Projekt

hey guys, my buddy has a GTI with a CAI Filter and he wants me to clean it for him, he thinks i know alot about it..but whats the ghetto way of cleaning a filter? soapy water?

KillerBee

depends on what kind of filter he has paper or the K&n type

D4u2s0t

if you don't know what you're doing why would you tell him you do? there is no ghetto way to do it. get a recharge kit and do it right. your air filter which basically pretects your engine from having things sucked into and exploding is not something you want to do the "cheap" way.

CobaltPerformanceParts

Do it the right way or you could be in for trouble. Get the proper cleaning kit.

D4u2s0t

exaclty. filter cleaning kit = a few dollars. new engine when you suck up a rock = a few thousand.

R&C_rallySS

^ good comments guys. There is no "Ghetto" way if you want the car to live.

Another words, do it the "Ghetto" way and your car will be shot by a 9mm...lol

knwldge54

Buy a K&N filter for $10 at just about any auto parts store.
I suggest you read the instructions first. It is not a 30 minute job.
Your filter needs to air dry. Not blow dry.

tonio5555

If in doubt just get a new filter.

New filter > New engine

Projekt

well i never did tell him i knew how to do it..he just assumed..and he is my friend and needs help so i figured id come to my friends (the people of CCS.net) and ask them what i can do so everyone wins..

thanks to the people who gave me advise on what to do..and yes..i understand the recharge kits..i acctualy suggested that to him first..but he asked for the cheaper way..

D4u2s0t

there is no cheaper way... well, there is, but it's very, very bad. don't do it. just get a recharge kit.

Projekt

thats what my plan was..thanks for the advise +rep

D4u2s0t

you're welcome, thanks, and back at ya!

SSBOOST

I will be getting the Fujita F5 air filter VERY shortly for my GMPP intake. Whats the best way to go about cleaning that thing when the time comes around?

LewiSS

How dirty is it? If you read the instructions with the recharge kit, K&N actually recommends that the filter needs to be REAL dirty before you clean and recharge it. They say that a film of dirt on it actually ads to the filtration. The following is from the K&N FAQ:

20. How do I know when to clean the filter?

The general rule of thumb is that the filter needs to be cleaned when the dirt build up gets as thick as the wire mesh. The usual interval is 30,000 - 50,000 miles depending on driving conditions. We recommend that you check your filter about once a year in normal usage.

SSBOOST

Yeah but noone has drives normal.

WunSick

buy a K&N recharge kit from autozone (10$ - 15$), take your filter off, spray with cleaner, wait 5 - 10 mins, soak with hose (or by hand in sink) to get all the **** and cleaner out, air dry (DO NOT USE A BLOW DRYER OR AIR CHUCK, blow dryer will shrink the filter material, and air chuck can cause holes and inperfections in the filter), spray filter until its all pink again, put back on, i usually let it hang upside down to remove any drippage, and give it a few revs and im good. Hope that helps.