Air filter change....How often?

[painless]

I am finishing up my conditional inspection and am wondering how often it is recommended to replace or recharge the airfilter in our FAB's.

The easy response would be every year, but I am more interested in actual number of hours and under what conditions.

Thanks in advance

[N941WR]

If you have the K&N filter you never replace it, just clean it and put it back in.

Any auto parts store should have the cleaning K&N cleaning kit.

[Kyle Boatright]

Originally Posted by painless

I am finishing up my conditional inspection and am wondering how often it is recommended to replace or recharge the airfilter in our FAB's.

The easy response would be every year, but I am more interested in actual number of hours and under what conditions.

Thanks in advance

Jeff,

I take a good look at mine through the intake opening periodically. When the filter appears dirty to me, I remove it and clean it. That's usually every year and a half or two years.

For reference, I fly about 75 hours/year, typically off of hard surfaces in a non-dusty environment.

[zilik]

According to their website the filter filters better when dirty. Flow does not seem to go down as it gets dirty. Since I don't know how dirty is good I clean mine every two years or 400 hours, wcf.

I have also replace the filter. Avgas seems to shrink the rubber portion of the filter which is probably no big deal but I got a case of filters years ago or $4/filter so why not change them out when they shrink.

[LifeofReiley]

What Gary just said... if you're on a paved field and dust and sand/dirt is not a problem, fly on. These K&N filters are great!

[painless]

Thanks guys. I have been using the "peek through the air intake" method for the last couple of years. The filter looks pretty clean to me, so I have not messed with it.

They work better when they are dirty? Works for me!

[az_gila]

...that apply to certified aircraft owners who have paid $150 for a $4 filter - ahh... the price of FAA paperwork...

Quoted from their FAQ -

Q: How many times can I reclean the air filter?

A: Filters can be cleaned up to 25 times or 2500 hours.

Q: How do I know when to clean the air filter?

A: Filter must be cleaned every calendar year, 100 hours or sooner in dusty conditions.

Of course, being Experimental, these do not apply, but should be a good guideline.
As a comparison, my Tiger K&N filter has more surface area for the same 180 HP than the one Vans supplies.

Full instructions here -

http://www.challengeraviation.com/Ch...%208-31-05.pdf


- I got mine before Challenger (the K&N aircraft dept.) doubled their prices. It ends up that the filter is a 60's Dodge one, but it is stamped "FAA/PMA" in the rubber surround - what a scam!

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by N941WR

If you have the K&N filter you never replace it, just clean it and put it back in.

Any auto parts store should have the cleaning K&N cleaning kit.

Just clean it, re-oil it, and then put it back on.

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by Mike S

Just clean it, re-oil it, and then put it back on.

True. The oil is in the cleaning kit.

[Sam Buchanan]

Originally Posted by N941WR

True. The oil is in the cleaning kit.

Mine gets cleaned with Simple Green, gently rinsed with water, dried on the ramp in front of the hangar, and rejuvenated with oil that comes out of the big red Marvel Mystery Oil jug.