With all the dust storms we’ve been having here lately, I figured it’s the perfect time to make a how-to on cleaning your aftermarket air filter. So here it is folks, Q8Mods.com’s first how-to!
Note: This process is for reusable aftermarket filters only. Most stock air filters are paper-type, therefore they are not reusable.
Items Required:
- Shop towels
- K&N (or equivalent) cleaning spray
- K&N (or equivalent) air filter oil (for oiled filters only)
- Sink
Step 1
Use the cleaning spray and spray the entire air filter on both sides. Spray until the air filter starts to drip. I usually use 1 bottle for 4 cleaning sessions. Now let the air filter sit on a shop towel for about 15 minutes so it soaks up the solution.
Step 2
Under a sink, apply water starting from the inside FIRST. This step is important to prevent the dirt from going in further into the fibers. Once all the dirt is out, apply water on the outside as shown to remove any remaining debris.
Step 3
Let the air filter sit on a shop towel until it is completely dry. I prefer to leave it sitting overnight. If you are using a dry-type air filter such as AEM Dryflow, aFe ProDry or Amsoil Synthetic Nanofiber, you can reinstall the air filter onto your car once its fully dried up. Otherwise, continue to step 4.
Step 4
Using the air filter oil, spray the oil evenly onto the air filter. I prefer to spray each area once and then move on to the next until I’ve covered the entire filter. Make sure you don’t over-oil it. Leave the air filter sit on a shop towel for another 15 minutes to let the fibers absorb all the oil. Reinstall the air filter onto your car.
For reference, this is what you should end up with:
Before
After
short and to the point! thx for the lovely review
good work bro
would be advisable to first have the intake cleaned with a air gul so al the dust and other particles are blown away$ great write up! Thanks!
Very good advice there! thanks
Air Gun* All* BB sucks! Sorry!
Fastest way to clean air filters.. good job!
Do u have any other way?
Great. This is going to be really useful for me. But could you please tell me how much the cleaning solution and oil costs and where can I buy it from in Kuwait ?
I read some where a cheap and better way to clean these filters, like using some washing powder or something and that it cleans better than the solution provided by KN.Never really tried it myself since it seemed too risky. BTW I too have the exact same filter but I used to give it to a shop to do the exact same thing. Guess I can start doing this myself now
great i love the before and after part it shows a lot of difference
I just installed a K&N filter to my ride.
I got an alternative way, as I recall I think the (m’3sala – car wash) gives the filter a blow-dry first from the opposite side of the air entrance to have all dust out the way it came from, then blow-dry it the other side to remove any remaining stains, afterwards we can safely wash it because when you wash it directly the dust turns into mud.
The procedure shown above is the only procedure approved by K&N. Applying high air pressure to the filter can blow the filter material right out of the wire mesh and ruin the filter.
Check:
http://www.knfilters.com/cleaning.htm
great work. i never knew that there is an air filter cleaner. thanks