K & N air filters

[ChrisJ]

Can somebody please tell me how to clean the air filters on my Vauxhall engined classic (2001).

The literature supplied with the kit isn't very clear.

Ta much

 

Chris

[philwaters]

Hi,

By Kit I presume you have the neccessary cleaning fluid and new oil. If I remember correctly, you just spray on some of the cleaning stuff and leave for a few minutes (it will say on the bottle) and then wash off. To rinse stick them under a tap. You have to be careful to to only rinse from the side outwards - to avoid pushing the dirt further into the filter. Then leave to dry for x time. I had to repeat to get most of the dirt off.

To oil them, you only need a light coating of oil. As the oil will be quite bright compared to the filter it is easy to see where you have been. It is important not to worry out making it all a uniform colour as when you stand it to dry it will soak in. I over did mine and after the first drive I had oil running down my front and rear wings 😬

Hope that helps.

 

Phil Waters

You mean you can drive these?

I thought it was just there to polish 😬

[Midnight]

Chris, K & N sell special cleaning fluid for their filters. You have to use a dish big enough to take the filter and pour in just enough of the fluid to reach the top of the rubber edge seal. If you put in too much then all the grit. dead flies etc that get washed out of the external part of the element will flow into the inside of the filter. not good! The idea is to rotate the filter carefully in the fluid until all of the external element has been coated. Yuo have to leave it to soak for a little while. You then use a water hose directed through the filter from the INSIDE ONLY to wash away the muck. you can then leave it to dry naturally, or use an air line, again only blowing from inside to out. They should come up much cleaner and you can see daylight through the filters. You then have to recoat the filters with K & N filter oil. They may now only sell the cleaining agent in a spray. hope this helps.

[fordy]

where to buy this cleaning fluid and oil?

 

That'll be one of the first jobs on my new Caterham. Well new to me anyway.

[Dartmoor7]

1. SERVICE INTERVAL

In normal, on-road applications, service your K&N Filter every 50,000 miles. A certain amount of dirt build-up will actually work for you. It does not degrade performance and helps filter the air.

 

Service the filter more frequently if it is subjected to frequent or heavy dust. Regular operation in a fine dust environment, such as what would be present for agricultural, construction or off-road use, will cause oil loss from the element. Frequent re-oiling of the element's clean side may be required.

 

Service K&N Filters only with K&N Air Filter Cleaner and K&N Air Filter Oil.

 

2. PRE-CLEANING

Tap the K&N Filter gently on a hard surface to dislodge loose dirt. Tap the base of a round filter. Tap a panel filter dirt side down. Do not tap any filter on its edges. Remember to tap gently. Next, gently brush the dirt side of filter with a soft bristle brush. A old tooth brush works well.

 

3. CLEANING PRECAUTIONS

Use only K&N Filter Cleaner. It is available in either spray-on or liquid form. Do not clean K&N Filters with gasoline, solvents, parts cleaners, strong detergents or caustic cleaning solutions. Do not steam clean or use high pressure car washes to clean a K&N Filter. Any of those processes will damage filter media and/or the rubber base, top or end caps.

4. SPRAY CLEANING

Spray K&N Air Filter Cleaner liberally onto the entire element. Let the Cleaner soak into the filter media for 10 minutes.

 

5. PAN CLEANING

Most larger K&N Filters are easier to clean in a pan. Best to use for larger round filters is a bread pan of adequate width and depth such that a section of the filter can be dipped in the Cleaner. Fill the pan with K&N Air Filter Cleaner to a level where the filter media is just barely submerged. Rotate the filter once so all parts of it go through the Cleaner. Do not agitate the filter in the Cleaner as dirt removed from the dirty side may be redeposited on the clean side. Remove the filter from the pan and set it aside. let the Cleaner soak into the filter media for 10 minutes.

 

 

Panel filters are easier to clean in a roasting or turkey pan, such as the disposable aluminum units found in grocery or cooking supply stores. Place the filter in the pan and pour in the Cleaner to a level where the filter media is just barely submerged. Do not agitate the filter in the Cleaner. Remove the filter from the pan and set it aside. Let the Cleaner soak into the filter media for 10 minutes.

 

6. RINSE

After the Cleaner soaks for 10 minutes, rinse the filter with low pressure water. Water out of a household faucet is best. Always flush opposite the direction of air flow ie: from the clean side to the dirty side. This removes the dirt and does not drive it further into the filter media.

