Cleaning an air filter

jlsmith · Sep 12, 2012

I read a lot of post on here about guys cleaning their air filter. First thing they say is that they blow it out with their air compressor. Just FYI this is the worst thing you can do to an air filter because the compressed air blows apart the mess fibers that hold the filter together allowing dirt and dust to pass right threw. The best way to clean an air filter IMO is to just bump it against the palm of your hand. This will clean it out and still save the filter and add life to your engine. I have been to many classes and all have stated the same thing. Hope this helps a little and keep on tractoring.

Jeremy

Soundguy · Sep 12, 2012

i wash mine in kerosene, pour some oil in it and reinstall..

gwdixon · Sep 12, 2012

jlsmith said:
I read a lot of post on here about guys cleaning their air filter. First thing they say is that they blow it out with their air compressor. Just FYI this is the worst thing you can do to an air filter because the compressed air blows apart the mess fibers that hold the filter together allowing dirt and dust to pass right threw. The best way to clean an air filter IMO is to just bump it against the palm of your hand. This will clean it out and still save the filter and add life to your engine. I have been to many classes and all have stated the same thing. Hope this helps a little and keep on tractoring.

Jeremy

Ah ha, using an air compressor to clean the primary filter is why my secondary filter has so much dirt in it. Oh, wait...there has not been a speck of dirt in my secondary filter in 600 hours.

Jerry/MT · Sep 12, 2012

Some of the primary air filters are washable. I've never done that. I tap them and then blow them out with an air compressor of just replace them. I've never seen any damage to the primary filter using compressed air but I suppose it's possible if the air pressure is too high. Never have replaced the secondary filter.

Thanks for the info.

jlsmith · Sep 12, 2012

gwdixon said:
Ah ha, using an air compressor to clean the primary filter is why my secondary filter has so much dirt in it. Oh, wait...there has not been a speck of dirt in my secondary filter in 600 hours.

Im not telling you that you cant blow it out. Its your tractor do what you want to. Just adding some friendly advise to help out. If you want to add life to your filter not blow it out. It does mess up the mess fibers. I just got done with a class last week and that was one of the topics.

oldballs · Sep 12, 2012

That's why I never go to schools/doctors....they are always telling you that the things that you've been doing all your life are not good for you. Thanx jl

Soundguy · Sep 13, 2012

if i sold filters.. i'd for sure say that you couldn't blow them out either..

vabiker23518 · Sep 13, 2012

I've used the leaf blower to blow air inside the outer filter...its not high pressure and seems to clean out the larger dirt/dust particles. Not sure if it extends the filter life but makes me feel better!

Gary Fowler · Sep 13, 2012

I have never had a damaged filter from blowing with compressed air and been doing it for over 40 years. Secondary filter is never dirty either. I start by tapping the filter on the tire which saves my hand a bit to get out the heavy dirt, then blow lightly from about 12" away with blow gun and 50 to 90 PSI pressure (what my compressor low and high settings are) . Never hurt one yet. I think I might get myself another teacher if I were you or if that guy was selling filters, go to another brand filter.

On the other side of that coin, in todays world of "I am not at fault for anything I do, its someone elses fault" attitude, I suppose that when suggesting a method, one has to consider the imbeciles in the world when making a statement. If you said blowing out with air is OK, then someone would hook up to a 250# 3/4 or 1" hose and go at it from 1" away which would certainly separated everything and then want you to replace their filter at no charge because you said blowing with air was the way to clean.