DIY : How to clean your K&N filter

Wow its been about 17,000 km after the installation of the K&N replacement filter. So its due for cleaning.

Here is a simple guide on how to do it... I know there is a manual included in the service kit, but this is a hands-on guide (more practical) and with coloured pictures!!!

Also a note to all those that want to perform this...make sure you that you have the whole day and you won't be using your car. Otherwise, you might want to swap in a temporary stock air filter 1st before performing the cleaning. This is because the drying of the K&N filter takes quite a long time! So please be warned!

Step 1 : Purchase the K&N Service Kit ( Recharger) .

Should look like the picture below. Weird thing is there is no part no. written on the box.


Step 2 : Remove the K&N filter.

For reference on how to remove the filter from the engine compartment. Please refer to my earlier posting http://spoonboi.blogspot.com/2007/10/diy-installing-k-filter.html

Picture below is how the K&N filter looks like after 17,000 kms. Notice the black spots of dirt....


Step 3: Apply cleaner

Now the Service kit should include 2 white coloured bottles as shown below :-

- Use the BIG bottle...which reads Air filter cleaner as shown below :-

- Now what you want to do is to spray an even amount on both the clean side & dirty side of the filter. Make sure it completely covers all area of the element.

- Allow the cleaner to soak for a good 10 minutes. The cleaner actually helps loosen dirt trapped on the filter.

Step 4: Rinse

Now rinse off the filter with cool running water. Note : do not those jet spray, just runing water will do.

You might need to repeat steps 3 and 4 if your filter is extremely dirty.

Step 5: Drying

Gently shake off existing water and allow the filter to dry naturally! <-- this means no external use of hair dryer \ heat guns or etc

Now this will take at least 5-6 hours. In normal room temperature. I kid you not! Now it is important to let the element completely dry off before the next step of oilling. If the filter element is not completely dry it would not be able to absorb the oil and thus affecting its effectiveness.

So I really recommend that you be patient. ( I left mine to dry for the whole day)

Step 6: Oiling

For this use the smaller white bottle which reads.."Air Filter Oil" =P

- to apply the oil make sure it done on the dirty side of the filter only! Pic below shows my dirty side... i mean the filter's dirty side.

Alright notice that the 1st two rows of the elements has been oiled. Notice the color difference. You should apply this evenly on all plates of the element. What I do is, for the 1st row of element- I start from the top down then the next row bottom up. And vice versa.

- To apply the oil just gently squeeze the bottle lightly. You want to be able to apply the oil evenly. Not too much otherwise it will be a waste and I resulting in a very sticky element which I think will result in poor performance. Do it just right.

- After applying the oil. Wait 20-30 minutes to let the oil absorb to the clean side. (remember you only apply on the dirty side!)

- Now you might want to visually inspect both the clean\dirty side of the filter to make sure that the color is the same.

Face the filter to the light to be able to get a clearer picture!

- You might need to continue the oilling procedure until there is an even red color over the entire surface of the clean & dirty side of the filter. So be patient in doing this.

- for your info I used approx 25 oz of Oil to completely re-oil my filter. Now this depends on size as well. Mine is specific for Nissan Sentra N16.

Step 7 : Filter installation

For this you might want to refer again to http://spoonboi.blogspot.com/2007/10/diy-installing-k-filter.html


Tadaa!!! you're done!

I also took the oppurtunity to stick the K&N filter stickers on the filter box. Serves also as a warning!

K&N filter - 1-3bhp

Clean K&N filter - 4-5bhp

K&N stickers - 25-30bhp