oil to use to clean foam filters
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I thought that foam filters needed a surfactant to clean.
Dawn and water to clean. ATF to lube. Put some in and squeeze out the excess 
You could probably put the ATF in a spray bottle to distribute it smoothly.
SF
I used to wash out the foam filter wrap on my El Camino with Gunk engine cleaner and then rinse it out with water and then let it dry before oiling. Over time the foam stretched out of shape. I'll be washing my new filter with dish detergent. I'll need to take good care of it. Those things are getting hard to find.
You need to use a petroleum distillate (like mineral spirits or kerosene) or a soap and water based cleaner (like dish soap or simple green) to clean foam filters.
I like the the to No-Toil air filter system. It uses a very safe but effective soap to clean the filters, along with a gentle but effective vegetable based oil for the filter oil. The Honda brand of air filter care kit is a re-branded No-Toil kit.
I used gasoline to clean them but I have had a few that disintegrated a while after the gas treatment. Could be the gas but I don't know, so now I use dish soap and then some oil to make them a bit more sticky.
Years ago Briggs manuals suggested gasoline cleaning...
Originally Posted By: AMC
You need to use a petroleum distillate (like mineral spirits or kerosene) or a soap and water based cleaner (like dish soap or simple green) to clean foam filters.
I like the the to No-Toil air filter system. It uses a very safe but effective soap to clean the filters, along with a gentle but effective vegetable based oil for the filter oil. The Honda brand of air filter care kit is a re-branded No-Toil kit.
No you don't, those are actually hard on them and will cause premature wear. I use to use Sunlight dish soap wit great success using it and warm/hot water.
Many use, which is likely the preferred way to ensure longevity, Twin-Air foam filter cleaner and their oils for re-oiling.
https://www.twinair.com/original-liquid-power-air-filter-cleaning-tips.html [/quote]
I've used mineral spirits or gasoline for decades. Never had a problem and believe me, it cleans much quicker than soap and leaves no water in the filter. Clean it, squeeze it dry, add oil, work into filter and get back to work in no time.
Originally Posted By: boraticus
No you don't, those are actually hard on them and will cause premature wear. I use to use Sunlight dish soap wit great success using it and warm/hot water.
Many use, which is likely the preferred way to ensure longevity, Twin-Air foam filter cleaner and their oils for re-oiling.
https://www.twinair.com/original-liquid-power-air-filter-cleaning-tips.html
"There are many different types of solvents used to clean air filters. Some people use automotive solvents or kerosene. We recommend cleaners that are made by the same manufacturers that make the filter oil. They do a great job, and they’re safe. Some people use gasoline. We recommend against this as it can be dangerous, and it can actually damage foam air filters."
https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/rm-rider-exchange/how-to-clean-oil-air-filter/
http://www.uniflow.com.au/contents/en-us/d27_oilcleaner.html
https://dirtbikeplanet.com/air-filter/
I have used mineral spirits for years, followed by hot soapy (Dawn) water.
I usually keep 2 filters around, that way while one is drying I'm oiling up the clean one.
A word of warning, a few years ago I was using the No-Toil system on non- No-Toil filters, after a while the glued seams started to open up and separate. Don't know if it was the cleaner or the oil, I suspect the oil. Seems I read something about this later, don't know if it was on No-Toils website, or a forum. Stopped using No-Toil probably 10 years ago, and no more issues.
Originally Posted By: JetStar
A word of warning, a few years ago I was using the No-Toil system on non- No-Toil filters, after a while the glued seams started to open up and separate. Don't know if it was the cleaner or the oil, I suspect the oil. Seems I read something about this later, don't know if it was on No-Toils website, or a forum. Stopped using No-Toil probably 10 years ago, and no more issues.
OK, just spotted this thread. I have been a pro OPE mechanic for 40+years, and as you may know many of those engines use foam filters. I have always used mineral spirits to clean the filters, then wring out as dry as possible, even wrapping in a rag, and squeeze more.
then DIP the whole filter in a container of oil (most any oil) and saturate it. Then squeeze it out as dry as you can, and re-install. If not throughly saturated, it could still let some dust in. I have seen ones that the owner did, and just squirted some oil from an oil can around on it, and after running the engine in dirty conditions, you could see exactly where the dirt went through the filter everywhere the oil wasn't. Foam filters do a great job, but ONLY if properly oiled.
Originally Posted By: old1
OK, just spotted this thread. I have been a pro OPE mechanic for 40+years, and as you may know many of those engines use foam filters. I have always used mineral spirits to clean the filters, then wring out as dry as possible, even wrapping in a rag, and squeeze more.
then DIP the whole filter in a container of oil (most any oil) and saturate it. Then squeeze it out as dry as you can, and re-install. If not throughly saturated, it could still let some dust in. I have seen ones that the owner did, and just squirted some oil from an oil can around on it, and after running the engine in dirty conditions, you could see exactly where the dirt went through the filter everywhere the oil wasn't. Foam filters do a great job, but ONLY if properly oiled.
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