How to Clean K&N Air Filters | Step By Step Instructions

CHOOSE YOUR FILTER TYPE

Select your air filter type below to view detailed cleaning instructions. If you have any questions about the cleaning process, please contact customer service by calling 800-858-3333 (North America) or emailing [email protected].

OILED COTTON STOCK REPLACEMENT
UNIVERSAL HIGH-FLOW AIR FILTER

K&N® DRYFLOW® AIR FILTER

K&N® SYNTHETIC OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT
OR INDUSTRIAL AIR FILTER

K&N® HEAVY DUTY HYBRID AIR FILTER

K&N® WASHABLE CABIN AIR FILTER

K&N® LIFETIME WASHABLE HOME AIR FILTER

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CLEANING A K&N® OILED COTTON STOCK REPLACEMENT OR UNIVERSAL HIGH-FLOW AIR FILTER

SHOP CLEANING KITS

STEP 1 - REMOVE FILTER

Remove your filter from its housing. Handling carefully, lightly tap off all loose dirt and debris.

STEP 2 - APPLY K&N® POWER KLEEN®

Liberally spray Power Kleen® filter cleaner onto both sides of the filter and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Do not allow the cleaner to dry on the air filter.

STEP 3 - RINSE YOUR FILTER WITH LOW PRESSURE WATER

Rinse your air filter with cool low-pressure water from the clean side out in order to flush the dirt out of the filter. Continue to rinse the filter until the water runs clear. It may be necessary to repeat steps 1 and 2.

STEP 4 - ALLOW YOUR FILTER TO DRY NATURALLY

After rinsing your filter, gently shake off excess water and allow the filter to dry naturally. Do not apply oil until the air filter is completely dry.

STEP 5 - APPLY K&N® FILTER OIL

When using the air filter oil squeeze bottle found in K&N® filter cleaning kit 99-5050, apply K&N air filter oil evenly along the crown of each pleat. Allow the oil to wick for approximately 20 minutes, and then touch up any light areas on either side of filter until there is a uniform red color on all areas. When using the K&N® air filter oil aerosol spray found in K&N filter cleaning kit 99-5000 or K&N's 12.25 oz aerosol air filter oil, spray the oil evenly along the crown of each pleat while holding the nozzle about 3" away. Allow the oil to wick for approximately 20 minutes. Touch up any light areas on either side of the filter until there is a uniform red color on all areas. Please note that the above process is the only approved procedure for maintaining your K&N® High-Flow Air Filter™.

CLEANING A K&N® DRYFLOW® AIR FILTER

SHOP CLEANING KITS

STEP 1 - REMOVE FILTER

Remove the air filter from the intake pipe, the OE airbox, or the custom assembly. Handling carefully, lightly tap off all loose dirt and debris.

STEP 2 - APPLY CLEANER

Liberally spray K&N® Synthetic Air Filter Cleaner onto both sides of the filter, with the majority of it applied to the dirty side. Allow to soak in for 10 minutes. Do not allow it to dry on the air filter.

STEP 3 - RINSE FILTER

Rinse off the filter element with cool or warm (not hot) water from the clean side out in order to flush the dirt out of the filter. It may be necessary to use your fingers on the hose, to apply light water pressure. Repeat steps 2 and 3, until the water flowing through the media is completely clear of any dirt and debris.

STEP 4 - DRY AND RE-INSTALL

After rinsing, gently shake off excess water. Allow filter to dry naturally, or use compressed air to speed the drying cycle. The filter should be dry, or just slightly damp before re-installing. Re-install the filter onto the intake system or into the airbox once it is dry. Follow all original installation instructions.

CLEANING A K&N® SYNTHETIC OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT OR INDUSTRIAL AIR FILTER

SHOP CLEANING KITS

STEP 1 - REMOVE FILTER

Remove the air filter from the intake pipe, the OE airbox, or the custom assembly. Handling carefully, lightly tap off all loose dirt and debris.

