Time for a new filter?

[Ethan0524]

Hello all, I've had my K&N intake on my truck for...I don't know, a long time, and the filter is no longer red. It has turned grey from how many times I have cleaned and re-oiled it. It looks kind of sad honestly. I was wondering if I should invest in a new filter for it? If so, any recommendations for what filters are good replacements? Thanks in advance for any help.

Edit: Forgot to add pic of sad filter.

 

[xtremewlr]

Grey/white is what the filtering element looks like when it's dry or un-oiled on the K&N. If you are using the K&N oil, it should be red and stay red when oiled properly. And unless you do a lot of off roading or very dusty driving, you shouldn't need to clean and re-oil more than once a year, if that much even.

 

[Ethan0524]

Hmm...maybe time for some new oil then. I'll get a new filter re-charge kit and try that.

 

[Jimmy68]

Pretty dry looking filter you have there.
I've ran K&N for years on many vehicles. I don't clean them often but I do oil them every few months.
I've washed them with the K&N cleaner, I've washed them in the dishwasher, I've washed them in the laundry washer, I've washed them with gasoline and carb cleaner and whatever else I could use to get the oil and built up bugs and grime.
I've used them on my cars, my trucks, off road, on my Harley, on my Virago and they all turn kinda grey when dry.
Ya gotta oil them.
Remember, a dirty filter filters better than a clean filter as the "holes" get smaller as they plug with dirt and bugs.
Just re'oil it and drive. Just re'oil every now and then. Clean when it gets really dirty. If you drive mostly pavement it could be a few years.
My Harley filter is open to the weather. It gets rained on, bugs hit it, rocks hit it, whatever hits it.
I oil it a couple times a year. It is a dirty, blackening thing but it works well.
I was told to clean it when I took my bike in for a Dyno this summer. But that was because they were being picky. I could still see through it.
I came home and soaked it in K&N cleaner and tossed it in the dishwasher. I've oiled it twice since.

 

[JPT]

There is a trick I use for my motorcycle. I have a 2005 Kawasaki Ninja ZX12r, the filters are under the gas tank, as the frame is a ram air box. Because this requires about 30 minutes of parts removal and swinging up the gas tank, I keep 2 sets of filters. One is clean, and waits to be oiled. So all I do is swap in the clean filters, and can take my time cleaning the dirty filter.

The reason is, they strongly suggest not using compressed air to dry the filters. So, I let it air dry for a couple days. I don't want downtime, so this allows a quick swap, and my bike to be on the road.

Clean with K&N spray cleaner, rinse with water (not compressed) then repeat. I then hang it up for several days to get completely dry. 20-40 minutes prior to reinstall I oil it and let it sit. Then install.

So if you do want to replace your filter, get a new one, and save this one. On my motorcycle, I clean and replace once a year, but I only do about 2k per year on the bike.

 

[justin13703]

If you're going to replace it, try to find a dry flow filter that will work and forget about that whole oiling crap. AEM makes nice dry flow filters that can be cleaned and re used but involve no oil at all.

 

[xtremewlr]

If you're going to replace it, try to find a dry flow filter that will work and forget about that whole oiling crap. AEM makes nice dry flow filters that can be cleaned and re used but involve no oil at all.

Good call on the AEM. If I ever needed to replace the K&N in my truck, I would go the AEM route most likely. K&N air filters have worked great for me tho so I shouldn't need to replace it for any reason.

 

[Maximumrisk]

Another vote for the AEM dryflow

 

[mwkulp0300]

K&N Filter

The filter you have in the pic is the same one I need replaced. Would you know what the part# is for it and where to order that particular one. I even went on K&N site and can not find the same one. Thank you!

 

[mwkulp0300]

I have the same K&N filter and cant find it anywhere to get replaced. Would you know part# and where to order one?

 

[TheFactor]

Just ordered a AEM filter for my stock air box and from what I've read it seems to be a good filter and don't have to mess with oiling it or worry about over oiling it . I do like k&N though and almost picked one up but thought I'd try a dry high flow .