If you ride in a lot of dusty conditions or through tall grass fields then more than likely your foam air filter is getting pretty dirty.  The most common mistakes made when cleaning the filter is thinking its ok to clean it in gasoline and not putting oil on the filter after cleaning it.  The problem with gasoline is that it breaks down the glue on the filter causing it to deteriorate faster.  When you don’t put oil back onto the filter the bigger particles are more likely to get into your engine.  I will be explaining the method I have perfected to properly clean the filter and pro long the life of the filter.

The first thing to do is remove the filter from your quad.  If you are using a stock filter be sure to remove the steel insert inside the foam before cleaning.  Next dip the foam filter into either a parts washer filled with mineral spirits or a can of mineral spirits either one will work.  Work the oil out of the filter, when most of the oil is out lightly wring the filter out to get most of the mineral spirits out of the filter.  Next use some dish soap and squirt a moderate amount onto the filter.  Get the filter damp and work the soap into the filter to remove the dirt and grime build up in the filter.  Fully rinse the filter out and lightly wring the water out of the filter.  Use a clean shop rag or paper towel to help get most of the water out.  Next will be the oil application.  I prefer bell ray liquid foam air filter oil.  Make sure to put on some latex gloves as the oil can be quite messy.  Pour a moderate amount of oil onto the filter be careful here as over oiling the filter can cause loss in performance.  Work the oil into the filter making sure that both the inside and outside are evenly coated in oil.  You can scrunch the filter together to spread the oil around the filter.  If you have any dry spots use a light amount of oil to fill them.   Re-install the filter into your atv, if you are using a stock filter be sure to re-insert the steel inner filter.  That’s it!

I hope this guide will help you in your air filter cleaning endeavor.  Remember that a clean evenly oiled air filter will increase your performance, gas mileage, and it will pro long the life of your engine.