Proguard 7 filter so that's what I used and have had no problems with it.

 

[Rosco]

coobie,



TSB is a household cleaner that is used for a bunch of different household cleaning chores. It's in a powder form that you mix with water.



As far as the aFe filter your going to use on your truck IMHO there is no better oiled filter on the market. However, when you go to clean it that's another story.



All I wish is the filter media was white after cleaning so you could actually tell where you have applied fresh oil and that the oil came out of the spray can better. As for using alternative methods of cleaning my biggest fear is damaging the media.

 

[coobie]

coobie,



TSB is a household cleaner that is used for a bunch of different household cleaning chores. It's in a powder form that you mix with water.



As far as the aFe filter your going to use on your truck IMHO there is no better oiled filter on the market. However, when you go to clean it that's another story.



All I wish is the filter media was white after cleaning so you could actually tell where you have applied fresh oil and that the oil came out of the spray can better. As for using alternative methods of cleaning my biggest fear is damaging the media.

Thanks for the info Rosco. Oo. coobie

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

K & N Cleaning Kit

I run K&N in all my gassers and their cleaning solution is a lot better than the afe crap. So I clean it with the K&N cleaner and oil it with the afe oiling agent. Works great!

K&N has an excellent cleaning kit. Works great. I use it on my AFE Pro Guard 7.

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Afe

:{ DITTO, AFE cleaning kit is JUNK

 

[p-Bar]

I always used Simple Green to clean my filters always worked great. We know all these manufacterers reverse engineer other peoples products. I think they are all made the same except for more layers.

 

[jwilliams3]

The afe kit works just as advertised.

I always use the assistance of warm tap water and a soft brisled paint brush to weed out the fly's and other airborne junk.

 

[RMontoya]

I use good ole 409 to clean and then blow dry from the inside out (watch the air pressure) then spray with mystery oil.

 

[CAKUZ]

I cleaned my aFe Pro7 filter using the aFe cleaning kit After 3 cleanings the filter still has a yellow tint to it. !

I seem to recall my PG 7 filter was yellow when it was new. Don't think it will come out. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

[RustyJC]

I guess I don,t know what TSP is :{

TSP = trisodium phosphate. You can also find it at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.



Rusty

 

[coobie]

TSP = trisodium phosphate. You can also find it at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.



Rusty

Thanks that helps expain it. coobie