Cleaning a Foam Amsoil filter??

[steved]

OK, I bought a truefoam Amsoil filter... got the Amsoil airfilter oil and the Amsoil cleaning solution... here's my issue:



So I have around 25k on the filter, decided today would be good to clean it... took it out, sprayed it down with the entire bottle of cleaner on it... left it sit 15 minutes, hosed it out... still has BLACK gook in it... ?



So I took some laundry detergent (actually twice)... and cleaned it... quite a bit better... took some Mr. Clean... got it pretty clean, but still not as clean as it SHOULD be... The laundry detergent worked the best... almost need to soak it in a strong detergent solution overnight?? I'm REALLY disappointed in the garbage Amsoil markets as a cleaner...



I know I can't be the only one with this problem... what's the solution??



I'm to the point to go buy a regular air filter and be done with it... Amsoil really dropped the ball on the cleaning solution...



steved

 

[PRout]

OK, I bought a truefoam Amsoil filter... got the Amsoil airfilter oil and the Amsoil cleaning solution... here's my issue:



So I have around 25k on the filter, decided today would be good to clean it... took it out, sprayed it down with the entire bottle of cleaner on it... left it sit 15 minutes, hosed it out... still has BLACK gook in it... ?



So I took some laundry detergent (actually twice)... and cleaned it... quite a bit better... took some Mr. Clean... got it pretty clean, but still not as clean as it SHOULD be... The laundry detergent worked the best... almost need to soak it in a strong detergent solution overnight?? I'm REALLY disappointed in the garbage Amsoil markets as a cleaner...



I know I can't be the only one with this problem... what's the solution??



I'm to the point to go buy a regular air filter and be done with it... Amsoil really dropped the ball on the cleaning solution...



steved

Had the same issue with an AFE. Just not happy with the cleaning, and then there's the re-oiling.



Starting to believe a Paper, Disposable, BHAF is the ONLY way to go.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Huh, I've cleaned my Amsoil filter many times and it was always easy. I just run real hot water in the sink with a fair amount of liquid dish soap and let it sit a few, then swish it around. Then drain water and repeat once or twice more. Always comes out perfectly clean. Only downside I've had is it takes awhile to dry adequately before reoiling, so I always let it sit overnight at least (and throw the stock filter back in in the meantime).



Reoiling isn't bad either, just string a small amount in all directions and work in with fingers good then it's ready to go.



Vaughn

 

[Diesel Power]

thats the same reason amsoil made the new dry air filter, it works Oo. i dont like the oiled one myself :-laf

 

[steved]

Just sucks that I already have this one...



And, not knocking you cleaning method, but according to Amsoil you are not supposed to use anything but their cleaner on the foam filters... laundry detergent worked best for me, but it was still dirty last night (the "prefilter")... I think I'm going to buy a stock filter to run... sell this piece...



steved

 

[JGK]

When I was using the amsoil foam filter, I cleaned it by soaking it good in a tray of gasoline. A plastic trash can lid worked well. Dip and drain a few times, throw the gas on some weeds, dip and drain in fresh gas, then set it out to air dry. It didn't seem to adversely affect the filter and dried quickly.



Re-oiling was a bit of a pain, but maybe you can put the oil in a spray bottle. Kinda like spray-oiling the aFe and K&N filters.



FWIW,

-Jay

 

[Dual EE]

When cleaning the foam filter, I too have always used gasoline. It dries much faster then water.



When re-oiling a foam filter place it into a large zip lock/clear plastic bag. Add a small amount of your choice of oil. Seal the bag and start squishing the oil around. Use a pair of rubber gloves to remove filter and install. Remove and put rubber gloves inside zip lock bag. Very little to no mess.

 

[steved]

Well, I'll have to try the gasoline trick... was a little leary of that... seen foam melt before from exposure to gasoline... figure the Amsoil filter would be "gasoline friendly" since it is used in an automotive environment, but you never know...



I'm probably going to pull it tonight and run a paper filter until I get more filter oil... I'm just not satified with the reuslt I got...



steved

 

[steved]

Well since I'm down to the wire and out of filter oil, I bought a Wix filter for the upcoming SC trip... The amsoil filter just looks dirty, glad I did this.



I got a case of filter oil coming (won an eBay auction I forgot about) and will give the gasoline cleaning a shot when I get home...



steved

 

[rluft]

Same problem cleaning my AFE. I used Simple Green which worked really well getting the dirty oil out of the filter medium.

 

[amsoilman]

Well since I'm down to the wire and out of filter oil, I bought a Wix filter for the upcoming SC trip... The amsoil filter just looks dirty, glad I did this.



I got a case of filter oil coming (won an eBay auction I forgot about) and will give the gasoline cleaning a shot when I get home...



steved

Amsoil Air filter cleaning procedure



IMPORTANT……… Only clean the foam filter with a mild detergent soap and water, and when finished cleaning, allow unit to dry completely before re-oiling the foam filter.





When cleaning the foam, use a shallow pan and fill with water and dish soap just enough to cover the foam when foam filter is lying on bottom of pan. Use your hands to force the water solution through the foam. When the water gets dirty, empty the pan then refill. Do this until the water and soap solution is fairly clean, and then rinse the foam thoroly with clean water until the water is clear. Squeeze the water from the foam, and set in the sun to dry. Make sure it is thoroly dry before re-oiling.



When re-oiling, use only a “tack” oil, such as the Amsoil LTF oil. This is special oil, and is fire resistant as well. Apply the oil sparingly back and forth across the foam until you have about 1 inch squares of oil on the foam, then work the oil into the foam with your hands and fingers until the oil is absorbed into the foam. When the oil is absorbed, take a paper towel, and “blot” the excess oil from the it before re-installing in the airbox.



NOTE…. It is a good idea to keep the old paper filter you removed as a spare when you go through the cleaning process, this allows the use of the vehicle while cleaning the foam filter.







Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Extreme1]

That's the proceedure I use, takes about 3 rounds before it's clean.



I went to a BHAF. After adding the filter minder to the BHAF, I'm going to try the Amsoil to see it I can suck the minder down on it with the set up I'm running.

 

[steved]

That's the proceedure I use, takes about 3 rounds before it's clean.



I went to a BHAF. After adding the filter minder to the BHAF, I'm going to try the Amsoil to see it I can suck the minder down on it with the set up I'm running.

I cleaned it about 5 times and still nothing... it still had crud in it...



steved

 

[aviatorman]

02 H. O, 6spd, I've run the amsoil foam filter and found that cleaning and servicing it is a labor of love. Noticed that if your're not really meticullous about applying the oil film, you will experience "coating of the compressor blades". So after the second foam filter got dirty, I switched to the new Amsoil "2 Stage" dry medium filter. It has a higher CFM flow rate and can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. Performance is great and no more oil mess. Cost is the same as the foam filter

 

[Diesel Freak]

Cleaning Foam Air Filters:



Soak it in diesel fuel



Wring out the gunk from the filter



Soak it with Castrol Super Clean



Rince out with warm water



Let dry



Re-Oil



This procedure works great on my Motorcycle air filters!!!



AMSOIL foam air filters are no different Oo.

 

[steved]

I'm not seeing any detriment from running a regular filter (still getting 22mpg with the truck in the sig), so I might just forgo the Amsoil filter completely and sell it... with the oil I just bought...



steved