The best way to clean a K&N

[Shurv]

I'm servicing my 1150GS, I need to clean my K&N ,what is the best way to do this.Is it simply a blow job with an airline or is there more to be done. Also, there is a bit of oil in the bottom of the airbox,i found this when I undid the drain plug.A/ Should I be concerned by this, or is it just a bit of overfill when I last topped up the oil.B/ does it matter if it stays there.The K&N is not affected by this.Thanks Guys.

Marcus.

 

[Big Lad]

K&N sell a spray cleaner for the filter. You can buy a cleaner and oil spray in a box. I'd stick with the K&N spray, as it's an expensive mistake if you bugger the filter up and crap gets in the engine.

The oil ( if it is engine oil ) is blown through into the air box if you over-fill a little. I've had a little oil in the airbox and never had a problem. If it's K&N oil then you've probably used too much when you oiled it.

 

[Shurv]

Cheers mate

 

[andy malton]

K & N

You can buy the proper cleaner/oil from boy racer shops or Halfords,I wouldn't use anything else on it though .I always have a little oil in my airbox too,but it's not engine it's filter oil.
Plus I always spray the inside of my airbox with it too,keeps the filter cleaner for longer

 

[cookie]

it's a 50K mile operation IIRC. no need to do it too often.

i've never done it. ever.

 

[Shurv]

It's done less than 20,000 miles.Is it worth cleaning then or shall i leave it in a bit longer?

 

[Big Lad]

I'd clean it. Ready for the summer then. It only takes an hour or so for the cleaner to dry. It'll be full of bug wings and wasps etc. Easy job.

 

[andy malton]

K&N

It's done less than 20,000 miles.Is it worth cleaning then or shall i leave it in a bit longer?

I do mine every couple of months in the summer.Literally takes 10 minutes,you wouldn't leave your oil for 20K would you Don't know what service intervals Cookie is working too 50k!!!

 

[cookie]

I do mine every couple of months in the summer.Literally takes 10 minutes,you wouldn't leave your oil for 20K would you Don't know what service intervals Cookie is working too 50k!!!

the manufacturers, obviously

20. How do I know when to clean the filter?

The general rule of thumb is that the filter needs to be cleaned when the dirt build up gets as thick as the wire mesh. The usual interval is 30,000 - 50,000 miles depending on driving conditions. We recommend that you check your filter about once a year in normal usage.

source

i admit 12 years is possibly pushing it a bit though

might stick some more oil on them this year as a treat. since they had nothing at all when they left the factory i'm not too worried

 

[andy malton]

Filter

I'll stick to my service intervals a clean filter = an engine thats breathing easier and running better than one with clogged up filter,the picture you show is not of a GS,those cone filters most probaly would get away with 50k intervals as they are behind the engine,therefore shielded from most of the crap.

A GS's engine works on a ram effect,thats why you can buy bigger snorkels and bigger inlet tubes to get more air into your engine it will not work properly if the filter is blocked to the edge of the guaze.

 

[2 wheel humvee]

I'd clean it. Ready for the summer then. It only takes an hour or so for the cleaner to dry. It'll be full of bug wings and wasps etc. Easy job.

Big Lad's right
I cleaned my K&N after 12000 miles first by soaking it in the sink with warm soapy water and then rinsing from the inside under the tap for 2 minutes,I'm glad I did I left the plug in the sink,you shoulda seen the dead wildlife and other crap my missus had to wash away
She wasn't best pleased about wiping the Red K&N oil from the sink drainer either

 

[Geordie Steve]

Hey Marcus, I've got an unused K&N filter service kit lurking somewhere at the back of the garage. IIRC it contains a tin of cleaning fluid and a tin of oil. I sold my last bike before I needed to clean the filter...

If you want it, PM me with your details and I'll pass it on...

 

[daveg]

Not too clean!

You shouldn't actually clean the filters too often. They are designed to operate at peak efficiency once they have a bit of a dirt build up - a filter cake as it's known in the trade.

It will filter out smaller particles once the little gaps start filling. The throughput of air will not be dramatically affected unless it's really dirty like in offroad or desert situations.

There are plenty of filter cleaners and oils around but I don't think you can go wrong with the K&N service kit.

Hope this helps,

David

 

[Shurv]

Thanks guys,much appreciated.Geordie Steve, pm on it's way.

 

[Shurv]

Geordie Dave - your a star

A big thanks to Geordie Dave,not only did he give me his unused K&N cleaning kit,but he delivered it to my door on saturday whilst circumnavigating the country delivering somones furniture.Top bloke.It's things like this which confirm what a truly great community UKGSer is.Thanks Dave.

 

[littleyellowsei]

k+n cleaner is just soapy water so use fairy liquid or similar in a bowl, soak for a while, reverse flush under tap till clean, leave to dry naturaly but dont blow dry and re oil with tin of k+n oil (oils only cheap)