How Clean Are Your Air Filters?

Seriously. If the Air Filter Police busted into your garage, how many counts of "Air filter abuse" would you be charged with? The truth is none of us really enjoy cleaning air filters. At the very least It's messy and time consuming. Well, until the maintenance-free air-filtration system for the off-road bikes is invented, look to Twin Air's The System for some help. The System promises to make cleaning and oiling air filters quick and easy.

Few things can fill up dirt bike message boards faster than asking the question, "What's the best way to clean and oil air filters?" Which is interesting considering no one likes to clean air filters, and few do it as frequently as they should, but everyone seems to have an expert opinion on the subject. The System, from Twin Air, is essentially the packaged version of my adopted expert opinion. It provides everything you need to clean and oil your air filters, as well as store the cleaning and oil solutions.

The System includes the following items:

• Twin Air Liquid Dirt Remover (1 Gal.)
• Twin Air Liquid Power Hi-Tack Filter Oil (1 Qt.)
• Twin Air Contact Cleaner (1 Spray Can)
• Large Cleaning Tub With Lid and Plastic Coated Wire Filter Tray
• Small Oiling Tub with Lid
• Two Nitrile Gloves

Unfortunately, Twin Air didn't provide instructions on how to use The System. Each of the cans of solution in the kit has instructions which helped. However, there wasn't anything describing the big picture. Never fear! As I mentioned earlier, this is a packaged version of my home-made filter maintenance "system". Essentially, the large tub is to clean the filters and store the cleaning solution. The smaller tub is to oil and store the filter oil. It couldn't be any more simple.

Instructions

After pouring the Liquid Dirt Remover in the larger tub and placing the metal tray on the bottom, place the filter in the solution. Submerge it several times and then work the cleaning solution out of the filter to remove the dirt. Do NOT wring out the filter as this could damage the foam. When the filter is clean work as much of the cleaning solution out of the foam being careful not to damage it. Allow the filter to dry completely.

Once the filter is dry, pour the Liquid Power-Hi-Tack Filter Oil in the smaller tub. Then submerge the clean air filter into the fitler oil solution. Gently work the oil through the filter until the entire fitler is saturated. Using the same method as before, gently squeeze out the excess oil from the filter. Again, do not wringe it out as this could tear the foam; which in turn would compromise its filtration ability. Once the excess oil is removed from the filter allow the filter oil to dry before using.

I have four air filters that I prepare in advance using this method. Once the filters are dry, I store them in Zip-Loc bags for future use. When replacing a dirty filter with a clean one, I store it until I have several to clean and oil at one time. Using this method allows me to always have a clean filter on hand and reduces the frequency of having to engage in this unpleasant, but necessary, maintenance task.

Conclusion

The cleaning solution was very effective. To put it to the test, I cleaned a very neglected XR400 air filter. This filter was not only caked with dust and dirt but also had a bunch of small sticks and twigs sticking out of it giving it the look of a small dirty porcupine. After a good bath in Twin Air's Liquid Dirt Remover, the filter looked brand new. All of the dirt settled beneath the metal cage to the bottom of the tub leaving the solution clean for future use.

The air filter oil was also very effective. It's very tacky and yet thin enough to penatrate the foam to provide maximum filtration. The oil is a strong cobalt blue color that creates an excellent contrast to the Twin Air filter's light tan color. This guarantees you'll know when the filter is adequately saturated with oil.

The Twin Air Contact Cleaner works great to clean the air box and filter cage. I recommend cleaning the airbox prior to installing a clean air filter. It's absolutely impossible to install an air filter in a CRF without touching the sides of the air box. If those sides are coated with dust and dirt, you can bet it will transer to your newly cleaned air filter. After applying the contact cleaner to the sides of the air box, just wipe with a clean towel to remove the dirt and excess cleaner. The remainder will evaporate quickly.

With the air box clean, use a paper towel and air filter oil, or some other sticky oil-based product, to lightly coat the inside of the air box and boot. This certainly isn't mandatory, but it will help catch some dirt before it ever hits your filter, or in the case of the air boot, your carbuetor. Also, coating the air boot allows you to check for dirt there which would indicate your air filter system has been compromised.

After the cleaning and oiling is complete, the lids snapped on tightly for secure storage until the next round. The System from Twin Air is a complete package with excellent cleaning and oil products. It makes an unpleasant maintenance task as quick and easy as possible. In fact, I've got a huge smile on my face just thinking about all the riding required to dirty up four clean and oiled filters.

CRF's Only Staff Review - December 2004
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