STEP 2 - APPLY CLEANER

STEP 3 - RINSE FILTER

STEP 4 - DRY AND RE-INSTALL FILTER

CLEANING A K&N® HEAVY DUTY HYBRID AIR FILTER

SHOP CLEANING KITS

STEP 1 – REMOVE FILTER

Remove the air filter from the air filter housing. Handling with care, remove loose dirt and debris from the filter by tapping it with your hand and/or spraying it with compressed air. If compressed air is used, blow air from the clean side of the filter to the dirty side.

STEP 2 - APPLY CLEANER

Spray a generous amount of K&N® Heavy Duty Air Filter Cleaner onto both sides of the filter, with the majority of it applied to the dirty side. Allow to soak in for 20 minutes. Do not allow it to dry on the air filter.

STEP 3 - RINSE FILTER

Using a pressure washer or garden hose, begin by rinsing any large dirt particles off of the dirty side of the filter. Then rinse the filter element with cool or warm (not hot) water from the clean side out in order to flush the rest of the dirt out of the filter. Continue rinsing until the water flowing through the media is completely clear of any dirt or debris. Depending on the volume of dirt in the filter, a second or third application of cleaner and rinsing may be required.

STEP 4 - DRY AND RE-INSTALL

After rinsing, gently shake off excess water. Allow filter to dry naturally, or use compressed air to speed the drying cycle. The filter should be dry, or just slightly damp before re-installing. Re-install the air filter element back into the air filter housing of the vehicle, following original installation instructions.

CLEANING A K&N® WASHABLE CABIN AIR FILTER

SHOP CLEANING KITS

STEP 1 - REMOVE FILTER

Remove the K&N cabin air filter from the cabin air filter housing and or cabin air filter tray. Handling with care, remove loose dirt and debris from the filter by tapping it with your hand or against a hard surface.

STEP 2 - APPLY CLEANER

Spray a generous amount of K&N’s specially formulated cabin air filter cleaner onto both sides of the filter, with a majority of it applied to the dirty side. Allow the cleaner to soak in for 10 minutes. Do not allow the cleaner to dry on the cabin air filter.

STEP 3 - RINSE FILTER

STEP 4 - DRY

After rinsing, gently shake off excess water. Allow filter to dry naturally for 20-30 minutes. The filter does not need to be completely dry and can be slightly damp before moving to the next step.

STEP 5 – REFRESH

Apply K&N cabin air filter Refresher™ onto the cabin air filter element. Apply liberally, so that the entire area of the cabin air filter media is treated.

STEP 6 - RE-INSTALL

Re-install the cabin air filter into the filter housing or tray. Follow original installation instructions that were provided with your K&N cabin air filter.

CLEANING A K&N® LIFETIME WASHABLE HOME AIR FILTER

SHOP CLEANING KITS

STEP 1 – REMOVE FILTER

Remove your filter from its housing.

STEP 2 – WET WITH WATER AND APPLY CLEANER

Wet both sides of the filter, and heavily spray K&N® HVAC cleaner onto the dirty side of the filter. Allow the cleaner to sit for 2 to 3 minutes before rinsing with cool, low-pressure water from the clean side of the filter out.

Make sure to use only K&N HVAC filter cleaner, as other cleaners can void your warranty and potentially damage the filter media. Do not use high-pressure nozzles or pressure washers to rinse, as these may also damage the filter.

STEP 3 – RINSE WITH LOW-PRESSURE WATER

Continue to rinse your filter from the wire screen side out until the water runs clear and free from debris.

STEP 4 – GENTLY SHAKE

Gently tap and shake the filter to remove any excess water. Stand the filter on end, and allow it to air dry naturally.

STEP 5 – SPRAY AND REINSTALL

Once the filter is dry, lightly spray cleaner onto the side without the wire screen. Leave the cleaner on the filter, and reinstall your filter into its housing, taking note of the directional arrows on the filter frame.