How I clean air filter

[THoltz]

I have an OEM style AFE proguard 7, cleanable, oiled filter. I have always used the cleaning spray AFE sells. The last trip up to the AZ high country I made I noticed a distinct lack of power and could hear a funny noise. I thought maybe I had a ripped air intake piping rubber boot. When I got home I inspected the filter and man it was just dirty. I put a couple of gallons of hot water and some simple green in my deep sink and washed that filter until I no longer got dirty water out of it. Man is it clean now. I let it dry thouroughly, oiled it and installed. Truck runs great. I am a bit embarrassed I let it get lke that, but honestly, I used AFE's cleaner and thought all was OK. Boy was I wrong. Just thought I would pass on what I learned.

 

[Ken55]

just a question, i also have an AFE filter on my 95. Mine is the cone style,magnum sport, and I have the pre-filter cover. After cleaning your filter what color was the cotton media? I cleaned mine 3 times now and it still is dark with some lightish areas appearing. The AFE cleaner doesn't seem to do the job. I do clean it once a year now but mainly because I only use it during the winter months, the truck pretty much sits all summer.
ken

 

[THoltz]

Very pale yellow. I think the cotton is stained from the yellow AFE oil.

 

[MMeier]

I use K&N's cleaner on all my filters... K&N, aFe, , etc. It does a way better job of cleaning then the aFe cleaner ever did.

 

[Ken55]

I found some K&N cleaner I forgot I had That definitely did a better job. It's finally clean and just drying. Thanks,
Ken