What is the best way to clean a CAI?
hose, leaf blower, vaccuum, other?

 

The best way for an Airraid is with the Airaid kit and follow the included instructions.
http://www.airaidstore.com/Airaid_Fi.../ar790-550.htm

 

jwharton, I am familiar with the airaid cleaning kit, however I wanted to know if others have a different method of cleaning their CAI. Which works best for them. =-)

 

definetly a leaf blower, lol, atta do

 

If it's an oiled filter, the only way to properly clean it is per the cleaning kit instructions with the provided degreaser and hot water. Blowing it with compressed air or whatever will only remove the large chunky debris and not the fine particles that are embedded in and clogging the paper. Plus, compressed air, if applied incorrectly, can damage the filter.

 

I have an Airaid CAI also. How do you know if you have an oiled filter? I bought mine used so I dont know how many miles it has on it. How often should I clean it?

 

I think Air Raid's are oiled but hopefully someone else that has one will chime in.

There are a lot of opinions on when to clean them and it also will depend on what your environment is. A lot of people clean them about every 15,000 miles. I usually go about 20,000 - 25,000 miles. It's also good to have a spare if your car is a DD since it usually takes about a good 24 hours for the filter to dry before you can re-oil it.

 

Thanks for the info Nuke! It is very helpful!

 

All,

For those with a C & L, do you clean or just replace???

Thanks

Rob

 

no
no
no
and
no.

Never use compressed air to clean an oiled air filter.
It will destroy its dirt catching capability.

Go to Oreallys and get a K&N air filter cleaning kit.
Follow the directions to the T.

AirAids are oiled.

A piece of pantyhose stretched over the filter as a
pre-filter keeps the large particulate matter like grass and bugs
out of the filters pleats and makes cleaning it a lot easier.
Just replace the pantyhose at every oil change...