OZ ATV :: The Australian ATV Forum

[Dorty08]

Silly question i know, but ive always used petrol which they say is a no-no but ive never had a problem with it, some say use kero of metho and wash it out with water sfter its dried...any thoughts? I also useually use the spray on oil because its alot easier to apply...
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"2009" Raptor 700

[feralkid]

I use kero because they say petrol will rot the foam in the filter which can make holes. Not good.
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"If in doubt go flat out"
"Nothing worth having is easy to get"

[doorslammer]

kero here as well.
wash off all the oil with kero the wash the kero off with warm soapy water.
petrol also dissolves the glues that are used in some filters to hold them together
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01 Banshee
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway

[Dorty08]

Kero it is then, thanks people.
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"2009" Raptor 700

[John Mags]

DO NOT USE PETROL, METHO or KERO on foam air filters. ONLY USE MINERAL TURPS to break down the filter oil then wash in warm soapy water to get rid of the turps. Let dry overnight then use your favourite oil.

Anything other than TURPS will damage your filter. Some just do the damage faster than others.
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When I'm racing I'm living..... everything else is just waiting.

[HoleshotQR#24]

John Mags wrote:

DO NOT USE PETROL, METHO or KERO on foam air filters. ONLY USE MINERAL TURPS to break down the filter oil then wash in warm soapy water to get rid of the turps. Let dry overnight then use your favourite oil. Anything other than TURPS will damage your filter. Some just do the damage faster than others.

Agree...morning fresh works well for cleaning after turps.
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Proud Member of QuadridersSA
www.dualroost.com.au

[doorslammer]

check you clymers manual and it will say to wash you filter in kero. But you have to wash the kero off with soapy water.

i do agree that kero may damage your filter. i also think that certain brand filters will react differently to cleaning products.
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01 Banshee
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway

[cowchaser]

Ahh crap i've been useing petrol for year
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Smitty

[Scooter]

Dont you mean Pete's been using petrol for years!

I use a Jack for cleaning my filters.
"Hay Jack, clean my filter"
This system works well for me on all types of filters.
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Thanks to
Polaris Australia
47 Industries
Team Bullet
ScootAround (Marco)

[John Mags]

This is straight off the UNIFILTER web site:



FAQ's
Filter Cleaning

“With what should I clean my filter?�

The preferred product for cleaning is mineral turpentine (“turps�). It is the only safe solvent for use in cleaning polyurethane foam. All other solvents will have some detrimental effect on the foam structure over a period of time.



As an alternative, Unifilter’s “Foam Filter Cleaner� solution is a detergent-based wash designed to be used where mineral turps is either unavailable or inconvenient to use. As turps is a solvent it should not be carried within a vehicle. “Foam Filter Cleaner� is designed therefore for use when the customer needs to carry out air filter servicing enroute.



“Can I use petrol, gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel, methylated spirits etc to clean my filter?�

All of these products will have some greater or lesser detrimental effect on the polyurethane foam over time and therefore should not be used.
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When I'm racing I'm living..... everything else is just waiting.

[Dorty08]

hmm ok, mineral turps it is then
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"2009" Raptor 700

[doorslammer]

i agree with you john. just saying different filters different cleaners. at least it doesent say you need to clean your filter with uni filter cleaner and gives you an alternative.

by the time kero or other low flash point solvents have started to deteriate my filter it think i would have replaced it long ago.

seems like if turps is cheaper ill be using that from now on... give me a better high as well
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01 Banshee
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway

[Dazz]

hate to but in .... BUT>.......

how long do you think it will take kero to brake down the filter is it more than the life expectancy of the filter anyway ?

ive seen filter cleaner in the yammy shop it might have been a motul product ...... so is it any good?

id love to poll this one to see what every one uses ....

[Barney]

I use the Twin air , filter cleaner solution and also the oil comes with a nice bucket specialy for the cleaner solution , it has a tray that allows the dirt and so forth to drop to the bottom, after i use the solution i also wash out with dishwashing liquid, then i use the oiling container .


http://www.twinairusa.com/products/system.html
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2012 Can am Outlander Xt 1000cc
Can Am Full set of Armour ,Grip and thumb warmer
Fox Podium Shocks and springs front and back
GME Tx 4600 UHF with Helmet Mic
Hema Gps

[John Mags]

I use to use Kero and the filter had noticeable swelling after 12 months. It could have started sooner but that is when I noticed it.

I have been using turps for the last 8 years and have not had a filter fail yet. Some are that old at least.

Just to bring up another interesting point, now that we are on filters and solvents, on most quads, if you lift up the quad onto the rear grab bar for whatever reason, the fuel in the carb will drain back out into the filter. This has two effects:

1) it washes the filter oil out of a patch off of the filter, ususally the bottom where you do not notice it immedietly, and creates a nice oil free path to let dust and sand in to your engine.

2) that "patch" starts to deteriorate faster than the rest of the filter and may also go unnoticed for a fair time.

If you must lift your quad onto the grab bar then turn off your fuel tap and drail all of the fuel out of your bowl or remove your filter first.
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When I'm racing I'm living..... everything else is just waiting.

[John Mags]

Dazz wrote:

hate to but in .... BUT>....... how long do you think it will take kero to brake down the filter is it more than the life expectancy of the filter anyway ?

Depends on how often you clean your filter in the stuff. Once a week? Once a month? Once a year?
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When I'm racing I'm living..... everything else is just waiting.

[Todd 127]

Mineral turps has always worked well for me.

[bigjon]

Mineral turps followed by soapy water for my foam filters and K&N cleaner followed by water for my K&N.

I use to use kero till I read a Uni-filter brochure years ago. I didn't notice any damage, but I figured Uni-filter should know.
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Don't close your eyes during the crash, you'll miss the best part

[bullet]

Interestng topic.
You would not think any reputable manufacturer would be stupid enough to design an engine air filter that gets disolved by petrol in a normal component lifetime.
Most carbies and some fuel injection spit back a bit of fuel from time to time in odd riding situations

I used to wash all my filters in petrol since the mid 80's and have never had a problem myself.

But there are lots of easier spray on degreaser products these days, like CRC Aeroclean.
And like HoleshotQR#24... I find a lot of washing and flushing with dish washing liquid and then dry out before re-oiling works well.

Both our bikes air cleaners need doing right now... anyone want to come over and do them for me?
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Can-Am X Team
Bullet #Y12. MrsB #Y18.

[ning]

i wash mine in petrol then warm soapy water.
only problem i had with washing them was when i switched to no-toil or whatever its called brand. bought a pack that had oil and cleaner, i didnt rate either so switched back to petrol and my usual filter oil and the glue dissolved.
but with my new filters ive never had a problem yet, and on the weekend just been had to clean them twice, still good as new.
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Race In Peace Chillibin