Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: speed545 on February 11, 2012, 02:54:05 PM

Title: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: speed545 on February 11, 2012, 02:54:05 PM
Hey guys,

I ve always had K&N on my vehicules for 25 years. And i always
oiled them after cleaning.

I ve read that oiling them is not necessary and might be more damageable then not. I think i read that on a mustang forum.

I m just there since i removed all fearings to have some part paint.

Just wondering what you guys do?

Thx

Derry
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: Jeremy Mitchell on February 11, 2012, 03:02:16 PM
You don't need to oil them, unless you like having dust get into your motor.  They are made to be oiled. 
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: speed545 on February 11, 2012, 03:07:13 PM
i guess you met "you need to oil them"

Thx
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: Jeremy Mitchell on February 11, 2012, 03:15:50 PM
i guess you met "you need to oil them"

Thx

I was being facetious.  If you want to use a dry filter, why not use the oem?
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: Joncon11 on February 11, 2012, 03:43:38 PM
The horrible rumors about fouled MAF sensors and such are a result of folks over oiling them and not understanding why it messed their car/bike up. Clean with cleaner, rinse with hot water, let air dry, and oil lightly, that's how it's designed to work.
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: speed545 on February 11, 2012, 03:48:05 PM
I was being facetious.  If you want to use a dry filter, why not use the oem?

oupss, didnt get that one  ???
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: speed545 on February 11, 2012, 03:49:47 PM
The horrible rumors about fouled MAF sensors and such are a result of folks over oiling them and not understanding why it messed their car/bike up. Clean with cleaner, rinse with hot water, let air dry, and oil lightly, that's how it's designed to work.

didnt remember but you re right about the MAF being fouled rumors.

thx
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: st2sam on February 11, 2012, 05:38:04 PM
I'm on my third year with a K&N, no problems in over 35,000mi..
I wash mine in the dishwasher, then let it dry for a couple days on top of a warm furnace.
When dry I always oil it with what ever oil I have sitting on the shelf.  :yikes:   I find car oil works as good as motorcycle oil.. :stirpot:
Do not over oil it...
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: KawiG on February 11, 2012, 05:51:12 PM
Oil lightly is the "KEY" the oil will leech through the filter, but if used without oil you are bound for trouble! To test the theory put a piece of unoiled gauze over a glass and put a rubber band around it, sprinkle some sand on top and shake or tap lightly remove gauze and look down in the glass..it will look bad! Lightly oiled the result will be very different. K&N filters can be devastating if used improperly!
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: ZG on February 11, 2012, 06:13:46 PM
So how often should you oil the K&N in just normal climate conditions? Once a year? Twice? Every other year?  :-\ 
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: Ron Dawg on February 11, 2012, 06:29:53 PM
http://www.knfilters.com/faq.htm#4 (http://www.knfilters.com/faq.htm#4)

K&N says 25,000 miles in dusty conditions, 50-100,000 on road. I clean the one in my F250 V-10 every 30,000 miles. I plan to clean the one in my Connie every other valve adjustment or 12,000 miles since it's closer to the ground than in my truck. If I see it's not dirty, I'll wait.
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: KawiG on February 11, 2012, 07:06:07 PM
The tackier the oil the better!
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: basmntdweller on February 12, 2012, 08:51:29 AM
When I was racing, I washed it in the sink with dawn dishsoap, dried with airhose and used K&N air filter spray oil. The K&N oil was tinted red so I could see I was getting coverage but the spray didn't go on real heavy.
I'd have to see back to back dyno runs with stock filter versus K&N to convince myself it was worth the money on a bike like this. On my race car it had to be cleaned every race due to the fact I was dirt tracking. It would get chunks of mud early and heavy dust by the end of the night.

Matt
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: Ron Dawg on February 12, 2012, 09:46:17 AM
Did the dyno show tha it was it worth it? I probably would  not have risked the money, but a friend gave me the filter as a gift, so I said, "what the heck?" It added 1-2 mpg to my truck which sounds like nothing, but to go from 10 mpg to 12 is 20%.
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: VirginiaJim on February 12, 2012, 11:19:46 AM
Hey guys,

I ve always had K&N on my vehicules for 25 years. And i always
oiled them after cleaning.

I ve read that oiling them is not necessary and might be more damageable then not. I think i read that on a mustang forum.

I m just there since i removed all fearings to have some part paint.

Just wondering what you guys do?

Thx

Derry

This is the C14 forum so whatever you read on the Mustang forum probably doesn't apply here.  I usually follow the Mfg's directions, which does state to oil them.
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: speed545 on February 12, 2012, 02:05:02 PM
This is the C14 forum so whatever you read on the Mustang forum probably doesn't apply here.  I usually follow the Mfg's directions, which does state to oil them.

and i just did.

thx
Title: Re: oiling a K&N air filter
Post by: IRULE on February 25, 2012, 07:34:29 PM

When dry I always oil it with what ever oil I have sitting on the shelf.  :yikes:   I find car oil works as good as motorcycle oil.. :stirpot:
Do not over oil it...

Really!  It's just amazing how people just do whatever they think it's best for them.  I think companies should just fire their R&D department, because people just do whatever the f*** they want anyway... ;D