How do you clean/oil a K&N air filter, first timer...

I removed the air filter in my 2010 that was recently totaled and the original owner had replaced the stock with a K&N filter. I want to put it in my 09 I will be getting but she needs to be cleaned. I have no experience with cleaning/oiling this type of filter and would appreciate any help I can get. THANKS!!!!

 

go to youtube, tons of videos on how. i just did it this weekend with youtube help. its pretty easy. also when u buy the cleaning kit it comes with instructions.

 

Be sure to wash from clean side to dirty side. Otherwise you will push all of the dirt further into the filter.

 

you need a kit from the parts store

 

They have a recharge kit at most part store around $10

 

1) Take a soft brush (paint type) and brush the pleats removing the loose dirt.
2) Spray the K&N soap on the "air-in" side of the filter and let it soak for about 5 to 10 minutes.
3) Rinse the filter, washing from the inside to the outside (opposite the direction of air flow.)
4) Let the filter dry. Do not use compressed air to blow dry the filter.
5) Re-oil but do not saturate with oil.
6) Install and drive.

Ray

 

I got one for my second Gen that was given from a friend. Don’t know much about it but I’m sure mine could use a newer one with 232k miles so I’ll install it. He told me how to clean it but I’m wondering how often I should clean it.

 

Clean based on visual. If its red, its clean, black its dirty.

Just shoot it with the cleaner, rinse with low pressure water, dry in the sun.

Spray lightly with oil on the side facing the fender. No oil on the engine side.

 

Take the KnN "Filter" and throw it in the trash. Buy an OEM paper filter and enjoy much better filtration with no hit to performance.

 

This!

 

One can of brake clean saturate let sit few minutes then rinse with water . Finally shake excess water let air dry by fan overnight. Next day make sure filter is nice and dry . Inspect filter make sure its clean. Repeat process if still dirty. Once filter seems to get as clean as you can get it and dry , apply k&n filter oil. Directions are on filter oil can.

 

This^^^^

 

You might as well pour engine oil directly on the maf sensor wire

 

Everyone's directions are what I do (did). Sometimes I needed multiple washes before I would get it clean enough. I live in the desert and it would get DIRTY!

That said, I don't use a K&N filter anymore. I had them on both cars and my XR dirt bike but never on the trucks. I would often find sand on the filtered side of the airbox so I've gone back to paper filters. They work well.

 

From the K&N website, in their FAQ section.

 

#2. Ten minutes in the shade so the cleaning solution does not dry out. Simple Green works as well. I use it on my K&N filter also on the filters for my dirt and dual sport bikes (non K&N but oiled)

#4 Air dry - I put my filters in front of my shop fan - usually for 6 hours to ensure they're good and dry.

#5 Re-oil and definitely do not saturate. Excess oil could migrate to MAF.

#6 I will let the K&N air cure for at least 12 before reinstalling. This helps to prevent any excess oil from migrating to the MAF

While cleaning, drying, oiling and allowing the K&N filter to cure, I pop in a stock air filter. I do almost the same with my dirt bikes. I have spares ready to go for them. So it's just a matter of rotating those filters.

 

As others have said, prolong your engine and get a paper filter instead.

 

Been running K&N filters for 40 + years on my vehicles, mostly Chevy S-10's with a couple of Dodge Dakota's. All were beyond 200,000 miles when I sold them. All ran great. As this is my first Tacoma with a little over 100,000 miles, I guess time will tell.

 

What is the point of a KN if there are no performance gains? May as well leave the paper filter in.

 

It's the placebo effect. Also you need to have a reason to put those K&N stickers on your truck. The stickers alone give you a 5hp increase.