View Full Version : Air Filter Cleaning / Recharge


Defcon_Designs
10-16-2004, 04:57 AM
Feel free to move this wher ei should have put it in the first place :?

OK ive never written a tutorial before but here goes my first shot, pay no attention to spelling typos or grahmer </)=- lol if you feel the need, post a spelling tutorial for me..lol

So I deceided to recharge my Injen Air Intake Element today , lucky for you i had my camera and an assistant to take pics 8)

First of all K&N and Injen Filter elements are both K&N Filters , Infact the injen kit even comes with the filter bagged in a K&N Bag... , im not too sure about cleaning the elements on other kits but im sure someone will folowup. (If your concearned and have no clue what an element is hang tight for now)

You will need One Recharge Kit (Available at Auto Zone , Pep Boys , Advanced , You get the picture

You can just ask but incase your self sufficient person heres a picture of what you will need and the contents.

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/kit.jpghttp://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/kitcontents.jpg

You will also need a Ratchet and a 10mm Socket ( i hope you dont need pics of these)
and if your filter is especially dirty a soft bristle brush

Chances are you will most definetly have to remove your battery for easy removal of your intake system. As seen below it would not be an easy task to remove it with the battery in there :shock:
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/1.jpg

So go to work with that 10mm socket and ratchet and get that sucker out of there

Remove the Negative (-) battery cable from the post.
Remove the Positive(+) battery cable formt he post.
Remove the two 10mm nuts that secure the battery hold down (be careful not to lose the rods!)

ok now i cannot really procede with step by step instruction for removal of your air intake kit becaus it varys on wich one you have.

After your battery is out it should be quick and easy work removing the intake piping and element.

this should resemble what you see.
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/elementandpiping.jpg

remove the Element from the Piping , in this case its just a large hose clamp holding it on (easily removable with a flat head screwdriver)

Now you should have this:
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/seperated.jpg

now the fun begins :!:

Open your recharge kit and check for the parts i mentioned above.

Tap the element to dislodge any large embedded dirt. , Then gently brush with your soft bristle brush.


Spray the cleaner liberally onto the entire element
Let the element soak for 10 mins
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/spraycleaner.jpg


Rinse off the element with low pressure water, tap water is ok.
:PAY ATTENTION HERE: Always flush form the clean side of the filter into the dirty side. this removes the dirt and does not drive it into the filter deeper.
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/washelement.jpg

Next let the element dry
After rinsing shake off the excess water and let the element dry NATURALLY
No Compressed air
No Fires
No Hair dryers or heat guns
NATURALLY!
Compressed air will blow holes into the element fibers rendering it useless
And Excess heat will shrink the fibers restricing air and robbing HP!
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/dryingfilter.jpg

After your element is dry its time to re-oil it.
The oil found in the recharger kit has red dye , (K&N filters are whitle like all others , the red coloring comes from the dye in the oil. The oil is the most effective part of the filtering process and should never be forgotten!) The oil is red so you can efficently apply the oil to the element with without missing any sections or spots.

http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/oilnfilter.jpg

Take your oil (weather it be squeeze bottle or aeresol) and apply it to your filter element. wait 20 mins and check for white spots. if any remain oil the spots as nessecary and let oil set for 5 mins.
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/oilapply.jpg

Now your cleaning is complete !

Reattach your element to your intake piping and install the intake system back into the vehicle. be sure to reconect any electrical connections an/or hoses/lines.

Your Scion now has a noce clean filter and is ready for action

Performance Hints:
Service every 50,000 - 100,000 Miles on street drivern aplications.
Service more often in offroad or heavy dust conditions

Hope you found this helpfull and enjoy your clean filter :D

Fujiz_xb
03-10-2005, 04:06 AM
nice write up

THE_DON
09-02-2005, 04:57 PM
Take your oil (weather it be squeeze bottle or aeresol) and apply it to your filter element. wait 20 mins and check for white spots. if any remain oil the spots as nessecary and let oil set for 5 mins.
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/intake_filter_recharge/oilapply.jpg


My kit came with a stupid squeeze bottle of oil instead of a spay can.

