Washing your air filter

[RDP]

Normally I use my compressor to blow my saws clean everywhere as well as doing the air filters at the end of each days use when I get back. Some saw manuals also suggest you also wash your air filter, so I am just curious to know how many of you actually wash your air filter in soap & water or other material and how often do you perform this maintenance action. Have you found in the pass any benefit in doing this.

 

[Mange]

I wash them in Diesel, or Petrol.

 

[Lewis Brander]

Cleaning Air Filters.

Hello to all. Here's a trick that I use on these old saws to clean up the airfilters. Just soak them in Coleman Lantern Fuel for a while and blow them dry with compressed air. Works great on the old Skinner Ribbon type filters. My C-51 Homelite filter was completely plugged and matted down. Soaked it 3 or 4 times and blew it out and it looks almost new. The coleman fuel will totally evaporate, appears to be no residue left. No gas or diesel smell left to contend with. Works for me. Just don't use it near any fire, flame or sparks. Take care. Lewis.

 

[Stumper]

Occassionally I do wash some of my filters in soap and water and get them really clean. Mostly, I do the old quick fix in the field-pour some gas through them, tap repeatedly , rinse with fresh gas, tap, rerinse and reinstall. (gas=petrol for you Brits)

 

[jokers]

I use Walmart carb cleaner in the spray can applied from the inside. After cleaning it as good as I can, I then use compressed air to gently blow the residue off from the inside out again. Often makes old filters as good as new. Just be careful that you don`t use too high a pressure or you will ruin the filter.

Russ

 

[MacDaddy]

I dont run filters to much work LOL

 

[rustyb]

Simple Green

I take it apart, place it in a lidded container with a diluted solution of Simple Green (non-toxic household type cleaner), gently shake, let sit for 15 minutes, shake some more, rinse with warm water and let it sit to dry.

Cleans it well & smells good.

On occasion, when I'm rushed, I use compressed air (not high presure) blowing from the inside out.

r

 

[pbtree]

Depends on the filter. Normally I use an old tooth brush and gently loosen the grime, then use low pressure compressed air to blow from the inside out and that cleanse most of it for me.

If the filter is particularly dirty, I will use a little dish detergent and water, then blow it out an dlet it dry before reinstalling... :alien:

 

[stihltech]

filter wash

Dawn dish detergent or brake clean.

 

[Toneman]

Simple Green or Dish soap and warm water work great.

 

[Timothy]

i was thinking you were supposed to soak air filters in oil, the oil helps the filter trap particles?

 

[P_woozel]

I have 2-3 filters for each saw I run, I'll put them in a tupperware container with hot soap and water , shake around, soak and rinse a couple times a month, each day of use gets a blown out filter.

 

[scottr]

i was thinking you were supposed to soak air filters in oil, the oil helps the filter trap particles?

Timothy some air filters are rewetted not soaked after cleaning to help trap the fine dirt . Usually I squeeze out the excess oil by placing on a paper towel . Scott

 

[Crofter]

Swishing a dirty filter around in a solven loosens the dirt, but fine grit is suspended and gets to the wrong side of the filter medium. Better to simply soak and then blow gently from the inside out.

 

[Mange]

i was thinking you were supposed to soak air filters in oil, the oil helps the filter trap particles?

B&S recommend this for four stroke engines, not the same type of filters.

 

[scottr]

Foam type air filters

B&S recommend this for four stroke engines, not the same type of filters.

Mange , the Homelite Super 2 , Poulan S25DA , Poulan 2000 , Poulan Pro 220 all use foam type air filters . Scott

 

[Mange]

And many others but B&S is the only I have seen recommending. And I would call it liquid, like brake liquid etc.

 

[scottr]

Air Filter Oil

And many others but B&S is the only I have seen recommending. And I would call it liquid, like brake liquid etc.

Mange , my 044 Stihl came with a oil for the filter . My Poulan Pro 220 had a red oil in the foam filter from the factory . The customer service people for Electrolux in Arkansas said to use 30 wt. non detergent oil . Their phone number is 1-870-845-1234 . My experience with non oiled foam air filters is that a fine dirt will get through . Scott

 

[scottr]

Air Filter Oil

And many others but B&S is the only I have seen recommending. And I would call it liquid, like brake liquid etc.

Mange ,are you saying that you use brake fluid on your foam air filters ? My brake fluid will disolve dried paint and would probably ruin a foam air filter . Scott

 

[brent denny]

I think Mange is saying it is like brake fluid, maybe in color or viscosity or something, not that he actually uses brake fluid.