"Washing" a stock paper air filter

**davidmc** · #1 9 Feb 2006

So I had one of the only competent big bike mechanics in Pakistan do a few minor things to my Transalp several weeks ago.

I asked him to blow out my stock paper air filter with compressed air and he asked me if I wanted him to also "wash" the air filter. I let him have a go at it and after a few minutes and a quick dry on top of a light bulb, the air filter came out looking literally brand new!

The filter had a slight solvent smell afterwards and looked perfectly clean. The paper appeared to be in perfect condition also.

When I asked him what he did, he just smiled. Any idea on how he got the filter so clean and does this mean I have a new way to prolong the life of my stock paper air filter?

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Dave
www.mototrekker.com

**slim161** · #2 10 Feb 2006

Never try to understand the inginueity and ability of the the Third World mechanics.

**Luuk** · #3 10 Feb 2006

i think i read somewhere that you can flush them out with petrol and such like.

**Grant Johnson** · #4 10 Feb 2006

You CAN do all kinds of things to make them LOOK like new. The question is, are they LIKE new?

The filtering is VERY delicate and can easily be damaged. Blowing a filter out with an air hose is commonly done, but is a very bad idea if you still want it to actually filter dirt. The air pressure widens the passages/holes significantly - in fact this was a standard trick in production class racing - blow the hell out of the filter to pass more air and allow a bigger main jet. BUT that was road racing - wouldn't dream of doing it on a dirt bike.

I'd want to see a NEW filter and a washed filter under a microscope at the very least before I was happy about it. Flow testing and filtration testing would be nice, lol!

I DO like washable foam filters.

There is a big thread on filters somewhere, search on K&N.

Grant