How to clean a aftermarket air filter?

[RSchwarzli]

So I have had the ASA Modifieds kit installed now for about 6 months. I see the filter is in need of cleaning.



The AFE filters are re-useable right? Can someone educate me on what to do with them to clean it? I have never had a re-useable filter before!



Thanks!





Robert

 

[ENafziger]

Best thing I've found is to mix up some Oxy-Clean in a 3 or 5 gallon bucket of warm water. First gently knock the "big" stuff out of the filter by tapping against your hand, using a soft bristled paint brush, etc. Then, immerse the filter into the Oxy-Clean solution. Let it soak awhile, and agitate it every now and then.

After awhile, pull it out, and rinse with a garden hose (low pressure only) from the inside out. Letting it dry naturally is best, but you can set it in front of a fan if you prefer.

As far as oil, I've used both the AFE spray oil and K&N. Not much of an opinion there.

It really makes it easy if you have two filters. You can always have a clean one in a big zip-loc bag oiled and ready to go!

--Eric

 

[ENafziger]

It just hit me... are you the one who bought my AFE kit about a year ago? I remember shipping to Canada...

--Eric

 

[RSchwarzli]

Thanks for the info!



No not me though! Mine was new.



So, how does one "oil" is? Sink it again?

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I've got a Green HP - Clean and Re-use - AF. I took the original OEM housing - top only and mated it to the AF (cut to fit the AF end) using SS screws and black silicone to insure a dust proof seal. When I clean it I use Green HPs kit with their cleaner. I spray it liberally and let it soak for about 15 minutes ther use hot water to flush away any build up spraying from inside out and outside in. I then either run it or use low PSI air to dry it slightly then re-oil it with their kit supplied oil. This is as per their instructions.



This A/F was developed for the Paris to Dakar off road race and I love. It's filter media is similar to a couple of layers of good "T" shirt material and has held up verry well with about 100,000 miles so far.



Bob

 

[JLEONARD]

I had a K&N on my truck, and an S&B on my boat, both life time cleanable filters.

I used simple green to clean them and K&N oil after cleaning.

Once I used WD40 as I ran out of the K&N oil and it seemed to work fine.

 

[RSchwarzli]

What is "green"?



And how does one coat the oil? Dip it in a bucket or???

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

The oil for my filter is in a spray can. You just spray it on after you have cleaned and removed the loose water. K&N oil can be had in both spray can and a squeeze bottle.



PS: I'm not sure what "green" you are refering to, but I see it as the color on the face of the owner of a 2010 Cummins powered Dodge who pulls up to the pump next to you and asks you what kind of mileage you are getting with your 1993. You tell him you get 21+ an the highway and he tells you he is getting 12+. Is that the color "green" you are refering to?



Bob

 

[JLEONARD]

And how does one coat the oil? Dip it in a bucket or

As Bob said it's a spray can. The K&N oil is red colored. I assume that is so you can get a visual on your coverage pattern.

Simplest thing would be to buy a K&N cleaning kit. It has cleaner, oil and instructions.

 

[cerberusiam]

Simplest thing would be to buy a K&N cleaning kit. It has cleaner, oil and instructions.

A simpler thing would be get a dry filter.



Oiled filter + turbo charged engine = Bad-Ju-Ju! Never seen to get the oiling right and it always pulls thru and coats the intake pipe if your running any kind of upgrades.



An AH19037 is about $75 and will last years in normal use.

 

[RSchwarzli]

The oil for my filter is in a spray can. You just spray it on after you have cleaned and removed the loose water. K&N oil can be had in both spray can and a squeeze bottle.

Cool. Thanks.

PS: I'm not sure what "green" you are refering to, but I see it as the color on the face of the owner of a 2010 Cummins powered Dodge who pulls up to the pump next to you and asks you what kind of mileage you are getting with your 1993. You tell him you get 21+ an the highway and he tells you he is getting 12+. Is that the color "green" you are refering to?



Bob

First off, that was funny as I usually have that conversation with my father. He has the 08 Mega. I get 24 mpg freeway, he gets 18 on a good day!





As for the green comment, see below.

.

I used simple green to clean them and K&N oil after cleaning.

.

As Bob said it's a spray can. The K&N oil is red colored. I assume that is so you can get a visual on your coverage pattern.

Simplest thing would be to buy a K&N cleaning kit. It has cleaner, oil and instructions.

Well, instructions too? I am on it!

 

[JLEONARD]

Oiled filter + turbo charged engine = Bad-Ju-Ju! Never seen to get the oiling right and it always pulls thru and coats the intake pipe if your running any kind of upgrades.

And while that danger exists, I had never had a problem. I inspected several times and never saw a buildup. Perhaps because the danger is out that made me more careful about staying on the minumum side of oiling. I also run in relatively dust free areas and was always careful running theu construction zones so I wouldn't ingest a lot of dust.

(after all Ct is known more for shovel leaning than actual construction work).

 

[RSchwarzli]

You guys really arent making me feel very confident in my first filter cleaning! :-laf

An AH19037 is about $75 and will last years in normal use.

Do you have pics of this unicorn?

 

[Yo Hoot]

I have a dry filter. Ingen intake system. I pull it out and blow it out from the inside with compressed air and reinstall. No messy cleaning and oiling. Besides, every time you clean and oil those filters they lose a degree of filtration. Don'y you have to let them dry before you oil them? Some people go as far as buying two so they can install a clean one while they clean the other. Second, there really are designed for flow, not filtration. When you do the comparisons, a dry filter always wins in cleaning and an oiled filter wins with flow. With the amount of miles we like to expect our trucks to provide, I'll take the cleaner filter.

Stainless steel prefilter and an Amsoil dry filter.

#ad


#ad

 

[JLEONARD]

 Don'y you have to let them dry before you oil them?

Yes. If you clean it on a sunny day it will dry out in 1/2 hour or so. If there is a little water left it won't hurt anything. The water will have drained out of the filter area and any sucked into the engine won't hurt anything.

 

[RSchwarzli]

I would see it as a poor mans water meth steup!