Air Restriction Indicator

[toobroketoretire]

About 5 years ago I modified and installed an air restriction indicator that tells me when I need to clean my pleated paper air filter. These air restriction indicators are made for use with turbocharged engines so I had to install a weaker spring inside so it would be suitable for naturally aspirated gasoline engines. By viewing the degree of Wc restriction I can tell my air filter is getting more and more restrictive. To clean the filter I submerge it into gasoline for a few seconds then blow it from the inside out and let it air dry. With each cleaning I inspect it for pin holes and if none are found it goes back into service again.

I live in an extremely dusty area so my filter will plug often. By cleaning and reusing it I save a lot of money.

 

[1970 LS-5]

About 5 years ago I modified and installed an air restriction indicator that tells me when I need to clean my pleated paper air filter. These air restriction indicators are made for use with turbocharged engines so I had to install a weaker spring inside so it would be suitable for naturally aspirated gasoline engines. By viewing the degree of Wc restriction I can tell my air filter is getting more and more restrictive. To clean the filter I submerge it into gasoline for a few seconds then blow it from the inside out and let it air dry. With each cleaning I inspect it for pin holes and if none are found it goes back into service again.

I live in an extremely dusty area so my filter will plug often. By cleaning and reusing it I save a lot of money.

First of all, never use gasoline for anything except putting in the gas tank. The $6 you save on a paper air cleaner is out weighed by the risk of burning your car and home to the ground.

I do like the creativeness of the air restriction indicator, but wonder how its cost compares to the cost of just replacing the filter more frequently. Paper filters are designed to be replaced, not cleaned, when dirty. And they're not that expensive.

 

[Antz81]

I do like the creativeness of the air restriction indicator, but wonder how its cost compares to the cost of just replacing the filter more frequently. Paper filters are designed to be replaced, not cleaned, when dirty. And they're not that expensive.

Agreed. Why not spend a little extra and get a K&N air filter which is designed to be cleaned?

 

[Hib Halverson]

Wait–what?

You submerge a paper filter in gasoline? So...you have a pan of gasoline in your shop in which you clean filters.

Forgetting the fact that you can't really clean paper filters, I'm appalled you'd recommend that here on the CAC.

I figured a veteran engine builder and a degreed mechanical engineer would know better.

Also, why screw with the spring inside that device. They are installed between the AF and the turbo compressors and are not affected by what's downstream. That is, be it a turbo diesel or an unblown gasoline engine, the device is still going to show red when the filter reaches a certain level.

Wouldn't it have been easier just to pop off the air cleaner top and look?

 

[LLC5]

Wait–what?

You submerge a paper filter in gasoline? So...you have a pan of gasoline in your shop in which you clean filters.

Forgetting the fact that you can't really clean paper filters, I'm appalled you'd recommend that here on the CAC.

I figured a veteran engine builder and a degreed mechanical engineer would know better.

Also, why screw with the spring inside that device. They are installed between the AF and the turbo compressors and are not affected by what's downstream. That is, be it a turbo diesel or an unblown gasoline engine, the device is still going to show red when the filter reaches a certain level.

Wouldn't it have been easier just to pop off the air cleaner top and look?

I guess that I did read his post correct yesterday. I was so dumbfounded by anyone using gasoline to clean anything, let alone a paper filter (you don't even use gasoline to clean a K&N style filter as it delaminates the glue holding the filter together, not to mention it's just plain extremely dangerous), that I thought I had read it wrong so I double checked again today. Guess not.

Totally unbelievable.

 

[KANE]

About 5 years ago I modified and installed an air restriction indicator that tells me when I need to clean my pleated paper air filter. These air restriction indicators are made for use with turbocharged engines so I had to install a weaker spring inside so it would be suitable for naturally aspirated gasoline engines.

That's kinda neat. I saw this yesterday- that's pretty creative.

Not a mod that I would do- but I get it if you live in a dusty area.

To clean the filter I submerge it into gasoline for a few seconds then blow it from the inside out and let it air dry.

:eek

Okay... toobroke... are you serious here??? I completely missed that part- the submerging in gasoline aspect. That's like... what, 5 gallons or so? That seems wasteful.

