Washing A K&n Pod Filter?

[Lachlan33]

Hey guys,

Ive got a few days free as of tomorrow and thought I would clean up my engine bay. My POD filter is absolutely filthy, its now a sort of....well brown. Its a K&N Pod, and I did a search, some people seem to have had issues with some filters and water? (Like...the filter would fall apart)

I know the K&N Panels have a cleaning kit but is this needed for the pods? If I just removed it and left it for a few hours in a bucket of soapy water then left it to dry over night? Or do they need an oily coating?

Ta

[RB30-POWER]

you will not clean it properly just with water.

buy the kit and do it properly, its $20, not to mentioned there is enough to clean it plenty of times and you will need the oil anyway...

[Lachlan33]

Whats in the kit exactly? Just special washing detergant and oil?

[that_guy]

Featured in the kit is an aerosol can and like some filter oil . The aerosol is a solvent used for initial cleaning and the oil is the typical k&n red.

Bought the kit a few days ago but havn't used it as yet no time, just going by whats on the pack.

Hope that gives you some help

[SKY031]

The only people I've heard of having their filters fall apart when they wash them, are the silly people who try washing a non-servicable throw-away paper filter .

Here's some info straight from the manufacturer:

K&N FAQ

Can I use anything other than K&N cleaner and oil?

We recommend that you only use K&N oil and cleaner. K&N air filter oil is a compound of mineral oil blended with special polymers to form a very efficient tack barrier. We have performed tests on numerous oil combinations and our blend has the required properties for maximum flow and filtration. Petroleum products such as transmission fluid and motor oil will soften and destroy the rubber sealing edges. Our cleaner is a non-detergent degreaser. Solvents and gasoline will harden the rubber seals causing the filter to distort (shrink). A mild detergent can be used in a pinch, but care should be taken to fully rinse it out. Rinsing detergent out of a filter is similar to getting soap out of a sponge; it’s not that easy to do. Always make sure the filter is completely dry before re-oiling.

Can I use compressed air to dry the filter faster?

No, this can blow the filter material right out of the wire mesh and ruin the filter. Pick a nice day to clean the filter and let it dry naturally.

Should I brush the wire screen with a toothbrush to get all the “crud” off?

No, this could tear up the cotton gauze.

Hope that helps

[foznice]

the cleaner part, seems to be just degreaser.... but you still need to reoil it anyway, so you might as well just buy the kit...