DIY Cleaning & Re-Oiling Cone Filter

[DonB]

Very basic DIY for cleaning and oiling a cone filter. The filter here is from a Simota

Gruppe M replica intake, but the same principle can be applied for others.

I had recently noticed a bit of a drop in performance...some hesitation from low revs

etc, so decided to put the stock airbox back in for a bit and have a go at

cleaning the cone filter in the Simota intake.

The filter didn't look dirty at all, but on inspection had a good bit of dust etc

in it.

Have used a K&N recharger kit (pic below)which included a spray cleaner and

aerosol filter oil. Halfords stock them iirc, around £12 I think.

First step is to shake out all the dirt and dust and get a small paint brush and

brush out the excess dirt in the pleats in the filter like below:

Then, over a sink, spray on the cleaner fairly generously on the outside of

the filter, you'll want to see the dirt running from the filter, so you need to

use a good bit.

Let that sit in the sink for about 20 minutes and come back to it. You'll find

alot of dirt pouring out of the filter by this stage, as seen below:

Next you need to rinse the cleaner off the filter. Use a the tap and rinse from

the inside of the filter out and make sure the water runs clear. This will take

a minute or two. when your done, shake the water out and leave the filter

overnight to dry, don't use hairdryers or anything, you'll just shrink the

material on the filter.

When you've left the filter overnight to dry, grab the aerosol oil and apply it to each

pleat evenly, making sure to completely cover the area, but not to saturate it.

When I was happy I got an even coverage (I had to hold the filter up to a light to see,

as the K&N oil didn't really show its colour on the blue filter in the Simota), I again, let

the filter dry naturally and actually left it off the car for a week before fitting it.

The difference is very noticeable indeed, pulls better and none of the same hesitation,

and hopefuly I'll see a little better consumption (doubtful though )

In all, if you have a cone filter, pay attention to its condition, and if you decide to clean

and re-oil it, don't do it all in the same day. Just throw the stock airbox back on (takes 2 mins)

and be sensible about it.

[Gravy]

Good guide mate

How many miles did you have your filter on before you did this?

[///Marty]

X2 on not rushing things.

You have to be 100% sure that all the oil is dry before re-fitting or they have a habit of f***ing up your MAF.

[DonB]

Good guide mate

How many miles did you have your filter on before you did this?

Had put too many I think...hadn't been cleaned in about 15,000 miles on my car, and I bought it second

hand, the chap I bought it from used it for a couple of thousand too.

X2 on not rushing things.

You have to be 100% sure that all the oil is dry before re-fitting or they have a habit of f***ing up your MAF.

Yep, easiest just to throw in the stock airbox while you're cleaning it, I left it out drying for a week.

[duffman]

nice write up

[Aly]

Nice write up Don

[Keith]

Picked myself up a very tidy carbon kit for the M3

Using this guide as we speak, so thanks Don

[DonB]

Picked myself up a very tidy carbon kit for the M3

Using this guide as we speak, so thanks Don

Glad it's of some help Keith. Again, just leave it to dry overnight before oiling, and then again for a

few days after you've oiled it to make sure.

Look forward to some pics of that mate.

[Keith]

Glad it's of some help Keith. Again, just leave it to dry overnight before oiling, and then again for a

few days after you've oiled it to make sure.

Look forward to some pics of that mate.

Don't worry - I'll be following your guide to the letter mate.

How do you know how much oil to put on? After fcuking my E46 Maf with an over oiled panel filter (I blame that anyway), I am paranoid about applying too much on the cone filter, but want to do it properly for good filtration.

[DonB]

Don't worry - I'll be following your guide to the letter mate.

How do you know how much oil to put on? After fcuking my E46 Maf with an over oiled panel filter (I blame that anyway), I am paranoid about applying too much on the cone filter, but want to do it properly for good filtration.

Well, with the filter that's in my Simota kit, I had a bit more of a difficult time deciding for that.

The filter is blue, and the filter oil is pink, and didn't show up all that well on the filter.

I think the best thing to do is spray evenly over each pleat until the coverage looks even.

I had to hold the filter up to a bright light to make sure it was.

You'll get the hang of it as you go...you are the DIY daddy after all Keith!

[Keith]

I think the best thing to do is spray evenly over each pleat until the coverage looks even.

I had to hold the filter up to a bright light to make sure it was.

You'll get the hang of it as you go...you are the DIY daddy after all Keith!

Lol, thanks man. Nuts and bolts can be torqued, leather can be coloured... But getting the right amount of oil is like asking how long is a piece of string!

The way you describe (spraying each pleat) make it sound like the filter would be drenched?! Like I said - I'm proper paranoid about it ruining my maf!

I can see myself getting the missus to drive at a ton down the motorway, whilst I hold the filter of the window to dislodge any the excess oil

[autosri]

when i did my old cone i had oil in a bottle not a spary type i just ran a light bead all the way down each pleat until it was an even colour its not that accurate really the filter was a K and N and when washed goes white so just put enough on so it soaks in and covers evenly

[DonB]

Lol, thanks man. Nuts and bolts can be torqued, leather can be coloured... But getting the right amount of oil is like asking how long is a piece of string!

The way you describe (spraying each pleat) make it sound like the filter would be drenched?! Like I said - I'm proper paranoid about it ruining my maf!

I can see myself getting the missus to drive at a ton down the motorway, whilst I hold the filter of the window to dislodge any the excess oil

With the aerosol, you'd have to spray alot on to drench it I'd say.

[325i]

Personally i would not risk damaging the MAF with an aftermarket filter.

The previous owner had fitted a K&N panel filter which i replaced with a original part and cleaned the MAF. Afterwards, the car seemed to run better and seemed to rev more freely.

[DonB]

Personally i would not risk damaging the MAF with an aftermarket filter.

The previous owner had fitted a K&N panel filter which i replaced with a original part and cleaned the MAF. Afterwards, the car seemed to run better and seemed to rev more freely.

Fair enough, I'll agree there are certain dangers to fitting an aftermarket oiled filter.

However, I've been running a Simota, with cone filter for 18 months with zero issues.

I think it depends on how the filter is cleaned/treated.

[Keith]

Cheers for the advice fellas.

@325i - I have always said panel filters are a watse of time, as they offer zero performance gains but with associated dangers. A BMC item screwed my MAF I'm almost certain.

However, I believe the cone filters to be much better, and the right carbon induction kit can see 10-12 bhp proven on the S50B32...

I've got this in my room waiting to go on, so it'd be rude not to

[DonB]

Yep, has been documented gains on the M3 alright, not to mention the sound.

That'll tart up the engine bay nicely Keith.

[Keith]

Should do the trick mate

Some fella advertised it on e36coupe, and must not have know it's true value - these change hands every now and then on the z3mcoupe forum for 350ish - I got it for just a bit more than new DaveF!

Very lucky find.

[DonB]

Used my own guide on this over Christmas, car has been unused since November as I broke my foot, so good a time as any to give the filter a clean.

Hope this little guide helps others, helped me