I can't see how that does that not ruin the filter. And- it's dangerous. :ugh


Not flaming you. That's not my style. But seriously- that seems really, really dangerous. And wasteful of 5 gallons that could be used in a lawn mower. At $2 a pop, you are looking at $10 in wasted gasoline when you could have bought a new filter.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

I'm on the fence whether this post or the one about running tires underinflated offers the worst advice.

 

[LLC5]

I'm on the fence whether this post or the one about running tires underinflated offers the worst advice.

Flip a coin.

20 and 17 psi and blowing out a tire vs blowing yourself up with petrol, tough call.

Might have to lean towards petrol on this on though, it should happen sooner.

 

[toobroketoretire]

I keep a 2 gallon container of gasoline in my garage with a weighted lid on it. I use it to clean parts and my hands and when it gets really gunky I use it to start camp fires. Gasoline doesn't harm the pleated paper filters at all during the short time i swish it in gasoline. And there's no way I would ever use an oiled cloth air filter because they are 1/20th as effective at filtering dirt as a pleated paper filter. They're okay in the middle of the Atlantic or Pacific ocean where there is no dust but anywhere near agriculture they should never be used. That's why none of the world's engine manufacturers use them and why your warranty will get voided if the dealer discovers one is being used.

When my restriction indicator reaches the first mark I know it's time to clean my filter and that usually happens about every 6 months because of the severe dust I deal with.

 

[LLC5]

I keep a 2 gallon container of gasoline in my garage with a weighted lid on it. I use it to clean parts and my hands and when it gets really gunky I use it to start camp fires.

That explains more than a few things.

 

[bill81vette]

Saves from having to sniff glue

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[toobroketoretire]

I'll often use the same filter for 10 years because until it develops pin holes it is still usable. By blowing it from the inside out I can reuse it over and over again. Heavy equipment owners use filter cleaning services that restore the very expensive filters to like-new condition so cleaning filters is nothing new. Big Cat filters can cost $200 or more so you can certainly see the advantage of getting them cleaned rather than trashing them.

 

[LLC5]

I'll often use the same filter for 10 years because until it develops pin holes it is still usable. By blowing it from the inside out I can reuse it over and over again. Heavy equipment owners use filter cleaning services that restore the very expensive filters to like-new condition so cleaning filters is nothing new. Big Cat filters can cost $200 or more so you can certainly see the advantage of getting them cleaned rather than trashing them.

You do understand that they don't clean their Big Cat filters with gasoline don't you?

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

You do understand that they don't clean their Big Cat filters with gasoline don't you?

Nor are they similar in construction and materials to a throw-away car filter.

 

[Antz81]

This just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

First you should never clean your hands in gasoline.
Second aside from the weighted lid, what stops the vapours from escaping? Petrol vapour only needs a small concentration in air to be flammable (about 1.2%).

And as has been said by others paper filters are not ment to be cleaned.

 

[dougelam]

I call "BULL SHIT" on this one
Getting paper wet?
Lasting 10 years?

I'll keep my K&N and burn dirt instead of my car, house, ME

OH BOY here we go again!

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[Peer81]

Brings a backfire into a hole other dimension
Sorry I have a K&N filter, and I'll buy a new one if I think this one is done. If I think some things can be done better or easier them OEM indended then I 'm in for it but this is some weird advice that doesn't belong on a technical forum.

Greetings Peter

 

[Toms007]

Well, I'm not a rich person (retired high school teacher), but if I can't afford to buy a new paper filter every so often, it's time to sell off the vehicles. Paper filters are so cheap, why in the world would you even think about cleaning them? Throw it away and put a new one in......Sorry, this makes about as much sense as chopping your fingers off, because you don't like trim the nails. Hey, you do as you please, but, I hope and pray you don't hurt or kill someone in the process of saving a penny.

For the record here, I use cleanable filters in my vehicles (K&N in my pickup, Green in the Corvette and Cadillac) and live in a very windy, agricultural area.

 

[KANE]

Everybody off the range... we have a safety violation.


It's pretty clear this thread has imploded in a flash fire from an ad hoc gasoline tub parts washer.



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