 

7. DRYING

After rinsing, shake off the excess water and let the element dry at room or outside air temperature. Many people hang filters on a clothes line to dry. Do not use compressed air because it will damage the filter media. Do not use heat from any source to dry a K&N Filter. Heat will shrink the filter media and may damage the rubber base, top or end caps.

8. OILING PRECAUTIONS

Never put a K&N Filter in service without oiling it. The filter will not function properly without being oiled. Use only K&N Filter Oil or the filter will not function properly. K&N Filter Oil is a unique blend of mineral and organic oil base stocks and special polymers that form a very efficient “tack barrier.” Red dye is added to show areas of oil application. Eventually, the dye fades but the oil remains to filter the air. Do not use automatic transmission fluid, any kind of motor oil or diesel fuel to oil a K&N Filter. Do not use “WD-40”, “LPS” or any othertype of light-weight spray lubricants to oil a K&N Filter. Any of those products will damage the filter or degrade its filtering ability. A K&N Filter used on an engine that is regularly operated in a fine dust environment will require frequent re-oiling of the filter’s clean side in between cleanings.

9. SPRAY OILING

Spray K&N Air Filter Oil from a distance of about 10 inches onto a group of pleats. Spray each group of pleats only once. Spray oil onto the filter media such it becomes reddish in color. Let the filter sit for 10 minutes then respray any areas that are still white.

 

10. SQUEEZE BOTTLE OR TUBE OILING

Squeeze K&N Air Filter Oil onto each pleat. Let the filter sit for 20 minutes as the oil “wicks” into the surrounding filter media. Apply more Filter Oil to areas that are still white

 

11. REINSTALL

Re-install your K&N Air Filter with care. In some applications, especially off-road use, it may be necessary to use K&N Sealing Grease on rubber base, top or end caps of the filter. Make sure the element seats properly in the filter housing. Install the cover and tighten all the nuts, bolts, screws or clips to the manufacturer’s specifications.

 

12. DO NOT DISCARD WARNING

Apply the "Do Not Discard" sticker, included with every K&N Filter, to the filter housing. Place the sticker in a visible position to alert service technicians to the existence of a K&N Filter on your engine.

 

 

Jerry Parker

L7SVN

1.4 Supersport

[Mcalvert]

I bought my cleaning kit in that most exotic of automotive emporiums knows as Halfords in Slough...

 

T'was hidden on a shelf in the "wide boy" section...

 

Michael.

[fordy]

best clean it then, when I get the car in a few weeks it'll be on 55K miles.

[Red SLR]

I reccomend that you clean the filter every 10k.

 

I know K&N say 50k but you would be amazed at the amount of cr@p that gets caught in it!

 

Make sure you oil it well after cleaning.

 

Simon.

 

See X777CAT here

 

[Dirty Den]

I cleaned mine after 12k miles too (on my xflow) and loads of cr@p came out of them.

 

Don't do what I did though, and go crazy with the oil for the filters - you'll be cleaning the oil off your rear arches for ages if you do.... 😳

 

As with Michael, I got mycleaning kit at the local Halfords, in amongst all the goodies for Nova boys. I tried my local auto factors, but neither of them stocked the cleaning kit. Was something like 12 quid if I remember rightly.

 

Den

 

😬 - Self portrait - still unable to remove the smile!

 

 

Edited by - Dirty Den on 13 Oct 2002 09:13:38

[puremalt]

Yes, but does it make it faster? Freer breathing etc?...

[Dirty Den]

puremalt - can't say I noticed a difference but the amount of crud that I washed out of mine, must be a good thing.

 

Den

 

😬 - Self portrait - still unable to remove the smile!

[stevefoster]

Phil did the over oiling thing too...

 

/Steve

 

My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here

Hants (North) and Berkshire area club site

here

 

[wonkey eyed barmaid]

hmmm

 

been reading this k&n filter thread with interest, as I have a pair of said K&N filters wrapped around my twin 40 webbers....

 

Ive got to admit, even though ive been a car fan for many years and was well aware of K&N's trademark red filter material - I did not, until now, know that it was the dirt retention spray that gave the filter its colour...

 

I recently serviced my car - including removing and cleaning the airfilters. they came up a very pale shade of grey, and I was quite dissapointed to have lost the red colouring. I did of course re-oil them, but it was using Pipercross oil that I had left over from my hothatch filter...

 

I presume the Pipercross oil will suffice - but next time I must get red oil.... 🙆🏻

 

cheers.