How to clean AFE filter?
 

Hey all, my truck came with an AFE Stage 2 pro guard 7 air filter on it...I have been investigating why my boost numbers are so low (never get about 15 psi) and i was checking out the intake and it is pretty dirty and I noticed the filter minder was pulled all the way down to 100% used/replace. So I am thinking I might have found a possible cause of my problem.

My question is I am assuming these filters are cleanable. I had a K and N on my old truck and still have the cleaning products for it. Can i use them on the AFE? Also my old filter was a drop in where as this one is a cone. What is the cleaning prodecure?

Thanks alot guys

AFE has it's own cleaning kit and oil, I also have the K&N kit fro my Jeep and was told when I bought the AFE using the K&N stuff was a big no-no...I don't know what the dif is but I bought the AFE stuff anyway...

Was told by several to ONLY use the AFE stuff on the AFE filter and that a dingy look does not mean its not clean.

I bought a second filter to allow me the time between changes for proper service. Here's what I do. For cleaning I put 1/2 gallon of simple green in a 5 gallon bucket and fill it the rest of the way with straight hot water from the tap. Put the filter in cone down and slap the lid on it for about an hour. The dirt will settle to the bottom and the oil will rise to the top. Pull the lid and drain off the oil on top. This way when you pull the filter up out of the water the dirty oil won't flow back into the filter. Stand the filter up on the cone end and let it drain and dry for a day or two. I don't blow them out or use heat to dry them.

Here's the trick. After the filter is dry I over oil the heck out of it. I even go back over it the next day to make sure I didn't miss and small areas on the ends. Then I put it in a plastic bag with the small cone end down and place it back in the box. Throw it on the shelf and forget about it until you need it. When you come back for it in a month or two you'll notice that the excess oil has drained out into the plastic bags and the filter saturation will be dead even all across the filter and it will look brand new. This will give you perfect coverage and the exact same oiling every time.

Richard @ GDP

I also have a second Pro-Guard 7 filter and use Simple Green to clean in a 5 gallon bucket. Also use the AFE oil to re-oil after let dry for couple days. I use a Pre-Filter, so not hard to get clean. Seems to work very well.

what do you guys recommend as a replacement "interim" filter? preferably I can pick up from a local parts store ie: Pep Boys, Autozone, Kragen, Napa, etc. etc.

Rockguy, You don't need to buy another filter. Just wash it with the Simple green or dish soap in a bucket. Shake it out as best as you can then oil the heck out of it, even with your K&N oil. Install it in your truck and then drive it for ten minutes. Any extra moisture or oil in the filter will not effect your engine at all. Re-oil it when you get back, or the next day, and your all set. Good luck. Thanks for the reminder to clean my filter [duhhh]

I like the simple green cleaning method alot better. i bought the afe service kit and that dang little hair spray bottle gave me carpel tunnel pumping it so much [laugh] Simple green is safe though because i dont want to destroy that expensive filter

I bought the kit followed the direction. soaked it with cleaner let it sit per direction. rinsed then let air dry for serval hours. Oiled it and let it sit per the directions. Hooked back up and drove it. Looked at filter and looks like it did out of the box no light spot. fuel mileage and boost up egt down. nothing drastic but improvements. Friend of mine uses the k&n kit on his the last 3 times still working great.

Ok, I just got an AFE replacement filter for the OEM stock airbox. I need to clean it. I don't have any directions with it. I would like to try the simple green as it seems safe to use from reading everyones comments. How long should I soak the filter and how long should I let it dry? I plan on buying the oil from AFE. Any other good methods on cleaning?

Thanks

Depending on how dirty. Brush off with soft bristle brush. Soak for about 5 minutes. Rinse throughly not high pressure. If it still looks dirty do it again. Let air dry until completely dry, will vary on humidity and temp. Then spray on AFE oil, wide spray pattern 10-12 inches from filter. Let sit for an hour. See if any light spots and spray specific areas. If there is excess oil lightly wipe it off.

Have you had any problems with oil getting on your IAT sensor. I would think oiling it that much would require that you clean the sensor.

sounds good. thanks

I just bought my pro guard 7 drop in today. I didn't get the cleaning kit yet. Can I slap it in w/out any oil? I am driving down to FL tomm and would like to compare it to the stock one.

It has to have oil on it to work properly. If it's bone dry from the factory don't use it. If it's got oil on it from when it was made then you'll probably be ok.