How To Clean An Air Filter
Whether it be your car or the leaf blower you use while maintaining your lawn, every combustion engine requires the use of an air filter. These simple things
play a major role in the performance and reliability of all engines. To be brief, a combustion engine requires three things in order to run: fuel, spark, and air. The quality of the air that is ingested by the engine plays a significant role in the life of the engine. If the engine continually ingests dirt or debris due to a dirty air filter the engine will be a victim of premature wear. The particles that enter the engine mix with the internal parts and wear the parts. Over time even the smallest amounts of dirt can cause serious permanent damage often resulting in costly repairs. Therefore, it is important to do proper maintenance in order to protect your investment. So you may be wondering
CAUTIONS/HAZARDS
Use caution while accessing the air filter itself. The filter is located near the carburetor and gas tank, both of which contain gas. The risk of combustion is low but caution should still be used.
Warning! Some of the chemicals used may cause irritation to the skin and/or eyes if prolonged contact occurs. Consumption of these chemicals could cause health problems and should be avoided.
INTRODUCTION
Tools
General hand tools are required to access the air filter. The exact sizes of the bolts will vary depending on the model of the motorcycle. A decent set of sockets and wrenches are recommended. Other simple tools such as screwdrivers and pliers may be helpful but are most likely not required.
Materials
Air filter cleaning agent and oiling agent. There are different forms of each (ex. PJ1 Air Filter Cleaner, K&N Filter Oil, NO-TOIL Cleaner). These can be purchased at any motorcycle dealership or repair shop. The type of cleaner and oil that is purchased can depend on what type of filter that is installed on the motorcycle. To determine which type of filter is installed and what service method to use refer to the next paragraph. A pair of Latex gloves is convenient when handling the filter. Multi-purpose grease is optional.
Types of Filters
There are two main types of air filters used on off-road motorcycles.
- Foam Filters- These filters are made out of foam. They can be serviced using aerosol cleaning and oiling agents. They can also use powdered or liquid cleansers in combination with liquid oils that are applied by hand. Figure 3 on page 4 shows a foam filter.
- Paper Filters- These filters are made of a paper-like substance that is held together using a plastic skeleton. They should be serviced using aerosol cleaning and oiling products. Figure 1 below shows a paper filter.
Figure 1. Paper Filter.
INSTRUCTIONS
Preparation
First, the motorcycle should be safely secured either with the vehicle’s kickstand or on a motorcycle stand. Once it is safe to work on, proceed to locate the vehicles air filter. On most models the filter will be located behind the carburetor inside the air box. The air box is usually located under the vehicle’s seat. In some models the air box may be opened from the side allowing access to the air filter, in most it will have to be accessed by removing the seat. If there are any problems in identifying the location refer to the vehicle’s manual for assistance.
Figure 2. Location of Air box
Once the location is determined, remove the air filter and identify what type of filter is currently being used. If the type of filter was not previous knowledge, now may be the time to refer to the introduction and purchase the materials required for the appropriate service method. If the filter is a foam filter, continue with the steps indicated for the foam filter. If it is a paper filter, continue with the paper filter procedures.
Figure 3. Foam air filter located in air box.
Foam Air Filter
Aerosol Cleaning Method
1. Place filter on the ground outside or at least far from objects that cannot get wet.
2. Thoroughly spray filter with spray-on filter cleaner.
3. Let the filter sit for 10-15 minutes.
4. Rinse filter with water. Be sure to spray the filter from the inside out in order to push the dirt and debris out of the filter rather than further into it.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 if the filter is still fairly dirty due to the extensive amount of dirt.
6. Let the filter air dry. It is crucial that the filter is completely dry before moving on to the re-oiling steps. If time is an issue, the filter can be placed on a fan or some other drying device. Compressed air can be used to quicken the process but should be used with caution. The filter is made of foam and can tear if the air pressure is too great.
Powder or Liquid Cleaning Method
1. Fill a large bucket or sink with a gallon or so of water. Note: Keep in mind when choosing a washing location that grease and grime will be removed from the air filter.
2. Pour in the recommended amount of cleaning agent as indicated by the label on the bottle.
3. Mix around the solution.
4. Place the filter into the mixture. Squeeze the filter with your hands in an effort to remove all the oil and dirt from the filter. Be careful not to twist or wring-out the filter because it may tear the foam.
