Dirt bike air filter question - WHY????

[sw99]

Why don't we see any of these washable oil-free air filters for dirt bikes yet. Not trying to single out any other bikes, just because the dirt bikes are constantly subjected to harsh conditions pretty much all the time. I am getting sick of cleaning and oiling my filter after every ride...

 

[Panzerman]

As far as I know KN filters are available for just about all the Dirt bikes out there and are alot easier to wash than the foam types. I used to use them on 1978 Yamaha ITs. Check on Ebay.

 

[boraticus]

Oiled foam air filters do a better job in real dusty conditions. It's that simple. That's the reason for their predominance in most dirt bike applications.

I'd live with the inconvenience of cleaning/oiling the foam type filter. If you want life to be easier for you, keep two filters. Have one always cleaned, oiled and stored in a big zip lock bag. That way, you can take the dirty filter out of the machine, throw it into a can of cleaner and let it sit for a while. Put in the clean one and carry on. Clean the dirty one at your convenience and put it in the bag.

 

[tom slick]

Oiled foam also deals with water better. Can a washable paper filter operate when wet?

 

[robbobster]

No Toil foam oil-filter oil is a lot easier to work with than most others I've tried.

From their site:
No-Toil filter oil is 100% waterproof, but easily washes out of the filter using only water and No-Toil Filter Cleaner.

http://www.notoil.com/

 

[Panzerman]

I think it depends alot on the type of riding you do. I have KN filters on my quad and the wifes, because we ride more sensiable(NOW), the kids get Uni filters because they ride extreme, they go in(or under) water and in mud all day non-stop.I think if you just want to stop dust and moderate water/mud, KN as, any fabric filter will perform as good as stock, but if I was going to ride a dirt bike and seriously abuse it in deep water and mud, I would go through the hassle of foam filters and sticky oil. Another option is a pre-filter that handle water, quite well and slide right over the KNs. That way you get the best of both worlds. KN filters are fabric, I think. Polaris atvs come stock with paper filters, so a KN is definetely a upgrade.

 

[sw99]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
Oiled foam also deals with water better. Can a washable paper filter operate when wet?


good point, never though of that.

 

[sunruh]

sw99,
as said above, No-Toil is washable. been using JUST soap and water on mine for .... hmmm let me think here ..... was my 2smoker ..... got the MMoD in Dec '00 ..... so well over 9 years now!

call it a decade of using biodegrable, washable air filter oil.

 

[sw99]

I was thinking of trying the No-Toil filter oil. I have been using the Bel-Ray foam filter oil but cleaning has been a task. This Bel-Ray oil is tough to clean using regular dish soap. Thanks everyone, I'll probably give it a shot.

 

[boraticus]

You clean foam air filters in dish soap? Yeah....., I'd say you'd have your work cut out for you using that.

What ever happened to using Varsol or (gasp!) gasoline?

Dish soap???? Not this guy. I usually do my mechanical work in the garage. Not the kitchen.

By the way, do you actually PAY for Bel-Ray oil to apply to the foam? If you do, you're throwing money out the window. Remember what the purpose of the oil in the foam is. It's there to catch dust particles and keep water off. Doesn't take a magic snake oil to get the job done. Any engine oil lying around the garage will do the job. Heavier weighted oil will adhere a bit better but just about anything automotive will do.

Bel-Ray air filter oil = snake oil.

 

[tom slick]

engine oil and filter oil are not even close to the same.

the PJ1 filter oil and cleaner is very easy to use. Prior to that I used Bel-Ray filter oil and used mineral spirits to cut the oil's bond, then dish soap or simple green to wash out the mineral spirits and get the filter squeaky clean. The mineral spirits could be used over and over so it wasn't expensive.

 

[boraticus]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
engine oil and filter oil are not even close to the same.


I didn't say they were the "same". What I am saying is that they will do the "same" job.

Do you think dust and water know the difference between Bell-Ray snake oil and any other oil? Please.....

