How To Clean K&N Air Filter in Car

[@NewRoad]

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[@moistsquid741]

Always clean the MAF when you do this. Should really clean it every oil change because the oil from the filter will slowly deposit onto the sensor no matter how little you use

[@sheldonm3535]

I clean it once a year. Generally 15-25k miles. Regardless of the mileage I do it once a year. Never had issues. Ppl who have issues is Bc they put too much oil and don't wipe off excess oil and dry off. I've ran these filters with 15 years and every single car I've owned. Ranging from economy Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, VW GTi stage 2 Mk7, MK2 Tiguan, BMW N54, BMW M3.

[@acc1tester398]

how much is too much oil? are you only spraying oil in dirty side of filter?

[@urbanpeltier1622]

@@acc1tester398 yes

[@seethoe]

Thanks for the guidance. Great help!

[@NewRoad]

Glad it helped!

[@mmante78]

Best video on cleaning k&n filter. Btw I bought mine for my golf mk7. I owed my car for a year now and I just reach 10k miles. How long should I use my filter until I clean and recharge it? Thanks bud.

[@NewRoad]

Thank you Mark. Here is the answer from K&N: Cleaning your K&N Air Filter is not required if you can still see the wire screen on the entire air filter regardless of how dirty it may appear. If you have not experienced a decrease in mileage or engine performance, chances are your K&N air filter is fine and does not yet need to be cleaned. When the screen is no longer visible some place on the air filter, it is time to clean it. Check out these pictures of dirty and clean air filters to help determine if your K&N air filter needs cleaning. K&N replacement air filters that fit in the factory air box can go up to 50,000 miles before cleaning is required and large conical filters on a K&N air intake system can go up to 100,000 miles before needing to be cleaned, depending on your driving conditions. If your K&N air filter is used in dusty or off-road environments, they will require cleaning more often. We recommend that you visually inspect your air filter once every 25,000 miles to determine if the screen is still visible.

[@sudvag]

@@NewRoad Thanks for the advice on the visible wire screen. I always stick to the recommended durations. Just had my polen filter in for 5months in which I drove 30k kilometers, the polen was absolutely disgusting so I'm thinking to clean the air filter as well. Great and simple instructions, thanks!

[@NewRoad]

@@sudvag To be honest, I usually clean once a year... just a habit of doing some maintenance work every year even if it is overkill :-)

[@peterpimenow3246]

The filter cleaner should have been put into an aerosol spray can, not a pump. Your hand cramps up using the pump.

[@NewRoad]

agree and true, finger get tired at some point

[@evertonpatti1099]

Thanks buddy!! Very simple and easy

[@NewRoad]

Glad it helped

[@Tony6969ism]

Great vid.. thank 😬

[@NewRoad]

Glad it was helpful

[@Tony6969ism]

Very

[@quincywynder2636]

Now those was awesome steps💯🤘🏾

[@NewRoad]

Thank you!

[@quincywynder2636]

Yw💯

[@jeffbegay9771]

It's always best to clean your airflow sensor before reassemble filter, with airflow sensor spray...

[@3Metre]

Will this be fine to clean a foam filter?

[@Chanmantroop10]

only do it in the summer bc it will take forever to dry. also the chemicals are so bad in both the cleaner and oil I probably won't do it unless I have to

[@CuocsongoanMach]

Thank you for the marvelous guidance! This is just what I need to know. I have a question, I have bought a K&N air filter for my VW Polo a year ago when I bought my car, spare me I don't know much about car, I just bought it because I google here and there and I like K&N air filter. The K&N air filter that I bought still in the box, never open so now I want to install it, do you think I have to re-oil since it stay for a year in the box or it's good to install it?

[@NewRoad]

Thank you for your comments. No, you do not need to re-oil at all.

[@matrix2011m]

Thank you 😊

[@NewRoad]

You are welcome

[@TheEQUALIZER783]

Scotty said the oil on that filter is dangerous to your air sensor so better to use OEM? Would you guys agree?

[@NewRoad]

That would be correct statement if you put more than you need. Some people overspray

[@TheEQUALIZER783]

@@NewRoad Gotcha man, thanks!

[@JLZ-]

just bought the cleaner is it necessary to buy the oil as well? lmk

[@NewRoad]

Yes, you need to spray oil once filter is cleaned and dry

[@8msquared870]

thanks so much!

[@NewRoad]

You're welcome!

[@acc1tester398]

can you let the oil dry for 24hrs instead of 20mins before installing again?

