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. 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.

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