Air filter cleaning

**AussieAub** · 14th October 2009, 10:34 AM

G'day all,
Was just wondering what preferred methods you guys use for cleaning of the original equipment air filters between servicing (ie, the standard paper panel filters, as opposed to the likes of the K&N style oiled filters), specifically on a V8 D2?

And preferably that can be done at home, as opposed to having any "proper garage" equipment to hand.....

Cheers,

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page

**isuzurover** · 14th October 2009, 10:52 AM

Automotive air filters are not really cleanable. It is easy to fracture the cellulose media and/or create pinholes.

Your filter works better with more dust on it.

Industrial "surface" filters are cleaned by a reverse pulse of compressed air. However the media is specially designed (and tested) to endure the forces induced by the cleaning process.

EDIT: You can give it a tap to dislodge loose dust, but that is all I would do. Do not blow compressed air from the outside (in the flow direction, as you will likely clog the filter further or move the dust further in where it can be more easily reentrained).

There are companies who clean auto air filters (using dry cleaning-like fluid I believe), but I wouldn't do iit.

**Sprint** · 14th October 2009, 08:51 PM

K&N's i wash, paper ones get cleaned out every bin day

**LOVEMYRANGIE** · 15th October 2009, 01:21 AM

As Ben said, washing paper filters is a no no. The fibres are technically bonded and any water will cause them to swell and separate.
You can lightly back blow them with low pressure air but be careful. Use something to diffuse the air jet and always blow it at a good angle.
Never blow it from the dirty side. This will force it in further blocking the element.

With all the different manufacturers now, replacement is the best option.

Cheers

Andrew

**AussieAub** · 15th October 2009, 02:39 AM

Originally Posted by LOVEMYRANGIE

replacement is the best option

I was quoted $85 from one local place.....(hence my OP)!

Does that sound right? Coz it sure doesn't to me!!

Cheers,

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page

**Crackerjack** · 15th October 2009, 03:44 AM

You should always replace a stock airfilter, they are designed to be disposable, $85 sounds off the scale, They are about $10 here in the UK you could always mail order one or better still buy a K&N or some sort of washable foam filter.

**JDNSW** · 15th October 2009, 07:43 AM

Originally Posted by Crackerjack

You should always replace a stock airfilter, they are designed to be disposable, $85 sounds off the scale, They are about $10 here in the UK you could always mail order one or better still buy a K&N or some sort of washable foam filter.

See the discussion on K&E filters elsewhere in this forum.

I was interested reading recently some background to the first Landrovers, there was discussion on the role of aircleaners. It was pointed out that in the UK, with a generally damp and largely dust free atmosphere and with almost all roads sealed, the main function of an aircleaner in the 1940s was as an intake silencer. In contrast, for export, particularly to places like Australia with (then as now) many unsealed roads, and a largely dry climate, and with not infrequent dust storms even in the major cities (e.g. Brisbane yesterday), the major use of aircleaners became one of supplying clean air. For this reason, the first Landrovers were fitted with an aircleaner which was specified by its UK manufacturer for use only in tractors. Clean air has remained a priority in Australia, where in the UK it is not a problem - It can be argued that as Landrovers have become less export oriented and more home market oriented, the suitability of the aircleaners has decreased. Compare for example the aircleaner on the Australian designed Isuzu installation with that on the latest Defender. The available surface area is much smaller, and no guard element.

John

**spudboy** · 15th October 2009, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by AussieAub

I was quoted $85 from one local place.....(hence my OP)!

Does that sound right? Coz it sure doesn't to me!!

Try a quick search on eBay. You can get filter kits for your particular vehicle with proper quality components (like Coopers filters). Stay away from the no-name really cheap offers.

This one for a TD5 is going for around $85 for air/fuel/oil filters including the copper sump plug washer!

Land Rover Discovery Series 2 TD5 Full Filter Kit - eBay Engine Parts, Engines, Components, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 11-Nov-09 22:37:34 AEDST)

You'll just have to search for the appropriate one for your model.

HTH
David

**spudboy** · 15th October 2009, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by Crackerjack

.... or better still buy a K&N or some sort of washable foam filter.

There will be lots of people who disagree with that out here. Maybe OK for the UK where the dust level is negligible....

**isuzurover** · 15th October 2009, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by AussieAub

I was quoted $85 from one local place.....(hence my OP)!

Make sure you aren't replacing it too frequently. Fit a restriction (pressure drop) valve, and only change the filter when that says to.

Fitting a cyclonic pre cleaner (you will usually need to fit a snorkel to do this) should extend your filter change intervals by about 4x.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

See the discussion on K&E filters elsewhere in this forum.

I was interested reading recently some background to the first Landrovers, there was discussion on the role of aircleaners. It was pointed out that in the UK, with a generally damp and largely dust free atmosphere and with almost all roads sealed, the main function of an aircleaner in the 1940s was as an intake silencer. In contrast, for export, particularly to places like Australia with (then as now) many unsealed roads, and a largely dry climate, and with not infrequent dust storms even in the major cities (e.g. Brisbane yesterday), the major use of aircleaners became one of supplying clean air. For this reason, the first Landrovers were fitted with an aircleaner which was specified by its UK manufacturer for use only in tractors. Clean air has remained a priority in Australia, where in the UK it is not a problem - It can be argued that as Landrovers have become less export oriented and more home market oriented, the suitability of the aircleaners has decreased. Compare for example the aircleaner on the Australian designed Isuzu installation with that on the latest Defender. The available surface area is much smaller, and no guard element.

John

As JD says, have a read about the K&N and then tell us if you still want to keep it...

Dust loads on auto air filters and the size distribution of said dust varies widely between countries and usage types.

Australia generally has very high dust loads, however nowhere near as high as the middle east. Vehicles which spend most of their time on highways and in cities mainly have a problem with soot particles. As soot particles are small and "sticky", they clog a filter much more rapidly (on a mass basis) than "outback dust". Filter manufacturers advise car manufacturers on appropriate filter efficiency for intended use, but the vehicle manufacturer chooses the spec in the end.

The Australian 110 countys have an "off highway" spec intake filter system. This is the time of filter you would generally find on earthmoving equipment, mine vehicles, tractors, etc...

The Tdi 110s have a similar or slightly downgraded spec - they still have a cyclonic precleaner, but no safety element. The discos on the other hand (at least from the flat filter models-on) have what is basically a car-spec element/filter setup.

This seems to generally be the case - discos and rrcs have a car-spec element as they are expected to spend most of their life on the highway. The 90/110 gets a better spec as it is expected to spend most of its like in a dusty environment.

However - wrt to the start of your post - in the 1940s, they really had very little idea about dust, and what it did to an engine. The first serious works on aerosol particle mechanics did not appear until the mid 1960s.

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