Cleaning the K&N air filter

[Arnold]

My 1980 GL1100 standard came with what I think is a K&N air filter. The PO rode on dirt roads and it was quite oily and dusty. If one is not willing to spend big bucks on official K&N cleaner and oil, what are some substitutes that will do the same job? Or would I be better off with a paper filter.
Arnold

 

[slabghost]

Blast it with compressed air from the inside. Then soak it with carb cleaner and spray it clear again with compressed air from the inside. Then spray with a light oil. Penetrating oil or the like. Not WD40. WD40 can be used in place of carb cleaner but not as oil for the filter. It dries quickly.

 

[dan filipi]

Well ya shouldn't scrub a k&n filter so using dish soap ( I use Dawn) won't really clean it.
Of course they recommend using their cleaner but there are others out there. Local auto parts has them here.

As far as using a k&n versus a paper filter the popular opinion is to use a paper though I personally like the k&n.

Also I think the paper filters can be had for only a bit more $ than those special cleaners.

 

[mcgovern61]

I have a K&N filter cleaner kit and YES it did cost more than a paper filter!! But......I can get several cleanings and re-oiling from the kit so that is the only savings over buying multiple paper filters.

I pulled my K&N because its was too noisy! I could hear the air being sucked into the intake and the sound level really increased at 75 MPH. I switched back to paper and everything quieted back down again. There was a bit more power with the K&N filter (of course that could just be perception because it sounded more powerful :hihihi: ).

 

[Arnold]

A light oil? Would ATF qualify for oiling the K&N filter? It seems to have so many applications nowadays and it is affordable.
Arnold :yes:

 

[slabghost]

I see no reason not to use ATF except you'd need a spray bottle.

 

[dan filipi]

The k&n oil is much like atf, I say go for it.

 

[slabghost]

I'd use an old pump bottle to spray the ATF.

 

[89-300ce]

My bike came with a K&N otherwise I would stay with paper. I bought some aerosol PJ filter oil which was quite reasonable compared to the K&N oil.

Anyone ever run their K&N thru the dishwasher. Not like I'd do that of course. :hihihi:

 

[slabghost]

Don't let momma catch ya doin it.

 

[dan filipi]

Mom and Dad in-law have a dishwasher, hmm......

 

[mcgovern61]

Anyone ever run their K&N thru the dishwasher. Not like I'd do that of course. :hihihi:

I worked on a tug boat where the engineer decided to wash some parts in the dishwasher..............he didn't keep his job very long and the dishwasher became a storage cabinet! :rant:

 

[54Greybeard]

I always liked the idea of a K&N but they are a pain to clean.

 

[danf]

I always wondered about the K&L filters...They seem like they could be a hassel, true or false...?

 

[89-300ce]

I'm not sure if I'd call them a hassel. If I didn't already have one I wouldn't buy one. The manufacturers HP claims are misleading. Yes if you have a "high" hp modified engine that has had it's carbs tuned for the K&N and then substitute a stock paper filter the K&N will appear to produce more HP. However, in the operating range of a normaly tuned motor the HP gains are insignificant. If it changed flow to any degree you would have had to re-jet the carbs.

They can be re-used but they don't filter fine particulate as well. :shrug:

 

[dan filipi]

In my case with our Suburban and my service van the K&N was actually about $15 less than a paper so I went with a K&N in both.