View Full Version : Better to Clean or Replace K&N Air Filter on AEM Intake?
SLaPiNFuNK
03-11-2003, 02:46 AM
is it better to just clean the air filter on the AEM or get a new filter all together?
ItzCryptic
03-11-2003, 03:30 AM
Probably BEST to replace. How much is the replacement vs. cleaning? Not sure if it would be worth the extra cost.
SLaPiNFuNK
03-11-2003, 07:06 AM
how much is a new one?
I dunno the prices, but while it might be a little better to have a completely new one. K&N Filters are intended to be cleaned and used again. They have stuff so you can wash and re-oil them. Its probably a lot cheaper to buy the cleaner stuff.
JScullin
03-11-2003, 10:21 AM
K&N Filters are $40 or so. Cleaner is $8-10 and can be used for over 10 cleanings, depending on where you live. I clean my every 5k because it seems to get pretty black after that and my MPG & performance takes a hit.
Not sure if this is one of those filters where they say "The dirtier it gets, the better it runs." Which I never understood, cause why clean it at all?
BrantlyJ
03-11-2003, 11:12 AM
The dirtier it gets, the better it runs."
Because every filter is basically some kind of media that has millions of tiny holes. In the case of K&N it's a figerglass media. That means that the media is really fine strands of glass. So there are different sized holes for the air to travel through. AS the filter collects larger particles it blocks the bigger holes. Obviuosly of the larger holes are blocked it cannot let larger particles through, thus it filters more efficently.
Now we are talking sizes in the microns here. to give you an example a grain of salt is 100 microns, a human hair is 40 microns wide. The filter is probably most efficant around 25 microns but will filter down to 5 microns. but not quite as well :)
Anyways to answer your question, K&N makes a cleaner. Use it following the directions on the back. They also make an oil. Use that as well. Don't go overboard other wise it will drip oil everywhere. You know it's time to clean when the filter looses it's red color and turns black. The oil is red so you know all the oil is used up and it's time to clean/oil.
B3NN3TT
03-11-2003, 12:10 PM
Those things have a "million mile warranty"- they're made to be cleaned and re-used. That's part of the reason why they cost so much!
Yeah, depending on where you shop, the cleaner kits are $8.99 to $15. You get 2 products- a cleaner, and an oil to re-coat it after it dries. It also comes with detailed instructions.Autozone or PepBoys should have the kits in stock.
slownfurious
03-11-2003, 01:02 PM
is the filter that comes with AEM really a K&N ? im almost positive the one that comes with the injen isnt a K&N. seems to cheap to be a K&N if i were to go with a new filter i would get a apexi.. its $80 just for a filter but its proven to have better airflow and its a dry filter
RigaTony00
03-11-2003, 01:54 PM
Just curious, cause I have a K&N too, how often does everyone else clean theirs? The instructions say every 50,000 to 100,000 miles, but that sounds kinda high. :confused:
Tony
BrantlyJ
03-11-2003, 02:25 PM
Originally posted by: RigaTony00
Just curious, cause I have a K&N too, how often does everyone else clean theirs? The instructions say every 50,000 to 100,000 miles, but that sounds kinda high. :confused:
Tony
Did you read my post above??? it tells you excatly when to clean it.
JScullin
03-11-2003, 02:43 PM
I clean mine when it gets black or during an oil change while I wait for the car to fully drain.
FLuiDSVT
03-11-2003, 07:24 PM
I clean mine every 8-10K or when it's dirty....More frequent lately. I would ditch the small ass AEM intake and get a real filter and a generic MAF adapter. The AEM uses a small 3" flange filter and MAF adapter. You will be much better off with something larger...think "filter area"
I run a K&N filter that is 3 1/2" flange, 5" wide, and 8 1/2" long!!
SLaPiNFuNK
03-12-2003, 06:37 AM
oh well i thought it was a K&N... guess it could be the Ingen... Id have to look..
where can i find a K&N to replace my dirtay arse filter with :)
caenus
03-12-2003, 08:52 AM
k&n makes tons of different size filters. I know the Injen uses a K&N filter, and I'm sure the AEM one does as well. Weapon R doesn't ... it has a different material if I remember correctly.
Also, if you still have stock air box and put in a drop in k&n filter, I think you replace those rather then cleaning like the cone filters.
BrantlyJ
03-12-2003, 11:17 AM
Originally posted by: SLaPiNFuNK
oh well i thought it was a K&N... guess it could be the Ingen... Id have to look..
where can i find a K&N to replace my dirtay arse filter with :)
If you have the AEM intake you have the K&N filter. just clean it and don't worry about it.
SLaPiNFuNK
03-13-2003, 02:26 AM
Originally posted by: BrantlyJ
Originally posted by: SLaPiNFuNK
oh well i thought it was a K&N... guess it could be the Ingen... Id have to look..
where can i find a K&N to replace my dirtay arse filter with :)
If you have the AEM intake you have the K&N filter. just clean it and don't worry about it.
see thats what i thought!
now i gotta get off my lazy ass and find the cleaning stuff.. then clean it..