Cleaning a Foam Air Filter is as important as lubricating the drive
chain before each ride. This time to prevent severe engine damage.
ALWAYS make sure your filter is clean, greased in with Filter Oil and
reattached properly.
foam air filter
ATV's come standard with Foam Air Filters. If you have a K&N air filter, check out how to Clean K&N Air Filter.
No matter where you ride, how you ride or how long you ride, the air filter will always get dirty. So regularly check your air filter, especially if you ride your ATV with an open air lid.
I have to say, I clean my air filter after each ride and never had to replace it ever, nor did I ever have engine damage caused by a dirty filter.
Subjects discussed in this article:
· How to clean the air filter?
· How to grease in the air filter?
How to clean the air filter?
- Take off the seat,
- Take off the air box air lid,
- Unscrew the air filter,
- Put a cloth inside the air intake tube leading to the carburetor to prevent dust, dirt & water from entering,
- Clean air box & air lid, (while the cloth still present)
There are two possible ways to clean a foam air filter: (A or B)
A. Clean with Filter Cleaner
B. Clean with Water & Soap
A. Clean with Filter Cleaner
- Get a bucket, pore in some warm water and carefully squeeze or push out the dirt,
WARNING:
Never wring out the air filter! You might tear it or get holes in it.
- Remove the dirty water, pore in some Filter Cleaner and immerse the air filter for 3-5 minutes and carefully squeeze or push out the dirt again,
TIP: You might consider putting on some rubber gloves.
clean air filter
(carefully squeeze out the dirt)
(NEVER wring out!)
- Take out the air filter,
- Squeeze the air filter close to dry,
- Wash the air filter clean under a warm water tap and until all Filter Cleaner is completely washed out,
- Lay down the air filter on a clean spot (clean cloth or piece of newspaper) to dry,
- Once completely dry, follow the steps in How to grease in the air filter.
B. Clean with Water & Soap
- Get a bucket filled with warm water and carefully squeeze out the dirt,
WARNING: Never wring out the air filter! You might tear it or get holes in it.
- Remove the dirty water, pore in warm water & soap and repeat the squeezing,
- Wash the air filter clean under a warm water tap and untill all the soap is completely washed out,
- Squeeze the air filter close to dry,
- Lay down the air filter on a clean spot to dry, (clean cloth or piece of newspaper)
WARNING: DO NOT lay down the air filter on a radiator and DO NOT put it in a microwave oven!
- Once completely dry, follow the steps in How to grease in the air filter.
How to grease in the air filter?
An air filter doesn't only need cleaning, it also needs to be greased in with Filter Oil to prevent tinny particles of dust to penetrate the air filter.
Using (blue) Filter Oil you can grease in the air filter. You can also use motor oil. But don't let anyone fool you can also do it with sunflower oil or any other type of oil.
- Put on some rubber gloves and evenly rub in the Filter Oil.
grease foam air filter
(grease in with Filter Oil)
TIP: Another easy way to manage this without gloves is by taking a plastic grocery bag, put the air filter in together with some Filter Oil, close up the bag and give it a good massage. No need for gloves then.
Next, make sure you DON'T LEAVE the air filter extremely GREASY to ensure a good airflow! Take some kitchen paper or a newspaper and roll the air filter in it. Squeeze out and rub off as much redundant grease as possible.
- Put the air filter back in your (cleaned) air box and let it dry for about 24 hours to ensure maximum airflow.
Now we're talking about a highly maintained and clean foam air filter!
foam air filter
ATV's come standard with Foam Air Filters. If you have a K&N air filter, check out how to Clean K&N Air Filter.
No matter where you ride, how you ride or how long you ride, the air filter will always get dirty. So regularly check your air filter, especially if you ride your ATV with an open air lid.
I have to say, I clean my air filter after each ride and never had to replace it ever, nor did I ever have engine damage caused by a dirty filter.
Subjects discussed in this article:
· How to clean the air filter?
· How to grease in the air filter?
How to clean the air filter?
- Take off the seat,
- Take off the air box air lid,
- Unscrew the air filter,
- Put a cloth inside the air intake tube leading to the carburetor to prevent dust, dirt & water from entering,
- Clean air box & air lid, (while the cloth still present)
There are two possible ways to clean a foam air filter: (A or B)
A. Clean with Filter Cleaner
B. Clean with Water & Soap
A. Clean with Filter Cleaner
- Get a bucket, pore in some warm water and carefully squeeze or push out the dirt,
WARNING:
Never wring out the air filter! You might tear it or get holes in it.
- Remove the dirty water, pore in some Filter Cleaner and immerse the air filter for 3-5 minutes and carefully squeeze or push out the dirt again,
TIP: You might consider putting on some rubber gloves.
clean air filter
(carefully squeeze out the dirt)
(NEVER wring out!)
- Take out the air filter,
- Squeeze the air filter close to dry,
- Wash the air filter clean under a warm water tap and until all Filter Cleaner is completely washed out,
- Lay down the air filter on a clean spot (clean cloth or piece of newspaper) to dry,
- Once completely dry, follow the steps in How to grease in the air filter.
B. Clean with Water & Soap
- Get a bucket filled with warm water and carefully squeeze out the dirt,
WARNING: Never wring out the air filter! You might tear it or get holes in it.
- Remove the dirty water, pore in warm water & soap and repeat the squeezing,
- Wash the air filter clean under a warm water tap and untill all the soap is completely washed out,
- Squeeze the air filter close to dry,
- Lay down the air filter on a clean spot to dry, (clean cloth or piece of newspaper)
WARNING: DO NOT lay down the air filter on a radiator and DO NOT put it in a microwave oven!
- Once completely dry, follow the steps in How to grease in the air filter.
How to grease in the air filter?
An air filter doesn't only need cleaning, it also needs to be greased in with Filter Oil to prevent tinny particles of dust to penetrate the air filter.
Using (blue) Filter Oil you can grease in the air filter. You can also use motor oil. But don't let anyone fool you can also do it with sunflower oil or any other type of oil.
- Put on some rubber gloves and evenly rub in the Filter Oil.
grease foam air filter
(grease in with Filter Oil)
TIP: Another easy way to manage this without gloves is by taking a plastic grocery bag, put the air filter in together with some Filter Oil, close up the bag and give it a good massage. No need for gloves then.
Next, make sure you DON'T LEAVE the air filter extremely GREASY to ensure a good airflow! Take some kitchen paper or a newspaper and roll the air filter in it. Squeeze out and rub off as much redundant grease as possible.
- Put the air filter back in your (cleaned) air box and let it dry for about 24 hours to ensure maximum airflow.
Now we're talking about a highly maintained and clean foam air filter!
