How often do you?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

May 21, 2008 | 07:46 PM

FLSTF

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 667

Likes: 59

From: Lufkin, Tx.

How often do you?

Oil your filter that is. I have a heavy breather ac that I just cleaned and oiled 3 days ago and it's already starting to look dry on the top. I figured the exposed filters would dry quicker than covered filters, but this seems a little quick. Anyone else notice this.

May 22, 2008 | 08:39 PM

FLSTF

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 667

Likes: 59

From: Lufkin, Tx.

RE: How often do you?

Anybody out there?

May 22, 2008 | 10:15 PM

Clammy

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 8,129

Likes: 1,981

From: Ottawa, CANADA

RE: How often do you?

I run a K&N open filter, and I just wash and re-oil it when it looks really dirty. Usually every couple or 3 months, depending if I ride in dusty areas or there are lots of bugs. Also, I'll re-oil it if I've ridden on a long rainstorm.

Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]

May 22, 2008 | 10:18 PM

WARG

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 4,357

Likes: 11

From: The Lone Star State

RE: How often do you?

Do the filters in the SE A/C Kit need maintenance, other than just cleaning now and then. I think they are a paper element right?

May 23, 2008 | 12:35 AM

In Memoriam Citoriplus

May our Moderator Rest in Peace

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 11,386

Likes: 35

From: Rochester, NY

RE: How often do you?

You really can't "clean" paper filters the way you can a K&N. Once you put any water on them they tend to disintegrate or shrink leaving gaps that will let crap into the engine.
Usually when you clean a K&N it turns white, then the oil turns it orange. If it hasn't changed color from orage to whiteits not dried out.
Also you shouldn't over clean a K&N, just because its dirty looking it doesn't mean it needs cleaning. Try taking it off and see if you can see daylight through it, if so its still good to go. No matter how dirty it looks. Their contention is that the more dirt it collects the more dirt it keeps out of the engine. In other words the dirt it collects actually helps it filter more dirt out of the airstream.

May 23, 2008 | 06:17 AM

oldgeezer

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 4,513

Likes: 4

From: Midland, TX

RE: How often do you?

I run K&N's. I wash and oil them every oil change which for me is around 3,000 miles.

May 23, 2008 | 06:47 AM

In Memoriam Citoriplus

May our Moderator Rest in Peace

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 11,386

Likes: 35

From: Rochester, NY

RE: How often do you?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: oldgeezer
I run K&N's. I wash and oil them every oil change which for me is around 3,000 miles.

Unless your running the bike through talcum powder dust storms and use an ice pick to get the big chunks out that's a whole lot too often.
Do yourself a favor and back off or you could possibly screw up the MAP sensor in the intake with all that oil. Its a common problem oncars and trucks. Guys get a little over zealous with the filter cleaning and screw up the MASS or MAP sensors with the excess oil from the filter.
Next time you have a minute pull off the filter and get a loooong q-tip and take a swipe at the side of the passageway behind the throttlebody. See if it has any oil or dirt down in there from the filter. if it does it generally means that its sucking some of the loose fresh oil from the filter and between the oil a dirt its going to coat the temp and MAP sensors throwing off the ECM.
Makes the engine run like crap till you either clean things out or in the worst cases replace the defective sensor.