Does anybody know exacly HOW MUCH oil to put on the filter? I don't want to over do it.

My filter was FILTHY by the way, after only 20,000 miles.

-THE DON

TheScionicMan
10-27-2005, 05:00 PM
How long does it take for the filter to dry naturally? Are we talking a few hours, overnight, or longer?

THE_DON
10-27-2005, 05:34 PM
How long does it take for the filter to dry naturally? Are we talking a few hours, overnight, or longer?

Mine was dry in about 3 hrs.

-THE DON

LA-tC
11-18-2005, 10:39 PM
:clap: :clap: GREAT POST

Big_Bird
12-30-2005, 09:22 PM
yeah, nice write up

bunburiano_chilepicking
01-07-2006, 01:38 PM
i like you step by step instructions

bunburiano_chilepicking
02-20-2006, 02:53 PM
thanks man i was wondering how to do it i was planning to use a dryer to dry it lol

fishingexpert87
11-24-2006, 03:49 AM
omg, i should of seen this earlier, i think i did it completly bad, basically after using the spray, i dunked it into a bucket of water, than sprayed it all out until clear water came out from every side, than i used a blow dryer to dry it, sigh. did i seriously kill my intake cone? sigh it still sucks in so much air because i i have this fan thing to blow in it and so much of the air came out so quick. so idk!!!

Spect2K3
12-01-2006, 04:50 AM
how often do you guys go between cleanings?

Is the aem dryflow filter any better since it doesn't use the oil?

Same length between cleaning/replacement for the dry and wet filters?

Bubble2Box
04-22-2007, 07:06 PM
:clap:
Great tech article. Only thing, I couldn't get my Typhoon off. The headlight assembly was in the way. I ended up taking off the bumper--which had to be done to put the intake on. Maybe something different about the 06's. Anyway, it worked great and gave me an excuse to clear the corners......
Thanks for posting

Bubble2Box
04-22-2007, 07:09 PM
Oh, BTW, the intake has been on for about a year, around 30K miles and was not as dirty as I thought it would be.

hawgs74
04-23-2007, 04:21 PM
Thanx

B1uEsC1uEs
04-28-2007, 03:39 PM
does it have to be COMPLETELY dry? cause my filter is just moist right now. left it overnight at the garage to dry.

B1uEsC1uEs
04-28-2007, 03:42 PM
btw, thats before oiling it.

GQQSE13
04-29-2007, 09:23 PM
thanks for the info. any idea which is the best filter/cai to use?

amdforever
04-29-2007, 09:35 PM
does it have to be COMPLETELY dry? cause my filter is just moist right now. left it overnight at the garage to dry.

Although I'm not 100% sure of this, I'm going to say yes. Mainly b/c simple science...water and oil don't mix so it may not let the oil get to the filter. Not to mention if you put it on the car with water and then go WOT you risk sucking in the left over water. If its mostly dry that part would not be a problem but if a good bit is then you may have issues with it messing up your MAF sensor.

GammaTNT
05-25-2007, 05:42 AM
so the K&N recharger is safe on Injen filter?

mengsta
11-03-2007, 08:44 AM
lol to bring this thread back.. yes it safe and o yeah for some reason weapon-r is saying that their filters are dry flow also. so no oil needed

jjonnyj5
12-31-2007, 06:50 AM
make sure that you allow ample time for the oil to dry because i did'nt know that and put the filter back on in a matter of 30 mins. this messed up the mass airflow sensor and got some oil into the injectors. so the dealer graciously fixed it free of charge (because they did'nt know :D) they had to clean the entire intake system

amdforever
12-31-2007, 07:02 AM
make sure that you allow ample time for the oil to dry because i did'nt know that and put the filter back on in a matter of 30 mins. this messed up the mass airflow sensor and got some oil into the injectors. so the dealer graciously fixed it free of charge (because they did'nt know :D) they had to clean the entire intake system


