How to Clean Foam Air Filters

Foam air filters are used on vehicles or engines subjected to an excess of dust or dirt, which would require replacing a paper element filter too often. The foam must be maintained properly for it to be successful in filtering the air and all particulates. The filters also use lightweight oil to catch the smaller micro particles. The foam can last quite a long time if handled gently. Foam filters tear easily. They can be cleaned with dishwashing fluid of any type, or you can purchase a cleaning solution for foam filters from the auto parts store. The oil just saturates the filter to keep real fine sediment and dust out. You can use vegetable oil, sun flower oil or anything light in this category or purchase foam filter oil from the auto parts store.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Cleaning solution offered by the manufacturer of the filter at the auto parts store
• Dish washing soap in place of the cleaning solution

• Water
• Lightweight oil of any type; auto parts stores have foam filter oil

• Remove the foam filter. Fill a bucket with warm water and add the cleaning solution --- the special cleaner or dishwashing fluid.

• Wash the filter thoroughly, squeezing it out several times. Do not ring it out because it will tear. Just squeeze the water out. Lay the foam filter on a clean surface to dry.

• Soak the filter with the lightweight filter oil. Squeeze the excess out and re-install it on the engine.