Hey guys,

Got a K&N airfilter on the ZR, but it is as dirty as you can get. Now I have tried almost all the bike shops in my area, and *none* of them can help me with getting K&N air filter cleaner + oil.

The filter is in desperate need of a clean...., so what else can I clean it with without ruining it? After the clean, what can I oil it with? WD-40 any good?

Thanks!

Kerosine will work for cleaning it. Just make sure you use it in the open air and away from any possible flame sources.

Absolutely, positively, DO NOT USE gasoline! It will linger in the filter and you could end up with a fire in your airbox.

As for oil, check your local auto parts store. K&N makes filters for autos as well so may of the stores will carry the filter oil. I don't know if they carry the K&N cleaner, but they do have kerosine and may be able to recommend another cleaning agent.

Same metod of cleaning the foam filter should be safe. Soapy warm water. Hot water will melt the foam rubber seal casket adhesive. Although can repair that with contact cement (I know )
Couple of changes of soapy water when water gets dirty. Rinse and soak in clean water few times. Let dry if have access to air compressor drying is quicker.

Thanks for the advice so far. I actually walked into an auto parts store this afternoon, but it didnt come to mind to look for that!(I was actually 'window shopping').

I thought that one can wash the K&N in soapy water, but wasnt sure if one can use another oil(i.e. WD-40).

One of the biggest problems is that the area I live in are all small towns, so it makes it really difficult to get a(or any) decent shop around here, beit auto or bikes!

K&N Oil treatment forgot.
I can't say for sure K&N oil looks suspiciously like red transmission fluid. Know practice of using motor oil to coat the foam filters. Can use Transmission fluid for Phenumic tool lubricant (few drops in the air line). A little jump to just say Use red Transmission fluid on the K&N filter.
Cause it's an oil, doesn't dry out and it's Red.

I actually thought about mentioning the transmission fluid trick because I'd heard that one before, although I've never tried it myself.

In addition, I've also heard at light weight fork oil will work as well, but, again, I haven't tried it myself so I don't know if it's true or not.

I imagine neither of them would hurt to use in a pinch until you got the correct oil for it.

The main thing is that you don't want to use an oil that is flameble because if a backfire comes through the emission control system into the airbox, you'd have a warm bottom pretty damn quick.

In the in the instructions that came with my K&N oil and filter cleaning kit it says NO to

gasoline cleaning
stean cleaning
strong detergents
high pressure car wash
parts cleaning solvents

They might harm the gauze filter media and shrink and harden the rubber end caps.

Never user:

Automatic trans fluid
motor oil
diesel fuel
wd-40, LPS or other light weight oil.

The instructions also states that K&N oil is a comound of mineral and animal oil blended witha special polymers to form a barrier and red dye is added so we are able to see it being applied.


Hopefully this helps

Her are to distributors in France that sell K&N

http://www.iacautomoto.com/index.php

http://www.tournay-distribution.com/

Have you considered ordering the cleaning kit off an online distributor, or ebay?

Darkjedip (and others),

i have found another site that I ordered a kit from. nopefully it will arrive early next week. I will give my first impressions when I get the package...

thanks!