I've used engine oil on foam air filters on machines for thirty years and have engines nearly that old still running fine. i've never seen an owner's manual stipulate the use of other than engine oil.

All of my existing machines with foam filters have engine oil in them now.

...Darn! Guess I had better saddle up and go git me some snake oil!!!

 

[Silk]

Bike filter oil is stickier than engine oil - you can't use filter oil on a B&S foam filter,it just loads up the filter and the engine won't run,you have to use engine oil on a B&S foam filter.I don't have a problem using engine oil on a bike filter,but the real stuff is better.

I've used NoToil,but don't really like it - it's made for the weekend rider so they can wash the filter in the laundry at home.With a good workshop the mineral oil is better - wash out in the parts wash machine,then oil and put in the bike.Wash hands.

 

[boraticus]

Time for a reality check!

I own a 2006 KLR650 with an oiled foam filter, a 1980 Suzuki PE175 with an oiled foam filter and had owned two 1980's Suzuki ATVs with oiled foam filters. All of those old machines from the '80s are still running strong. My KLR with over 20000 miles on it is running like the day I bought it.

Soooooo, how much of an improvement would Bel Ray filter oil have over regular engine oil? Money out the window lads!

Oh, and by the way, if you want sticky oil, try using chainsaw bar oil. You can get a gallon of it for the price of a pint of snake oil and it comes in winter and summer weights.

 

[Silk]

During the '70's I ran all my bikes without airfilters at all on gravel roads - they ran just fine for years and years.Then I progressed to panty hose crutch over the carb intake.However,these days I prefer to use something a bit better.....oiled foam for preference,paper is that is all they have for that model.As I said,engine or gear oil works just fine - but filter oil is much better.

 

[boraticus]

"but filter oil is much better."

How do you quantify the above statement?

Because it says so on the Bel Ray bottle???

Looks like someone might be drinking to koolaid.

 

[azsynthetic]

Here is an explanation from http://www.all-offroad.com/DirtBikes/TrailTips/FenderBagOct98.html

Motor oil works well, but it won't work very long. If you are prepping the filter on Thursday and racing on Saturday it will be fine. If you prep in May and park the bike until July you will have trouble. Motor oil "drains off" of the element leaving spots of the foam "dry" where dirt will go through. "Foam filter oil" will stay on the element for months (years?) and the element will still be moist to the touch. Remember, the oil stops the dirt, the filter just holds the oil! WD40 is too thin, don't use it on a foam filter. The desired process is for the dirt to stick to the oily foam strand. Then the piece of dirt soaks up some oil and the 15th piece of dirt will stick to the first piece of dirt, then the 35th piece sticks to the 15th and so on. With a light oil there isn't enough moisture for that to happen, so the dirt will eventually go through.

 

[robbobster]

Since I don't have a parts-washer, I need something that works and is convenient to use. No-Toil works on both counts for me.

Convenient = more likely to use it regularly (or at least make it les of a chore)

Regular filter oil and even motor oil is a PITA to clean up, comparatively speaking.

 

[boraticus]

azsynthetic:

Still not buying it.

Any engine oil will be sucked uniformly into the foam filter if properly applied. The best way is to put the filter and oil into a zip lock bag and gently massage the oil into it. Squeeze off excess and it's good to go. I clean up my KLR in the fall and store it for winter. I clean and oil the air filter and leave it on the basket stored in a zip lock bag. When I put it back into the bike in the spring, there are no "dry spots". It's oil for crying out loud! Have you ever seen an oily rag dry out?

I've yet to find an owners manual that specifies Bel Ray or any other snake oil for their foam air filters.

I'm sure that this debate can go on for ever. There's a line between what does the job well and what's perceived to be doing the same job better. Paying a premium for snake oil that will provide .00001% improvement is, well, (add suitable word here).

 

[87sammy]

My owner manuals 88 CR500 01 TRX350 08 TRX450 all say to use foam filter oil.