[@NewRoad]

Yes, it doesn't dry though - it stay oily :-)

[@acc1tester398]

@@NewRoad what should be the appearance of clean side? I noticed that after 20mins of wick'ng the oil . Not all area in clean side is red-ish. Is that normal? I'm afraid I might over oil if I oil again the dirty side to wick it through the clean side again.

[@NewRoad]

@@acc1tester398 Yea, it's normal, but you shouldn't see much of oil on the other side

[@ferdinandludo8851]

two question: do you spray the oil on both sides ? 3rd question: after spraying on one or two sides, how many minutes do you install on your car ? thanks !

[@priceandpride]

he literally shows this in the video. spray both sides with cleaner, rinse off, dry overnight, spray with oil, wick for 20 min and install

[@dandoming]

@@priceandpride the video doesn't show OILING both sides, though it is implied and stated super briefly. Do you know with certainty if you are supposed to OIL both sides?

[@Wildwestwrangler]

@@dandoming yes most definitely oil both sides and don't forget to touch up lightly colored areas after 20 minutes on both sides

[@acc1tester398]

@@CaptainCharlie can you share the link?

[@khalidahmed1054]

Oil filter apply in each side or one side?

[@NewRoad]

One side, the info is in video

[@alexanderkim7241]

@@NewRoad either side on the video means - it doesn't matter bottom or the upside? But not both sides?

[@javaman2883]

Wish it was that easy to install my air filter. My manual tells me to remove the airbox and change the filter while the airbox is out of the vehicle, takes like 15 minutes.

[@NewRoad]

What car is it?

[@TheRealDJOsk]

Step 6.5- Make sure you rest the spray can next to the filter while you wait....

[@plaguex1]

Yessiree

[@kalani1987]

What are the ingredients in the cleaner?

[@NewRoad]

Not sure, try to check K&N site for more info

[@wbence93]

If the filter is brand new,came with oil on it ??

[@NewRoad]

New filter comes with oil, no need to do anything - install it!

[@wbence93]

@@NewRoad Thank you for the reply

[@sphinx5101]

That oil will go straight onto your air flow meter not only over time will it kill your airflow meter but as soon as a mist of oil gets on your airflow meters your car will lose power from the reading being wrong

[@NewRoad]

Only if you overspray and have more oil on the filter than required

[@acc1tester398]

will it cause check engine?

[@sphinx5101]

@@NewRoad even with good amount of spray it will still suck it up on hard acceleration I’m sure

[@jeffjackson9679]

Just oil the intake side of the filter. If you over oil it, or spray both sides the oil will screw up your MAF sensor.

[@vinjanderson]

Just to be clear, spray cleaner on both sides, but you only rinse the water & oil only one side? The side air comes through?

[@NewRoad]

Correct, you want wash dust/dirt off the filter. Basically, the water flow direction should be the same as air flow

[@Jeeper1378]

Ok so u would oil the dirty side (bottom in my case) or the clean side ?

[@NewRoad]

@@Jeeper1378 Dirty side since this is where air is coming into the filter

[@Jeeper1378]

NewRoad Adventures makes sense ty

[@Wildwestwrangler]

@@NewRoad the water flow should be opposite the air flow or you'll push dirt into the filter

[@AmericanFarmerHVAC2024]

What if you dry by force?

[@NewRoad]

Yes you can. I would suggest to blow in direction air flows in your intake

[@Sandro783]

Did you apply oil for each side of the filter or only for one?

[@NewRoad]

You need to apply only on one that face incoming air flow

[@el-hp1lj]

both

[@DM-uz7lf]

Just one, the bottom portion and flip it once its oiled to let it soak through the filters.

[@LeagueOfGorillas]

only the side that the air going through if u oil both the oil will be on ur cars oxigen senser and thats bad

[@ddm62571]

@@LeagueOfGorillas Doesn't come pre oiled on both sides when you buy it?

[@sudharshanvignesh]

Unfortunately, I sprayed the cleaner & made it dry for whole night, will that damage my filter ?

[@plaguex1]

I'd replace it asap. It's cheaper just changing it verses having a gumped up motor and having to get a new car potentially.

[@NewRoad]

K&N explicitly says - do not let it dry on the filter... there must be a good reason. I agree with Plague - better to replace filter than taking a risk

[@priceandpride]

step 1 - shake all that nastiness out of your filter

[@NewRoad]

If you have a lot that on your filter - then yes 😊