Even then, the wear would often be attributed to lubricant breakdown or normal wear and tear. Then squeeze out the excess and return the filter to its housing."Before the use of oil analysis, a dust entry problem would go undetected until a routine teardown or failure occurred. Apply the oil spray evenly along the crown of each pleat on the filter. This could cause it to incorrectly measure air consumption, resulting in a "check engine" light. Modern vehicles that use a Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor require special care when re-oiling these types of filters, to avoid over-oiling and affecting sensitive wires of the MAF. If you have an oiled filter, use fresh filter oil to saturate the entire filter, including the sealing flange and lip. Make sure the filter is completely dry before oiling (if you have an oiled filter) and replacing it. Shake the filter to get rid of any excess water, then set it down to air dry. Avoid wringing or stretching the filter – they can tear easily. Using a faucet or garden hose, rinse the filter from both sides, starting from the interior towards the exterior to prevent pushing dirt further into the fibers of the filter. Spray the filter with Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner and let it soak. If there's any housing on the filter, remove the housing and the wing nut attaching the filter to remove the outer element. Take the air filter out, taking care to make sure no dirt or debris falls into the airbox or intake. Make sure the engine is cool to the touch before cleaning. Always follow the manufacturer's complete instructions for cleaning and maintenance.
#How to clean a k and n filter manual
When used per label instructions, it's safe on aluminum, chrome, titanium, and other high-tech alloys, as well as painted and gel-coated surfaces, anodized and electroplated parts, carbon fiber, metals, plastics, rubber and much more.Ĭheck your Owner's Manual before cleaning the air filter. Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is aggressive on grease and heavy soils but is gentle enough to clean air filters without harming the filter material or causing damage to surfaces found on automotive equipment. You should avoid using solvents or kerosene for this reason. When cleaning your car's air filter, it's important to use a cleaner that will thoroughly remove dirt and debris without petroleum-based chemicals, which can damage or dissolve the filter materials. A thorough cleaning of K&N air filters is only required when portions of the screen are no longer visible, or roughly every 50,000 miles. Oiled versions, such as the widely-recognized K&N ® filters, use an oiled cotton gauze construction. These should be cleaned or replaced about every 15,000 miles, or more frequently if you live on dusty roads or in more polluted areas. Typical dry filters are made of foam, which blocks more particulates than paper filters, but due to their material density, they've been known to inhibit airflow as they get dirty. There are two different classes of air filters: oiled and dry. Eventually, those unwanted materials can be sucked into your engine from the air intake while on the road, potentially damaging the pistons and blocking your carburetor. If your filter is dirty, your engine will need to work harder to draw in air or cool down. Over time, the accumulation of dirt, dust, pebbles, and more can impede this airflow. It allows clean air to combine with fuel, combust, and produce the vehicle's power. Your vehicle's air filter is critical to maintaining engine performance.