Perfect Oiled Air Filter Maintenance

[Gypsyman]

Since so many owners use aftermarket oiled air filters here is a sure fire way to get perfect, even oiling everytime...



Buy a second filter to allow the time between changes for proper service. That's the key.



Here's what I do for "cone" type filters. For cleaning I put 1/2 gallon of simple green in a 5 gallon bucket and fill it the rest of the way with straight hot water from the tap. Put the filter in cone down and slap the lid on it for about an hour. The dirt will settle to the bottom and the oil will rise to the top. Pull the lid and drain off the oil on top of the water. This way when you pull the filter up out of the water the dirty oil won't flow back into the inside of the filter. Stand the filter up on the cone end and let it drain and dry for a day or two. Don't blow them out or use heat to dry them.



Here's the trick. After the filter is dry OVER OIL the heck out of it. I even go back over them the next day to make sure I didn't miss any small areas on the ends. Then I put it in a plastic bag with the small cone end down and place it back in the box. Throw it on the shelf and forget about it until you need it. When you come back for it in a month or two for your next filter change you'll notice that the excess oil has drained out into the plastic bags. The filter saturation will be dead even all across the filter and it will look brand new. This will give you perfect coverage and the exact same oiling every time.



Nothing to it...

 

[Forrest Nearing]

good post!

 

[tazzen]

yes i agree great post but (For cleaning I put 1/2 gallon of simple green in a 5 gallon bucket and fill it the rest of the way with straight hot water from the tap. ) i thought the Hot water will shrink the cotton. and thats a no no. Im pretty sure i read that some where

But i do somthing close, i pull mine out for winter clean in 5 gallon bucket of cool water and dawn. let sit for a week to dry, than oil. and put back in when summer gets here



ed

 

[Gypsyman]

I use hot tap water to help the filter oil flow out of the media. When drying with heat I have seen minor shrinkage. Air drying (slow cooling) I have not. I now have 148,000 on the two AFE filters that feed my twins and they still look brand new.

 

[msgoodwench]

Good idea for the cone filters.



Most people don't realize that the oil used on the filter media will wreak havoc on the sensors in the air intake system of gassers. I learned that one the hard way, after wracking my brain over the cause of my 98 Trans Am's spastic behavior. I tossed the computer diagnostic manual and followed common sense - start with the last thing I had changed. Sure enough, a nice oilly mess in the air box. Spent a whole afternoon cleaning up the excess oil (I mistakenly thought had drained out of the filter) and all the sensors to the plenum. And believe me, that car's a perfect example of "they built the car around the motor" - LOL!



I now have an extra "dry" air filter for temporary use on all of my vehicles!

 

[Matt400]

Another option if using an aftermarket such as K&N, Injen, S&B, Green, AIRAID, AFE, TrueFlow and others is the Amsoil cleanable dry filters.

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They also have that design filter as a drop in for the factory box pn# EAA189

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[Cummins12V98]

I am a Ams/Oil user since the 70's. They have great products except for the dry air filters. They probably filter extremely well. I had the large oval cone one on for a year and put an afe oil type back on. I couldn't accelerate onto the freeway pulling my 32. 5 ft 5th wheel without the filter minder pulling down. Also I had to pull down into 2nd gear pulling the geapevine in CA. Before and after using the AFE filter I could stay in 3rd gear and never pull the filter minder down. Also I have done oil analysis and the silicone level is fine. It is a bummer because I liked the idea of a dry reusable filter.

 

[CKelley1]

the oiled filters will not meet cummins filtration requirements and will greatly reduce the life of the engine especially the k&n and airaid. i can not understand why any one would do this

 

[GaryOwen]

Not doubting that some, or maybe most, oiled filters can cause problems, but the Airaid filter that was in my 03 always tested very good on oil samples. Silicon and Iron was always just as low as with OEM filters.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have always used the AFE brand, I have 310,000 miles with 300 rwh and 750 tq dyno.
After 3,000 miles on my oil I can still see thru it, it is not black. Just shows that the engine is still very tight. Like I said I have done Blackstone sampling and dirt and iron are low. I understand some oil type filters don't work well. More air into engine means cooler temps, so I bet my wear levels are less with slightly less filtration and more air and less fuel used.
To each his own.

 

[Ncostello]

Whether you drive on nice paved roads all the time... or spend considerable time in dry farm fields or dusty county gravel roads makes quite a difference as well. This plays and equal or more important role than what type of filter you use.

 

[Buffalo]

I have been using an AFE ProGuard-7, cone-type, oiled filter in my '03 since its first filter change. I have, also, been using used oil analysis. One of the things that is recorded is silicon levels (dirt). Mine have 'always' been at the level that would be experienced with the stock paper-element filters.



My reasoning for the used oil analysis program was to verify the silicon levels of the AFE PG-7 & to extend oil drain intervals. The highest amount of miles on an oil change was around 10,400 with a number of changes in the 9000 mile range. I have been using Chevron Delo-400 CI-4+. The oil condition has always been good as far as the analysis was concerned.



Factory filters are supposed to provide 5 parts per million. My AFE PG-7 has been delivering a high of 5 ppm. (one time), a low of 2 ppm. (one time) & the rest have been 4 ppm. This is with some, occasional, dirt road driving.



I, also, live in the Phoenix, AZ. area. This is a desert location with a lot of very-fine, loamy soil, dust in the air. That is why AZ is known for its beautiful sunsets. It's the sunlight refracting on all the dust in the air.



Bottom line is, this filter seems to work well in my application. Different results may be seen in farm or a lot of off-road applications. That I don't know.



Joe F.