K and N Air filter - Needs oil?

[dhmoose]

The Vans supplied air filter for the filtered air box didn't come with instructions of any kind but the filter has a note in the rubber that's states "oil before use". Having no experience with oiling an air filter, I searched K and N and found this:

http://www.knfilters.com/video/KN_Ai...r_cleaning.htm

The filter came with a red tint on the cotton which makes me think it may have already come oiled. Does anyone have any info on this? Do I oil it? Just install it as is?

Thanks in advance!

D

[Michael Henning]

Mine was already oiled.

[s24789]

Vans and ACS each sell a 'recharge' kit that has c a leaning solution and oil.

[humptybump]

The oil in the recharge kit is red. After cleaning, you lightly oil the filter and then let it rest while the oil wicks. This results in the entire filter area having that red tint.

[RV6_flyer]

Originally Posted by dhmoose

The Vans supplied air filter for the filtered air box didn't come with instructions of any kind but the filter has a note in the rubber that's states "oil before use". Having no experience with oiling an air filter, I searched K and N and found this:

http://www.knfilters.com/video/KN_Ai...r_cleaning.htm

The filter came with a red tint on the cotton which makes me think it may have already come oiled. Does anyone have any info on this? Do I oil it? Just install it as is?

Thanks in advance!

D

The SPECIAL K&N oil that goes on the filter is RED. The filter is WHITE in color without the oil.

When you clean the filter with the SPECIAL K&N cleaner, it will be WHITE to a whitish gray. A small amount of the SPECIAL K&N oil on each pleat will turn RED where the oil is. If you put the oil on to light, you will have WHITE spots that need more oil. Do not use too much oil when you use one of these filters on a vehicle that has an electronic mass air flow sensor as the excess oil will cause the electronic mass air flow sensor to not read correctly.

Since your filter is RED already, I would bet that it is already oiled. Try taking a piece of paper towel or Kleenex and place it against the filter for a few seconds. It should come away with some red oil on it.

[tomhanaway]

just replaced my K&N filter the other day.
It came with the reddish tint to the filter paper but, as some have mentioned, the rubber on the new in box filter stated Oil Before Using. I was pretty sure it was already oiled but called K&N tech.

They confirmed that they still have a bunch of rubber molds (with warning) from when the filters were shipped without pre-oiling. Still using those molds with the newer pre-oiled filters.

So....., if the filter is already pink or red, just install it. No oiling needed.

[Sam Buchanan]

Just as a data point;

If you need to service the K&N filter and don't have the "official" recharge kit handy......spraying on a dose of Simple Green followed by a gentle water rinse does a great job of cleaning the filter.

And reoiling with Marvel Mystery Oil after the filter has dried restores the red tint to the filter.

Of course, this is not the official way of servicing the filter, but..........

[dhmoose]

As always, I appreciate everyone's input and guidance. Sounds like I've got a pre-oiled filter with an old label. Good to know and good to learn that I need to clean and oil the filter in the future. Thanks!

D

[az_gila]

This might help.

It's the instructions for Challenger air filters (K&N for certified planes) -

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

[JonJay]

When you do need to clean and re-oil. You can pick up the oil at any 4x4 or motocycle shop relatively cheap. It will last you a long, long time.
I have two filters. I clean one and then keep it un-oiled until next CI. When the old one comes out, I clean it and set it aside so it has plenty of time to dry, like all year. I oil the spare that's been sitting for a year and away I go.