Figure 4. Washing the dirt and oil from the filter.
5. Once the filter appears to be clean remove it and rinse it with clean water.
6. Repeat steps 1-5 if the filter is still fairly dirty due to the extensive amount of dirt.
7. Let the filter air dry. It is crucial that the filter is completely dry before moving on to the re-oiling steps. If time is an issue, the filter can be placed on a fan or some other drying device. Compressed air can be used to quicken the process but should be used with caution. The filter is made of foam and can tear if the air pressure is too great.
Re-oiling
1. Make sure the filter is COMPLETELY dry.
2. The oil can be applied two ways depending on the method in which you chose
a. Sprayed on using an aerosol can.
b. Poured on and spread around thoroughly using your hands as in Figure 5.
NOTE: Use Latex gloves when handling the oiled filter.
Figure 5. Oil Application.
3. Make sure the oil is spread giving uniform coverage of the entire filter.
4. Let the filter sit for another 10-15 minutes to ensure the oil has become tacky.
5. Upon reinstallation, add a small amount of oil or multi-purpose grease to the ring of the filter that contacts the air box itself. This step is not absolutely necessary depending how well your particular models filter fits. It is just a precaution to ensure the filter makes a proper air tight seal to the air box.
5. Reinstall filter. Go ride.
Paper Air Filter
Aerosol Cleaning Method
1. Place filter on the ground outside or at least far from objects that cannot get wet.
2. Thoroughly spray filter with spray-on filter cleaner as shown in Figure 6 below.
Figure 6. Filter cleanser being applied to general paper filter.
3. Let the filter sit for 10-15 minutes.
4. Rinse filter with water. Be sure to spray the filter from the inside out in order to push the dirt and debris out of the filter rather than further into it.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 if the filter is still fairly dirty due to the extensive amount of dirt.
6. Let the filter air dry. It is crucial that the filter is completely dry before moving on to the re-oiling steps. If time is an issue, the filter can be placed on a fan or some other drying device. Compressed air can be used to quicken the process but should be used with caution. The filter is made of foam and can tear if the air pressure is too great.
Re-oiling
1. Make sure the filter is COMPLETELY dry.
2. Apply oil using aerosol can. Use similar technique as shown in Figure 6 above. NOTE: Use Latex gloves when handling oiled filter.
3. Make sure the oil is spread giving uniform coverage of the entire filter.
4. Let the filter sit for another 10-15 minutes to ensure the oil has become tacky.
5. Upon reinstallation, add a small amount of oil or multipurpose grease to the ring of the filter that contacts the air box itself. This step is not absolutely necessary depending how well your particular models filter fits. It is just a precaution to ensure the filter makes a proper air tight seal to the air box.
5. Reinstall filter. Go ride.
FAQs
Can gas be used as the cleaning agent? It is not recommended. Gas is a harsh solvent and could cause damage to the filter itself or the glue that keeps the filter intact. Gas would work to clean the filter but it’s not worth potentially ruining the filter.
Can standard motor oil be used as the oiling agent? Again, this is not recommended. Motor oil is has a lower viscosity. Air filter oil is designed to be easy enough to apply but after it sits for a while it becomes tacky which is much more effective when it comes to stopping the flow of dirt and debris.
How often should the air filter be serviced? The air filter should be serviced quite frequently. It is impossible to give an exact amount of hours of ride time per service. The riding conditions play a major role. The filter should be serviced more frequently in dusty conditions and less frequently in moist, non-dusty conditions. It is best to at least check the filter before each usage to ensure it is not overly contaminated.
When should I replace the filter? Most filters are meant to be service and reused. Therefore, they should not need to be replaced very often. With proper maintenance they can last years at a time.
Is it really that important? Yes! Proper maintenance is always important. A dirty filter can hinder performance as well as cause permanent damage.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Aerosol- A product that uses compressed gas to spray the coating from its container.
Carburetor-A mechanical device found on the intake side of the engine which mixes fuel and air to create the volatile mixture that gets ignited in the engine.
Solvent- A substance, normally a liquid, which is capable of absorbing another liquid, gas, or solid to form a homogeneous mixture.
Viscosity- The thickness of a liquid or its resistance to flow.
Author: Master J Burch
