CLEANING CAI
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 612
From:
CLEANING CAI
quick question:
how often should I clean the filter on my CAI?
and what should i use to clean it? just a good rinse and scrubwith water?
i have the tunable induction demolet intake
thanks,
will
how often should I clean the filter on my CAI?
and what should i use to clean it? just a good rinse and scrubwith water?
i have the tunable induction demolet intake
thanks,
will
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 962
From: St Louis, MO
RE: CLEANING CAI
Buying a new filter is a waste of money. Go to Autozone or wherever and buy a K&N cleaning kit. You just spray the cleaner on your CAI, then blast it with your water hose until it looks nice and clean. Set it in the sun for the day, until its good and dry, then use the spray oil that came in the cleaning kit to give it a nice light coat, then put it back on the car. I do mine whenever it gets to looking good and gross. The last few times I've cleaned it, i've gotten a .5 mpg boost. When my mileage drops I kinda know its about time for a cleaning.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 825
From: NJ
RE: CLEANING CAI
I have the FRPP CAI and they told me to clean it every 30-50k miles!!! And NOT to re-oil it. Thats what tech support said from FRPP, yes. And they said the dirtier it is, the better it works!?!? I was also told by Ford to keep using the FRPP oil filters vs the Motorcraft FL820 because the CAI does not filter as well as the stock air box filter. I cleaned my CAI at 12k, used K&N cleaner, let it air dry, and put it back. FRPP's advice sounds crazy though. Gut feeling, I feel compelled to clean it at say, every 10k AND re oil it lightly.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 962
From: St Louis, MO
RE: CLEANING CAI
I would think their advice would be true on an untuned car. Once you load up a Brenspeed tune (etc.) that accounts for more airflow, you'd want to keep it clean. I dont know that to be true though.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,070
From: North Carolina
RE: CLEANING CAI
I just cleaned my C&L CAI filter today. It was black. I used the K&N recharger kit. The instructions are inside the box. I'll probably buy a new filter sometime just so I can switch it out while the other one is getting cleaned.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 279
From: Woodstock, Georgia
RE: CLEANING CAI
ORIGINAL: ffk_pennywise
Buying a new filter is a waste of money. Go to Autozone or wherever and buy a K&N cleaning kit. You just spray the cleaner on your CAI, then blast it with your water hose until it looks nice and clean. Set it in the sun for the day, until its good and dry, then use the spray oil that came in the cleaning kit to give it a nice light coat, then put it back on the car. I do mine whenever it gets to looking good and gross. The last few times I've cleaned it, i've gotten a .5 mpg boost. When my mileage drops I kinda know its about time for a cleaning.
Buying a new filter is a waste of money. Go to Autozone or wherever and buy a K&N cleaning kit. You just spray the cleaner on your CAI, then blast it with your water hose until it looks nice and clean. Set it in the sun for the day, until its good and dry, then use the spray oil that came in the cleaning kit to give it a nice light coat, then put it back on the car. I do mine whenever it gets to looking good and gross. The last few times I've cleaned it, i've gotten a .5 mpg boost. When my mileage drops I kinda know its about time for a cleaning.
IFyou earn $75,000 a year, your time is worth $39 an hour. I have a pretty sound economic reason to pull out the checkbook instead of that filter cleaning kit. It may be a waste of your money though, depending on how much you make.