Looks like a SE filter (made by K&N) in desperate need of a cleaning.

Oh, and welcome.

 

Exactly the same as my K&N filter. It should be washable. Get a filter cleaner kit if you don't have one already. If there is cloth mesh between the metal mesh, oil it after washing it. If not, it will say "do not oil" somewhere on it.

 

Yup--looks just like the SE on the Green Bike, only its marked and is kinda white--not all that nasty black.

 

I appreciate your replies. It's definitely oiled and I thought the SE filters were usually dry. Wouldn't SE or K&N put their markings on it somewhere? I haven't stripped it down to the throttle body, but the filter itself doesn't have a marking on it.

 

Ok, this might be a preference question then - assuming mine is either K&N or SE - should I just clean and keep using or go with the V&H VO2 naked set up (I want to keep the stock cover on it)?

 

Nope. Just wash it good with a "recharge" kit. The K&N kits are like $15 - any auto parts store. Comes with the cleaner and the oil.

 

I would clean and reuse. That's what they are designed for. Go easy on the oil.

 

Go easy on the oil.

^^^ Yep, this is great advice. OP, definitely give that a good cleaning. If it still looks like trash afterwards, just get a new one. They're not terribly expensive

 

Yep, that's the ticket. Clean, oil easy and reuse.

 

That's the filter you get when you do a stage 1 upgrade on the air cleaner. I use Dawn dish soap to clean mine. It works well.

 

Now what?

Here it is cleaned up. Two questions now - should I replace it? Do I oil it? Doesn't look like K&N, and most SE filters I've seen are dry elements. As I mentioned, no markings to indicate anything - at all.
Again, really appreciate the help.

 

Here it is cleaned up. Two questions now - should I replace it? Do I oil it? Doesn't look like K&N, and most SE filters I've seen are dry elements. As I mentioned, no markings to indicate anything - at all.
Again, really appreciate the help.

If that is he same as mine (as it looks) it is a dry element. Don't oil it.

When you said "it looks like it was oiled", was it red? "Oiled" doesn't mean via the breather holes.

 

That filter is in good shape. No need to replace it. The filter material should be cloth sandwiched between the metal mesh. If so, give it some oil and put it back on. No worries.

 

Sure looks like a K&N-type to me. Maybe take it in to a shop or a NAPA store and ask. If so, go light on the oil. Lighter is better than too much. The spray can works best for me - hold at a distance and spray lightly. Don't saturate. The oil will spread as it sinks into the gauze.

 

It's also important that the cleaning happens in the bathroom sink.

 

#Spankme@ Here all this time I have been using the kitchen sink.

 

What happens if I oil an element meant to be dry? In one spot where the mesh meets the rubber, it looked like a little cotton poking out. So, I went ahead and oiled it. It looks good but...

 

Good question. What did you oil it with?

 

It looks like the same filter on my bike,an Arlen Ness Big Sucker.

 

K&N Oil, so it's red now. It was just black before (from dirt). I haven't run the engine yet, and won't until I know. Does the Arlen Ness take oil? When I took it off, there was a yellow oil caked on the back and all over the backing plate.

 

That filter probably came pre-oiled and was obviously never maintained before you got the bike. If the filter has cotton gauze-like mesh in it - and you can still see through it after lightly oiling it - you should be good to go. If this is going to make you lose sleep at night (since we can't verify the make of the filter), just buy the K&N replacement and pop it on.

 

I can still see through it. What would the other filter media be if it wasn't gauze/cotton, paper? I definitely don't think it's a paper media. I didn't sleep a wink last night, so I may just get the replacement.

 

I didn't sleep a wink last night, so I may just get the replacement.

In this case, peace of mind is not that expensive. But I wouldn't hesitate to ride the bike as is to the store to buy the new filter. Advance and Autozone are both stocking K&N motorcycle filters now.

 

If you can see through it when clean, oil it. If all you can see is shadows then run it dry.

 

Had a good friend who was in the Auto parts business all of his life until he passed away a couple of years ago..

20 years ago he showed me tests conducted on K&N air filters.. After the first cleaning and re oiling the filtering ability went down something like 50%. Flowed a lot of air ( unfiltered) though....

I wouldn't use one on my lawn mower..

 

I wouldn't use one on my lawn mower..

Good for you. I've been using one for years with no problems at all.

 

Took the old filter with me to my local stealer, told me it looked to be a real cheap SE replacement. He couldn't identify the brand or model No., nor tell me for sure if it needed oil. Bought the K&N and feeling much better. Thanks for all the input. Still saved money over buying a whole new kit.

 

I think you made the right choice. There are a bunch of pretty sharp guys in this thread, and they couldn't reach a consensus. Now you KNOW what you have.

joe

 

I'm actually glad it wasn't a clear cut answer. I don't feel as dumb for asking. This is a great forum. Looking forward to more discussions in the future, hopefully I'll have something constructive to add at some point.

 

I gave up on actually contributing years ago.

joe