Crazy dirty air filter

[f1torrents]

I recently bought a AFE dry filter to drop into my car. PN-31-10118 Dry Flow
It looks amazing and is very well packaged. I was assuming the filter in my car was a OEM replacement or even worse maybe even the original one that came in the car.

Well to my surprise it had a K&N in there PN 33-2209.
The back side looked very clean, but once I removed it I was shocked to find how filthy it actually was.
I could not see any light through the filter. It is was I would consider completely clogged.

I know these are washable and I may try it out to see how clean I can get it but I just wanted to share some pics and results.

I haven't drove the car hard since the swap by my idle is MUCH smoother now, and I'm sure it will have an impact on performance this spring as well.
I will be removing my MAF and cleaning it now that I know there was a oiled filter in there.

[Willënskraft]

Damn that's dirty. Yes you can clean it and re-oil it, but since you have the AFE I'd go with that.

[b6Hate4]

Holy cow! That was thing was choked to hell.

[customa4]

The cleaning kit you want for that filter from AFE is part #90-59999

[f1torrents]

I put the new AFE in, so I wont need to clean it for a while.
Thanks for the PN though. Ill keep it in mind when I do maintain it in the future.

[diagnosticator]

The K&N filters, are "Surface Loading" type filters. They are capable of accumulating a thick layer of dirt on the filter while still flowing enough air for the engine to run properly. Surface loading filters actually perform better and trap smaller dirt particles as the dirt layer thickness increases. Paper filters are "Depth Loading" type filters. This filter stops smaller dirt particles than a Surface Loading filter, but will plug up quickly in heavy dusting conditions. Your pics show the K&N is not really very dirty by the Surface Loading measure, It was flowing with low restriction, and did not need to be cleaned yet. The most common problem with K&N filters is that they are easily and frequently over oiled after cleaning. The OEM paper filters flow a lot of air with low restriction when new, but if not changed, can plug up with small dust particles, and will not flow as well when dirty. OEM paper filters are better for street driven cars for most typical conditions. A K&N filter will be the best filter if the car must be driven in very dusty conditions on unpaved roads. The AFE filter is a high capacity depth loading filter, and will plug up in very dusty conditions. The AFE is not as efficient trapping the smallest dirt particles compared to an OEM paper filter.

[customa4]

I put the new AFE in, so I wont need to clean it for a while.
Thanks for the PN though. Ill keep it in mind when I do maintain it in the future.

Yea, I probably should have used better reading skills. I thought that was the AFE filter that looked dirty.

The K&N filters, are "Surface Loading" type filters. They are capable of accumulating a thick layer of dirt on the filter while still flowing enough air for the engine to run properly. Surface loading filters actually perform better and trap smaller dirt particles as the dirt layer thickness increases. Paper filters are "Depth Loading" type filters. This filter stops smaller dirt particles than a Surface Loading filter, but will plug up quickly in heavy dusting conditions. Your pics show the K&N is not really very dirty by the Surface Loading measure, It was flowing with low restriction, and did not need to be cleaned yet. The most common problem with K&N filters is that they are easily and frequently over oiled after cleaning. The OEM paper filters flow a lot of air with low restriction when new, but if not changed, can plug up with small dust particles, and will not flow as well when dirty. OEM paper filters are better for street driven cars for most typical conditions. A K&N filter will be the best filter if the car must be driven in very dusty conditions on unpaved roads. The AFE filter is a high capacity depth loading filter, and will plug up in very dusty conditions. The AFE is not as efficient trapping the smallest dirt particles compared to an OEM paper filter.

Good info

[f1torrents]

Looking at the K&N when I first pulled it, I wasn't thinking hummm this looks like its not even ready to be cleaned yet.. lol
I was thinking its so far gone its probably not even worth cleaning.

I did however clean it up nice. I have no plans to use it again though.

[diagnosticator]

Looking at the K&N when I first pulled it, I wasn't thinking hummm this looks like its not even ready to be cleaned yet.. lol
I was thinking its so far gone its probably not even worth cleaning.

I did however clean it up nice. I have no plans to use it again though.

Yeah, a properly oiled K&N will still flow a lot of air with 1/4" or more layer of dirt on the outside.

[f1torrents]

The reason Im not a fan of the K&N is because of that oil.
MAF's take a beating from it I'm told.

I will be cleaning mine now after discovering I had on in there.

[SJorge3442]

The reason Im not a fan of the K&N is because of that oil.
MAF's take a beating from it I'm told.

I will be cleaning mine now after discovering I had on in there.

If and only if you over oil them. Otherwise, they are ok. I dont understand why people drench them in oil. My car came with a K&N, so I simply wash and reuse it every now and then.

[n7plus1]

ive been running a k&n in my car for years and ive never had a problem with oil getting all over the MAF. Sounds like some dumb story that started on vortex bc some tard soaked his filter in way too much oil.

[customa4]

Lol.... I've had no problems ever runnin K&N filters before either.

[texasboy21]

ive been running a k&n in my car for years and ive never had a problem with oil getting all over the MAF. Sounds like some dumb story that started on vortex bc some tard soaked his filter in way too much oil.

Most likely.

On top of over oiling, people often forget to let the dry completely before reinstalling them.

[n7plus1]

Most likely.

On top of over oiling, people often forget to let the dry completely before reinstalling them.

yeah, the instructions are on the cleaning AND oiling bottles. Ive ran these on other previous cars too with no issues and i also got one for my wifes beetle about 3 years ago. I just cleaned mine about 2 weekends ago and it hadnt been cleaned for over a year...maybe close to 2...and it was hardly dirty at all. i dont want to know how long that thing was installed for without cleaning. maybe they did a lot of off road driving?

[SJorge3442]

yeah, the instructions are on the cleaning AND oiling bottles. Ive ran these on other previous cars too with no issues and i also got one for my wifes beetle about 3 years ago. I just cleaned mine about 2 weekends ago and it hadnt been cleaned for over a year...maybe close to 2...and it was hardly dirty at all. i dont want to know how long that thing was installed for without cleaning. maybe they did a lot of off road driving?

K&N suggests what, 50k miles between cleaning?! Forget that. I do it every other change. It takes no time at all and keeps it clean. I just do it at night so it can dry, then I spray it in the morning and then throw it in like an hour later.

[chris@fifteen52]

I have a K&N in my B7 for about 190k miles, 120k miles in a mk4, 60k in a mk2, etc. Never had a problem. Clean it, let it dry, oil it and let it dry and shake it out good.

[cschuster]

I had a K&N on my old subaru for 100k with no problems. Just don't over oil it, like everyone else has said. Was pleasantly surprised to find one on the Audi while I was doing a pre purchase inspection. A $10 cleaning kit is all I need now! I just clean it real quick while I'm waiting for the oil to drain.

[n7plus1]

K&N suggests what, 50k miles between cleaning?! Forget that. I do it every other change. It takes no time at all and keeps it clean. I just do it at night so it can dry, then I spray it in the morning and then throw it in like an hour later.

i usually do it in the morning on a nice sunny day and its usually completely dry in an hour or 2 in the sun.