K&N Cleaning Instructions

1. SERVICE INTERVAL

In normal, on-road applications, service your K&N Filter every 50,000 miles. A certain amount of dirt build-up will actually work for you. It does not degrade performance and helps filter the air.

Service the filter more frequently if it is subjected to frequent or heavy dust. Regular operation in a fine dust environment, such as what would be present for agricultural, construction or off-road use, will cause oil loss from the element. Frequent re-oiling of the element's clean side may be required.

Service K&N Filters only with K&N Air Filter Cleaner and K&N Air Filter Oil.

2. PRE-CLEANING

Tap the K&N Filter gently on a hard surface to dislodge loose dirt. Tap the base of a round filter. Tap a panel filter dirt side down. Do not tap any filter on its edges. Remember to tap gently. Next, gently brush the dirt side of filter with a soft bristle brush. A old tooth brush works well.
Figure 1.

3. CLEANING PRECAUTIONS

Use only K&N Filter Cleaner. It is available in either spray-on or liquid form. Do not clean K&N Filters with gasoline, solvents, parts cleaners, strong detergents or caustic cleaning solutions. Do not steam clean or use high pressure car washes to clean a K&N Filter. Any of those processes will damage filter media and/or the rubber base, top or end caps.

4. SPRAY CLEANING

Spray K&N Air Filter Cleaner liberally onto the entire element. Let the Cleaner soak into the filter media for 10 minutes.
Figure 2.

5. PAN CLEANING

Most larger K&N Filters are easier to clean in a pan. Best to use for larger round filters is a bread pan of adequate width and depth such that a section of the filter can be dipped in the Cleaner. Fill the pan with K&N Air Filter Cleaner to a level where the filter media is just barely submerged. Rotate the filter once so all parts of it go through the Cleaner. Do not agitate the filter in the Cleaner as dirt removed from the dirty side may be redeposited on the clean side. Remove the filter from the pan and set it aside. let the Cleaner soak into the filter media for 10 minutes.

Figure 3.

Panel filters are easier to clean in a roasting or turkey pan, such as the disposable aluminum units found in grocery or cooking supply stores. Place the filter in the pan and pour in the Cleaner to a level where the filter media is just barely submerged. Do not agitate the filter in the Cleaner. Remove the filter from the pan and set it aside. Let the Cleaner soak into the filter media for 10 minutes.

6. RINSE

After the Cleaner soaks for 10 minutes, rinse the filter with low pressure water. Water out of a household faucet is best. Always flush opposite the direction of air flow ie: from the clean side to the dirty side. This removes the dirt and does not drive it further into the filter media.
Figure 5.

7. DRYING

After rinsing, shake off the excess water and let the element dry at room or outside air temperature. Many people hang filters on a clothes line to dry. Do not use compressed air because it will damage the filter media. Do not use heat from any source to dry a K&N Filter. Heat will shrink the filter media and may damage the rubber base, top or end caps.

8. OILING PRECAUTIONS

Never put a K&N Filter in service without oiling it. The filter will not function properly without being oiled. Use only K&N Filter Oil or the filter will not function properly. K&N Filter Oil is a unique blend of mineral and organic oil base stocks and special polymers that form a very efficient “tack barrier.” Red dye is added to show areas of oil application. Eventually, the dye fades but the oil remains to filter the air. Do not use automatic transmission fluid, any kind of motor oil or diesel fuel to oil a K&N Filter. Do not use “WD-40”, “LPS” or any othertype of light-weight spray lubricants to oil a K&N Filter. Any of those products will damage the filter or degrade its filtering ability. A K&N Filter used on an engine that is regularly operated in a fine dust environment will require frequent re-oiling of the filter’s clean side in between cleanings.

9. SPRAY OILING

Spray K&N Air Filter Oil from a distance of about 10 inches onto a group of pleats. Spray each group of pleats only once. Spray oil onto the filter media such it becomes reddish in color. Let the filter sit for 10 minutes then respray any areas that are still white.
Figure 7.

10. SQUEEZE BOTTLE OR TUBE OILING

Squeeze K&N Air Filter Oil onto each pleat. Let the filter sit for 20 minutes as the oil “wicks” into the surrounding filter media. Apply more Filter Oil to areas that are still white
Figure 8.

11. REINSTALL

Re-install your K&N Air Filter with care. In some applications, especially off-road use, it may be necessary to use K&N Sealing Grease on rubber base, top or end caps of the filter. Make sure the element seats properly in the filter housing. Install the cover and tighten all the nuts, bolts, screws or clips to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Figure 10.