DIY Cleaning of K&N Performance Filter


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Akash1886

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Buddies,

As you know my CITY Ivtec has a K&N Performance Filter, So since the purchase in April 2014, that filter was not cleaned since the cleaning kit was not available at most of the outlets and secondly I am too lazy to buy it online.[lol]

So today, I decided to clean the K&N Filter at home itself. First I took it out and placed the stock air-filter in the car.

After that the cleaning process began. Here's what you need for cleaning:

1) 1 Stock Air-Filter, Do not leave the stock filter with the outlet once you upgrade to K&N. The stock filter comes handy when you plan to clean the K&N as the performance filter takes 1 full day to dry after cleaning.

2) A Bucket full of warm water. 60:40 ratio.

3) A Stool to sit.

4) An old trouser or track pant. To blend-in with feel of being a auto-mechanic[:)].

K&N Filter before the cleaning.

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Bucket of Water

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The cleaning was done using bucket water and a hand shower. It is similar to cleaning the Room-AC filter. Only difference is the use of warm water.

After cleaning the filter.

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Dirt in Water.

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The K&N Filter is though much better than stock but it needs cleaning after 15k or 20k KM since the weather in India is really dusty and polluted. It can't go on till 50K KM unless its cleaned.

This is a DIY which took me only 20 minutes and a cup of tea. So, for me buying a cleaning kit worth 1000-1200 is not needed as I can well take care of it at home. Have kept the filter to dry in my room and will replace it on Friday.

Any more queries are most welcome.

Hope the DIY helps you all.

Regards

Akash
 
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Knew that[lol]. The R&D specialist in you woke up! Its the ratio of Hot and Cold water.
Sir, curse me for the way I was bought up (by bunch of logical bosses) Going by the same logic didn't you expect the next question? What is the temperature of hot & cold water here? [evil] Because I was taught warmness of water is indicated in temperature rather than ratio.

PS: Got this habit when I used to interview candidates. Keep on asking them from their own statements to make them spell out what I expect. Excuse me
 
Thread Starter #6

Akash1886

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Nice DIY! Does this work for a stock filter as well?
No Shrid, it won't work on stocks. Warm water is combo of hot and cold water mixed together.

Now let me also put down the process of attaining the warm water[lol]

Open both knobs of the tap and fill the bucket to brim. Put your finger and guess the temperature.

Going by the same logic didn't you expect the next question? What is the temperature of hot & cold water here? [evil] Because I was taught warmness of water is indicated in temperature rather than ratio.
Off-course, next time Satish, I'll put a temperature gauge in bucket don't worry dear.:biggrin: I was thanking myself that you didn't ask me the temperature in 1st post itself.

Regards

Akash
 
Thread Starter #7

Akash1886

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Buddies,

Placed the cleaned K&N filter back in my car after keeping it to dry for almost 2 days. The difference I felt after placing the K&N filter was that the acceleration in the car became slightly more as I drove the car for about 5 km after placing it. I found this difference instantly as I have driven my car with stock filter for past 2 days.

Some Pics of placing K&N back!

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Regards

Akash
 
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Thread Starter #11

Akash1886

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Won't the cloth fibres get spoiled up in contact with water?
And sir, usually service guys either clean it with air compressor set up or replace it,that's why doubtful whether this method prove as a boon or bane.
Vishnu, its a fibre but not exactly a cloth fibre. Air compressor is to be avoided in K&N. The pressure may damage the thin wire-mesh. Its not that cheap either that it may be replaced like a stock filter at every 10K kms. The filter costed me 5400/- for Ivtec. The method I used, has been successful for me. I really can't comment if its a boon or not but since I have placed it back, my car has been driven to almost 60-70 km without an issue!

It is an effective DIY solution since the cleaning kit of K&N is not easy to source in person from outlets. It can be purchased online though. But, my laziness, made me avoid it.

Regards

Akash
 
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I'm shocked[shock]

*By doing so, a good amount of oil must have washed away along with the dirt.(Even though you didn't use any detergent)
*They recommend to clean using water with normal temperature, not warm.
*Water should be poured from the cleaner side to the dusters side. If poured from the dustier side to cleaner side then the dust particles are going to stuck inside the filter panel.(Reason for saying this since you didn't mention about the cleaning procedure. But still I hope you must have taken care of it)

Remember, K&N filters do have much bigger holes compared to the stock paper filters, but still K&N filters the dust particle using the method called adsorption. Its gonna leave large amount of dust particles inside, if not oiled properly.
 
Thread Starter #13

Akash1886

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I'm shocked
Remember, K&N filters do have much bigger holes compared to the stock paper filters, but still K&N filters the dust particle using the method called adsorption. Its gonna leave large amount of dust particles inside, if not oiled properly.
I made sure of dust particles and after 2 days of drying it, there has been not a single dust particle left inside. You see, it has proved a viable alternative for me and hasn't caused any hassle so far to the car dear.

Oiling etc is needed if its cleaned using a K&N cleaning kit. But my way of cleaning could be called as "Desi"[lol]

Regards

Akash
 
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K&N Recharger kits (cleaning spray + filter Oil) are available at the range of 1K in shops and can be used upto 3-4 times (Available in most of the shops who sell K&N filters). Applying the oil after cleaning completely rejuvenates and leave the filter almost looking new. Me too shocked seeing a performance component washed just like a carpet mat or MF cloth![surprise]. No jet of water used in the right direction, but just dunked the filter into a bucket!! Its an integral part and you are going to use it for a longer miles unlike the stock filter. It won't affect the life of the filter?

Oiling etc is needed if its cleaned using a K&N cleaning kit.
Why so[confused]?. Any alternate step involved in your method that it doesn't need filter oil?. IMO it sounds like someone saying I have washed my car thoroughly, So I don't need to wax it!
 
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Thread Starter #15

Akash1886

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K&N Recharger kits (cleaning spray + filter Oil) are available at the range of 1K in shops and can be used upto 3-4 times (Available in most of the shops who sell K&N filters).
I had checked with the Reliance Autozone they did not have the KIT. Then I did not get time to dig in further outlets dear so tried out this method and up-till now, all is well![:D]

It won't affect the life of the filter?
Lets hope for the long life of my car's K&N[:)]

Why your method don't need filter oil? Any alternate step involved?
See, Oil comes as a part of the kit so as I did not have the kit so no oil and even in absence of Oil, the filter has not shown as signs of wear and tear buddy.

I'll post an update about it after driving the car for 2000-3000 kms.

Regards

Akash
 

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