I currently Have a K&N drop in for my car, its getting kinda dirty, can I use soap and water to clean instead of the oil cleaner, don't wanna run into a problem where the oil gets on to the MAF, because I was just without a car for a week.

 

Go with the stock paper filter. If you use soap and water you're going to remove oil from the filter element; the very same oil meant to clean air.

 

Quite clearly says on the KN filter that you must NEVER use the filter without oil

 

the cleaner in a k&n recharge kit is pretty much just soap and water, is the separate oil that you spray on it that you shouldn't try and skip the use of, when i clean my K&N's i just throw it in my parts washer at work, gets it super clean, and then LIGHTLY oil it up with the oil, and have never had a problem.

 

ya thats how those filters clean so you cant skip the oil part. its when ppl over oil the filter and run into problems

 

question and sorry if u guyz get mad but i have a 97 and have been wondering if these k&n filters really do work and are worth the 50 dollars? i have searched which is how i found this thread...

 

What I want to know is how much oil is too much oil?

I have the spray on oil recharge kit



I vaguely recall when I got it new and took it out of the box it felt like there was an oil layer on the outside but when I recharged it it felt fairly dry to the touch

 

The recharge kit is $9.99. Go get it.

 

I love my K&n filter. like above, the recharge kit is only $10, but lasts more than one charge (I got three recharges from my kit, but I think I overoiled it the first time...). you need the oil, anyway, as stated above, so why not use the cleaner that comes with the kit?

to brandnew: i justified the cost of my filter by comparing the cost of a fram (bleh) filter at $20, 2-3 times per year (it gets dirty alot...); thats $60, for those who can't add.
so a k&n is $50, a recharge kit is $10, therefore, I have lost no money in the long run.
next year, I will save $50, and be able to buy OTHER stuff than filters (I do have a fram air filter for when I recharge, cause it takes FORE EVAR! for the damn filter to dry...)

 

i never used a k&n filter yet

 

I don't think you can use water and soap, as the water will not cut through the oil. The cleaner that K/N sells with the kit is not just water and soap. As far as oiling goes, you should have just enough oil on the filter to give it a red tint (when you clean it, the red tint will be gone).