Dust Storm Aftermath

[Cruzmat]

Hey guys, just thought i'ld mention the huge jump in horse power after cleaning the K&N air filter in the Chrysler post dust storm.

Amazing the difference once the thing can breathe!!!

That's all I got.

Cheers,

Andy.

[wog boy]

I send you mine to clean too, thanks Andy

[M@ndrake]

ive got the AFE stage 2, the non oil one. how do you clean it? just take it off and run it under a hose?

[Hemi57]

Originally Posted by M@ndrake

ive got the AFE stage 2, the non oil one. how do you clean it? just take it off and run it under a hose?

"the non oil one" ?

I doubt that that is the right literal intent of the statement if provided by the manufacturer or supplier. The foam or cone type filters need cleaning and oiling with appropriate products. I use the K&N kit which has aerosol cleaner and aerosol oil pressure cans.

Without some sort of oiling agent there is little protection from dust and contaminants getting into the motor.

[Pusbum]

Originally Posted by Hemi57

"the non oil one" ?

I doubt that that is the right literal intent of the statement if provided by the manufacturer or supplier. The foam or cone type filters need cleaning and oiling with appropriate products. I use the K&N kit which has aerosol cleaner and aerosol oil pressure cans.

Without some sort of oiling agent there is little protection from dust and contaminants getting into the motor.

That could be correct if he has a synthetic filter.....like I do. Not that I know anything about the AFE but........

I ordered the K&N kit thinking that is what I needed but when i finally went to do it I found I was wrong. On the end of the filter it actually says "Do Not Oil". I have done some research and I have an AEM DryFlow. All the doco says not to oil it as it will degrade the filter. Appartently I am supposed to use the AEM cleaning solution and warm water. Apparently quicker to clean than the other style filter but harder to find the solution :-)

[stubbers]

Originally Posted by M@ndrake

ive got the AFE stage 2, the non oil one. how do you clean it? just take it off and run it under a hose?

I've got a Mopar CAI and it also has a "Do not oil" warning on the filter cone.. needs a clean though after the dust storms.. any thoughts on the best method? Tried blowing with air and worked to some degree.. but that red dust is a biatch as it has created a sticky residue.

[SRT4ME]

Hmmm, filters, I know a bit about that, been selling 'em for > 20 yrs now.

Anyway (yawn) filters use a number of mechanisms to remove the crap from the air supply.

Oil wetted filters use a mechanism called inertial impaction to remove the fine material & the oil is used to retain the collected debris. They are actually quite a coarse filter (to maximise air flow & reduce pressure losses). To operate effectively then they need cleaning & re-oiling regularly. Once the oil is all 'used up' & covered in dirt then the filter will revert to its non oiled state and the finer material will then penetrate the filter (as it won't be retained by the sticky oil).

The dry type filter work by a mechanism called direct interception (as do the oiled filters once the oil has lost it's stickyness!, but the oiled filter being a much coarser matrix, will allow more & larger crap through), to operate in this mode the filter is so fine that the crap is retained both on the surface and in the internal structure of the filter. They can be cleaned, but only of loosely retained material, anything that is well stuck in the filter won't be got out. Ideally they should also be cleaned regularly, if not the crap builds up internally & can't then be removed at all. Eventually the dry type WILL need totally replacing (like every service to be on the safe side).

Oiled Type filters
Advantage, good performance, low pressure drop (more oomph).
Disadvantage, needs cleaning & oiling regularly otherwise too much crap gets into the engine & wears out the upstream bits (valves, cylinder bores, rings etc.)

Dry type
Advantage, effective removal of fine material even when 'blocked', in fact this type of filter can improve, as regards filtration efficiency, as they block, but air flow is degraded so you shouldn't let it get this far.
Disadvantage, cannot be reliably & effectively cleaned unless this is done when they are only very partially blocked. Will block & starve the engine of air = reduced performance.

You pays yer money & you takes your choice.

[slang]

Great explanation....much appreciated.

[M@ndrake]

yeah, thanks mate!

[Pusbum]

Thanks for the info......so in summary I am heading out to buy a new filter :-)