re-charging air filter

[6naline01]

I am real hesitant to ask at the risk of sounding like d. a. but I have a AFE air filter and re-charging it has got me perplexed!

I cannot seem to get the amount of oil right. It seems that I get

to much and if I cut back on it I am never sure if I have enough.

Could some kind person help me out with some advise on doing

this procedure and also how often should this be done. I know

the last part of my question is all most impossible to answer given the information provided, but maybe just some guidelines. DN

 

[Sticks]

It is a crap shoot. I have yet to do my AFE. My K&N however, I have done several times for my motorcycle.



The first and foremost important thing is, make sure the filter is DRY from washing it before you start oiling it. Mine sits on a fan in the house, pulling the air in the same direction as operation for several hours.



I usually base my decision on what is enough oil by the color (K&N uses red oil, and the gauze of the filter is white when clean) Obviously if it starts poling, that is too much. I will start on one edge and follow a rib slowly watching the color (on the outside of the filter/so I am spraying the oil in the same direction that the air will be moving through it). Once it stops getting "redder" then I know that I am right at that point of saturation. Then I follow each rib like I was painting it, adding layer after layer until I almost hit that point of saturation. Once I get done, I let the filter sit on a rag in the sun (let gravity finish pulling the oil, and the heat keeps it runny) for at least five hours. then gently dab both sides of the filter with a clean rag to get any droplets that have not fallen.



This may seem like an annoyance, but I have yet to get any oil residue, or debris inside the intake.



My AFE on the truck also has the "condom" which has been washed once already, and needs it again (dusty roads, and an exhaust leak in one of the turbo gaskets). I doubt that I will have to actually have to wash the AFE for a couple of years, if ever. There are other owners on this site that have over 80K on their AFE, and the filter minder has not moved. I only have about 6k on mine.

 

[Doc Tinker]

I cleaned my AFE yesterday, for the first time. It had 65,000 miles on it. Most of the roads I drive on are paved, and I have a 2wd, so I don't do much off road stuff.



The filter is still drying, so I can't tell you how the oiling went, but I plan to follow Stick's suggestions.



Doc

 

[Oil Burner]

The only concern I had with my K&N was to keep it away from a heat source while drying because it is made of cotton and will shrink. I let it dry in a room with a dehumidifier. worked pretty well. Other than that, I did just like sticks said.

-Jason