How much dirt is too much?

With the debate of which air filter is better, I won't say what after market filter I run yet, but I just took it out and cleaned it, I happened to look at the housing directly behind the primary filter, and noticed fine dust like coat on the inside of the housing. I must note that I have taken out my secondary carbon filter. The screen mesh had this dust on it as well. There is not a lot of this dust but enough that when I wipe my finger in it, I leave a "clean" trail behind.
Is this normal? Should I have any dust at all after the filter? I spend quite a bit of time in the mountains on dusty dirt roads. How much do you guys/gals see in your filter housings? Should I get another brand of filter?
Thanks for the help.

 

No dust should be past the filter.

How long has it been since you cleaned it the last time?

Whatever brand filter it is....take this experience as a HINT that you should clean it more often. Depending on what & where you drive - will depend on how dirty the filter gets. If you offroad a lot - you should clean it even more frequently.

I had K&N's for years and I cleaned them twice a year.

 

I clean it religously at 3000-5000 miles. And after EVERY off road trip. That is more than enough. Im very anal about keeping a clean well running truck. So far it sounds like I need to change filters. Many, many others are running the same filter as I, but with no dust?

 

Alright fine- Its a K&N, yes I oil it, yes I have have oiled it too much before, giving me MAFS problems, and I doubt I have under oiled it. Should I switch?

 

Do you let the filter dry completely before re-oiling it?

I always allowed the K&N to dry overnight before I'd oil it...... (when I had them).

Are you using enough oil?

Another suggestion - when the filter is installed, check the edges of the filter and make sure it's seating (sealing) nicely in the airbox. If its not seating properly, you could get dust past it.

 

Is it actual dust? or is it a film from the crank case breather?

 

Maybe time for a snorkel to get the air intake further away from the dust and dirt? It's on MY list of things to do...someday...after I hit the lottery to pay for all the mods I want to do...

 

I am as guilty of this as anyone, however the original thread here is 6-1/2 years old--they probably have it sorted out by now.

As to K&N and other oiled gauze filters here is an opinion piece I published in December of 2004; my opinion has not changed.

Note: This BBS insists on reformatin