K&N air filter

[gordonv]

I was looking for this info, but didn't find anything on it.

I bought a misc batch of items off ebay. After they arrived, I found some where used. The GL1800 K&N air filter.

Rather than ask how do you clean it, my question is, Can I use a parts cleaner to clean the air filter? My concern was, would the dirty parts cleaner fluid, not make the filter dirty? I'm talking about immersing it fully in the cleaner. Try to wash it out. Then using air, blow out the excess and let it dry.

I don't have the oil, so this would be the way I would try to sell it as, clean, but dry.

Any thoughts?

[Icelander]

I wouldn't clean it in anything but the proper cleaner and then oil it again with the proper oil.

If you were using this for your own personal use, you might try it, but why take the chance that you might cause problems for someone else?

Icelander

[Valkorado]

Don't use dirty parts cleaner fluid.  This and a garden hose (low pressure).  Works great.  Spray both sides thoroughly and let sit 10 minutes.  Rinse with hose from dirty side (clean side out) until clean.  Repeat once if necessary.  Let air dry overnight.  It should be oiled thoroughly but lightly with K&N oil before use.

[Savago]

They have a kit for cleaning and oiling it:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00029WYVW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Should be good for at least 3x uses. Don't over oil it when you are done:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TO8bIxYnIYWaDGrP2

Wait one full day for the filter to dry out after washing and maybe a couple hours after oiling it before install.

[Jess from VA]

Not to worry if you over oil it.  The bike will blow a little white smoke until the excess is gone.

Plugs might get a little gummy, but that burns off too.

[Willow]

Not to worry if you over oil it.  The bike will blow a little white smoke until the excess is gone.

Plugs might get a little gummy, but that burns off too.

I guess that depends on how much over oil.  We had a rider at the Colorado InZane that had over oiled enough to drive the fuel mileage down to 20 mpg.  The fix required removing, cleaning, and re-oiling.

[Jess from VA]

Not to worry if you over oil it.  The bike will blow a little white smoke until the excess is gone.

Plugs might get a little gummy, but that burns off too.

I guess that depends on how much over oil.  We had a rider at the Colorado InZane that had over oiled enough to drive the fuel mileage down to 20 mpg.  The fix required removing, cleaning, and re-oiling.

I never heard of anyone using the whole can (of oil). 

[Willow]

Not to worry if you over oil it.  The bike will blow a little white smoke until the excess is gone.

Plugs might get a little gummy, but that burns off too.

I guess that depends on how much over oil.  We had a rider at the Colorado InZane that had over oiled enough to drive the fuel mileage down to 20 mpg.  The fix required removing, cleaning, and re-oiling.

I never heard of anyone using the whole can (of oil). 

Jess, it didn't take a whole can.  The point is that it points out the falsity of the advice to not worry about over oiling.  Oil the filter carefully and follow the instructions.  Too much oil can indeed be a problem.

[gordonv]

Thanks for the replies.

I was wondering if parts cleaner (degreaser) is over kill. It should be dirt captured, not oil. So soap and water type cleaning should be enough.

My thought was to clean the filter, to the point of showing it off clean, no oil, and see if one of the GW rider I ride with would be interested in it. Or maybe just leave it dirty, and let them take care of it.

After how clean Chris keeps his bike, I was going to look for some Simple Green. I tried it when it first came out, but never found it good enough to degrease a car. But that is not what I'm trying to do now.

[Chrisj CMA]

Thanks for the replies.

I was wondering if parts cleaner (degreaser) is over kill. It should be dirt captured, not oil. So soap and water type cleaning should be enough.

My thought was to clean the filter, to the point of showing it off clean, no oil, and see if one of the GW rider I ride with would be interested in it. Or maybe just leave it dirty, and let them take care of it.

After how clean Chris keeps his bike, I was going to look for some Simple Green. I tried it when it first came out, but never found it good enough to degrease a car. But that is not what I'm trying to do now.

Mean green not simple green on the bike.  I use the K&N cleaner on the filter. Easy to get at parts houses

[Jess from VA]

The K & N filter oil must be water soluble because the K & N soap (and water rinse) cleans it up like new.  Maybe many soaps would work, but I have always used the the K & N kits.

You do not want petroleum products on the paper element, it may destroy it.

I know my lawnmower paper elements are trashed by gasoline; they dry up hard and do not flow air very well.

I have used petroleum solvent on the skinny foam prefilter, and stomped it to assist drying.   

[Tfrank59]

Not to worry if you over oil it.  The bike will blow a little white smoke until the excess is gone.

Plugs might get a little gummy, but that burns off too.

I over-oiled the K&N on my other bike and it ran like CRAP* until I realized the issue and then cleaned and re-oiled the filter and she's been great since.

*it was what you might imagine performance would be having rags stuffed in the airbox

[gordonv]

After how clean Chris keeps his bike, I was going to look for some Simple Green. I tried it when it first came out, but never found it good enough to degrease a car. But that is not what I'm trying to do now.

Mean green not simple green on the bike.  I use the K&N cleaner on the filter. Easy to get at parts houses

Thank you for clarifying, I was always thinking simple green.

[Valkorado]

After how clean Chris keeps his bike, I was going to look for some Simple Green. I tried it when it first came out, but never found it good enough to degrease a car. But that is not what I'm trying to do now.

Mean green not simple green on the bike.  I use the K&N cleaner on the filter. Easy to get at parts houses

Thank you for clarifying, I was always thinking simple green.

Definitely not unheard of.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=youtube+clean+k%26n+filter+simple+green&ia=videos

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Al's totally awesome cleaner is tremendous.
$1 at dollar tree,great degreaser,carpet cleaner ,shower,tile etc.
Works great and cheap.