Are you serious? Oil in the injectors? :rofl: WOW, if you did not pay them for cleaning your injectors because I would've felt really bad for you. There is no way oil got into your injectors, the air doesn't go through them, they fire into the intake path, not the other way around. Even if you managed to get the oil in them some how, just a few secs at WOT would blow it out through the atomizing process.

hawgs74
12-31-2007, 02:55 PM
No but u can get oil on your MAF which can cause it to fail. Thats why I switched to a AEM dryflow.

mengsta
12-31-2007, 05:19 PM
Yeah does anyone know if weapon-r is dryflow too? Seems like they are just being cheap now and not making any oil.

riboflavin
01-20-2008, 05:27 PM
I need to clean my injen air filter soon. Thanx for the writing!

Nastos
01-23-2008, 10:52 PM
anyone have a fujita cone? i never oiled it i dont know if i need to or not.

azureloki
02-03-2008, 06:37 PM
hmm these steps and products won't apply to fujita cone will it?

CSUnited14
02-16-2008, 03:30 AM
Hmmm before ever reading this i cleaned my Injen intake filter with compressed Air.. i didn't think about damaging it... do you think that i may of damaged the cone and i should buy a new one.. i only have about 15k on the intake and filter.

stew32
02-16-2008, 01:09 PM
anyone have a fujita cone? i never oiled it i dont know if i need to or not.I'd also thought Fujita was oiled because of the color but the website says...Cleaning the air filter is simple and can be done using soapy, lukewarm water, and let air dry. The Super Flow High Performance Air Filter™ contains a synthetic fiber that does not contain any oil.

SWTCKID
02-21-2008, 03:18 AM
goin to be using this hopfully this weekend

brionxB
03-02-2008, 08:54 AM
if you can clean the filter about every 50k miles or 100k miles... how often do you have to change the filter?

and if you have to change the filter, do you have to use an injen filter for let's say the Injen CAI (RD2105), or can you use the K&N filter...

SWTCKID
03-16-2008, 07:04 PM
if u let it dry in the sun is that like using a blow drier? will it sshrink it a lil

chicotunner07
11-19-2008, 05:34 PM
NEWS FLASH!!!

just read this thread over at the Lexus IS forums and found the info to be pretty helpful!

http://my.is/forums/f88/best-method-4-cleaning-any-cotton-gauze-type-filters-ever-188702/

you get a bucket, use 2 scoops of Oxy-Clean (scoop included) then 3-4 liters of Soda Water (club-soda), dip your filter for about 5 minutes and watch all the dirt and grime float to the top!!

then repeat the usual steps of Air Drying and Oiling!

Cant wait to try this myself!

gp1817
08-10-2009, 11:46 PM
so after reading this thread i went to my pepboys and autozone stores none of them had the K&N one but they had the Speed by Spectre one the guy said it does the samething as the K&N one...i just want to make sure its safe to use with the Injen filter

jct
08-11-2009, 02:57 AM
too bad it doesn't work on stock paper filters

gp1817
08-17-2009, 09:20 PM
wouldnt be worth doing it on the stock ones anyway..and plus there no dye on stock..cheap to replace anyway....Intake equals more power car can breathe

kayi078
02-27-2010, 05:15 AM
nice writeup!

jtazn728
07-01-2011, 09:15 PM
great write up i was going to clean my filter but had no clue how but with the help of this write up i now have a better idea.

carlbug
07-20-2011, 09:06 AM
I tried to do it myself, but without success... I am a stupid guy

HoldFastHope
09-05-2011, 12:01 AM
So, it says to spray cleaner on both sides of the filter. Does this mean inside of the filter as well?

SH0RTBUS
10-26-2011, 08:22 PM
After spraying on the cleaner I fill up a 5 gallon bucket with water and let the filter soak for a few minutes . Let it dry over night then apply the oil.