How to Clean a Cold Air Intake Filter

Your car’s air filter allows clean, fresh airflow to combine with fuel and create power. Over time the filter can become blocked by dirt particles that accumulate inside it.

 

If you don’t clean them on a regular basis then these unwanted materials will get sucked into the car air filter and it can damage pistons as well block injectors from functioning properly.

 

The best way to clean a cold air intake filter is to use a commercially available filter cleaner and rinse the filter with warm water. You’ll also need to apply air filter oil to the filter to keep it clean for a longer time.

 

In this article, we’ll share a step-by-step guide on how to clean a cold air intake filter properly.

 

Type of Cold Air Intake Filter

 

The two different types of cold air intakes, including oiled and dry. A typical foam filter tends to reduce airflow as it gets older and dirty. So you should replace it about every 12,000 to 15,000 miles if your car spends most of its time on dusty roads or polluted areas.

 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2008-04-01_Cold_air_intake_tube_with_filter.jpg

 

In terms of blocking incoming contaminants, a dry filter performs better. It can block up to 99 percent of dirt particles because of its micron-size filter media. On the other hand, oiled air filters can capture up to 98 percent of incoming contaminants.

 

How Often Should You Clean a Cold Air Intake System?

 

Keeping your cold air intake filter clean is important to ensure that it can do its job properly. That means you should have them cleaned about every time for an oil change, which will help keep the car running smoothly and efficiently.

 

You might think this sounds like too much work but considering how quickly they get dirty in traffic-heavy areas, or even just after sitting there all winter long without being used, it’s worth taking care of before things start getting bad at a mechanic shop.

 

The cold air intake filter on your car can make a big difference in terms of horsepower and gas mileage. When maintained, it will increase airflow to the engine which means more ignition power for burning all that fuel.

 

Types of Cold Air Intake Filter Cleaners

 

Cleaning your car’s engine air filter is easy using the right cleaner! It’s important not to use solvents like gasoline because they will damage or dissolve most types of materials, even those found in modern cars.

 

There are three different types of cleaners that you can use to clean your cold air intake filter including aerosols, sprays, and cleaning kits.

 

Aerosols, such as K&N air filter oil, are specially designed to penetrate the pleats of cold air intakes. You can use such a cleaning solution to get rid of dirt and grime easily.

 

Whereas, sprays, such as K&N Air Filter Power Kleen, use a direct spray technique to enter the filter’s pleats. These cleaners usually contain degreasers that dissolve and remove grime and dirt.

 

The last option is an air filter cleaning kit like Volant 5100, which comes with both air filter oil and a cleaner to remove dirt and maximize the filter’s longevity.

 

How to Clean A Cold Air Intake Filter Properly

 

Dirt and dust stuck in the filter can reduce the efficiency of your vehicle’s engine and it can also affect the fuel efficiency negatively. 

 

Here’s a list of steps that you can use to clean your cold air intake filter properly.

 

• Wear safety goggles, a face mask, and a pair of gloves to ensure your safety. It’ll prevent dirt and dust particles from touching your skin and entering your body through your mouth and nose.

 

• Open the vehicle’s hood and remove the filter from the air filter housing.

 

• Shake the filter a couple of times. It’ll remove loose dirt particles from the entire filter.

 

• Apply the air filter cleaner you have to the filter. Make sure that the cleaner gets into the filter’s crevices.

 

• Generally, you’ll need to let the cleaner sit on the filter for 10 to 15 minutes. To find the exact duration, consult the user manual of the cleaner you’re using.

 

• After that, use low-pressure, warm water to rinse the filter thoroughly in order to remove the cleaner. Perform this step gently to avoid damaging the filter.

 

• Continue rinsing until there’s no visible cleaner residue on the filter.

 

• Place the filter in a well-ventilated area for about an hour to let it remove excess water and dry properly. Never install a filter in your vehicle when it’s not completely dry.

 

• Once the filter is completely dry, the next step is to oil it. Not only will it prevent corrosion but it’ll also protect the filter from heavy dirt buildup. Make sure that you apply the oil evenly throughout the filter.

 

• Let the filter sit in a well-ventilated area for 25 to 30 minutes and then install it back in its place.

 

Final Words

 

A cold air intake filter is the key to improving your gas mileage and increasing horsepower. It filters out dirt and grime from entering engines which then increases the combustion efficiency as well.

 

But due to an increased airflow through these types of filters, there is more need for maintenance. That’s why it’s important to keep them clean.

 

Ideally, you should clean your vehicle’s cold air intake filter at every oil change by washing away any accumulated dust or cobwebs or it’ll greatly reduce performance.

 

Further Readings – Best Cold Air Intake for Ram 1500

 

Additional Article – How to Clean Cold Air Intake Filter