Do You Wash Your Paper Air Filter?

[tomcat7359]

In some industries, (mining) we have been washing paper filters for years, Fleetguard, Donaldson, Cat, Baldwin, and had very good luck with it. Wash them no more than 2 times, after the 3rd time in a machine they got replaced, but this is after a very thorough inspection with a strong light to see any defects in the paper element. This was done in a dimly lit room. The filters are marked with a paint marker, so we would know when to discard them. We also were using oil sampling and monitoring the results for any elevation of silica. Never saw any increase because of washed filters, usually was always a loose clamp or hole in intake piping.
My opinion on Inner filter, (secondary) is I never remove them unless I have a new one that is going to be installed. If I can see dirt on inner filter, it means outer filter, (primary) has failed and has allowed dirt to pass thru...

I have heard of vacuuming before, and will decent results.

We would NEVER clean a filter with any kind of solvents. The paper element from all manufactures I know of, glue them in with an epoxy type substance, would not take a chance on ruining the bond between element and housing... I think that would be a good way to "dust" an engine.

Just my opinion..

 

[Looking4new]

The shop manual for my Kioti says that you can wash the filter up to 6 times and then replace it or replace it once a year. In the 2+ years I have had this tractor I have only checked the filter (It gets most of its' use in the winter blowing snow).