We find brake clean works really well to remove the old air filter oil, grease and dirt from the air box. A good trick is to stuff a clean rag inside the air boot so if some dirt does fall in there it will be caught and not end up in your engine later.
Brake cleaner will eat through the fine material in an air filter and render it useless. Mild soap and warm water is the best best, which is exactly what comes in the K&N kit. Don't use compressed air to dry because it can blow tiny holes into the filter that also renders is useless.
Dish soap will work best, but hand soap can be used if you're out of dish soap. Gently scrub any stubborn grime with a soft-bristled brush. Do this step with care to avoid damaging your filter.
Let the air filter dry overnight before oiling it, which is necessary because any remaining moisture will prevent the filter oil from penetrating it. NOTE: Never use contact/brake cleaner or carb cleaner on a K&N air filter, as theylll severely damage its cotton gauze material.
Mineral spirits will work well. Just wash it good with soap and water after, and let dry before oiling.
However, you might already have a simple tool you can use to clean your K&N cabin air filter: Dawn dish detergent. If it's safe enough to bathe ducklings, it's certainly suitable for your air filters. Its concentrated formula removes grease, dirt, and grime, and it rinses clean away — unlike some detergents.
Tip 2: Coat the air box: We recommend WD-40 or penetrating fluid, this makes it easy to wipe out as well as leaves a film to catch dust before it gets to the filter. Think, every bit of dust that doesn't make it to the filter means a cleaner filter…
- HOW MANY TIMES CAN I WASH AND REUSE MY K&N® HIGH-FLOW AIR FILTER™? K&N® High-Flow Air Filters™ can be cleaned and re-oiled using a K&N Recharger® kit as often as is reasonably necessary.
Dish soap will work best, but hand soap can be used if you're out of dish soap. Gently scrub any stubborn grime with a soft-bristled brush. Do this step with care to avoid damaging your filter.
Cleaning the air filter only improves its appearance. When should an air filter be replaced? The air filter should be replaced after the period indicated by the vehicle manufacturer.
The first stage is to clean the majority of the dirt and remove the filter oil with the degreasing agent by lightly massaging the chemicals through the filter while being careful not to stretch or twist the filter too much or you may tear the element.
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.
While doing a great job cleaning brake parts brake cleaner can be harmful to plastic, rubber, electronics, and painted parts. It turns out some of these components can be dissolved by brake cleaner so it should only be used on brake components or other bare metal components you're looking to clean.
DON'T – CLEAN YOUR AIR FILTER WITH GASOLINE
We suggest using air filter-specific applications to properly clean an air filter.
STEP 1 - APPLY K&N® POWER KLEEN®
Liberally spray Power Kleen® filter cleaner onto both sides of the filter and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Do not allow the cleaner to dry on the air filter.
Cleaning with soap and water is generally recommended for cloth and carbon filters. You need to be careful while washing with water since it can damage your filters. Water should not be used to wash paper filters. First, use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the dust, dirt and debris.
K&N filters are oiled.
K&N also offers a line of washable and reusable billet oil filters, which are constructed from billet aluminum for strength and durability.
After rinsing, you will want to lightly shake the excess water out of your filter to allow it to dry quicker. While you can proceed to the next step after allowing the filter to dry for 30 minutes to an hour, for optimal results you should let your filter dry overnight if possible.
We find brake clean works really well to remove the old air filter oil, grease and dirt from the air box. A good trick is to stuff a clean rag inside the air boot so if some dirt does fall in there it will be caught and not end up in your engine later.
Synthetic and Plant-Based Foam Filter Oil
These types of foam air filter oil offer a much better solution than petroleum-based products.
Immersion in Warm, Soapy Water – Where stubborn air-borne dirt is present, the filter may be dipped in a solution of warm water and mild detergent. Then simply rinse in clear water, let stand until completely dry and free of moisture, and return to service.