Freshen up your HPS Performance Air Filter

Your HPS Performance Air Intake System offers many benefits such as improved horsepower, enhanced performance-oriented induction sound, better driveability, and a serviceable air filter. But what do you do when the time comes for you to clean your air filter? How do you know when it’s time to clean your air filter? In this article, we’ll touch base on these and other questions you may have regarding the HPS Performance Air Filter Cleaning Kit.

A dirty air filter can prevent your engine from performing at its best. Good airflow is needed for your engine to work efficiently. The main function of the air filter is to prevent dirt particles from entering the combustion chamber. However, when too much dirt gets trapped on the air filter’s surface, the amount of air that your engine can take in is limited. Your engine can also suffer from poor fuel economy when airflow is impeded.

Some air intake systems attract dirt more than others depending on where the air filter is placed. Our cotton filtration elements are white so knowing when to clean the filter is easy. To clean your air filter, we recommend using the HPS Air Filter Cleaning Kit. What makes our kit different is we use a non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning solution and a synthetic oil specially designed to latch dirt particles onto the stainless steel mesh screen of your HPS Performance Air Filter. These two components together give you a safe and easy cleaning experience for your HPS Performance Air Filter.

Your HPS air filter is white but the oil that we include in our cleaning kit is red. What gives?
Don't be alarmed. We added color to our oil after a fair amount of feedback and testing. Many HPS Performance Air Filter users have spoken about not being able to tell if their filter was oiled. We also experienced the same problem while applying our clear air filter oil when refreshing our R&D test filters and have found that it was difficult to be sure if the oil was applied correctly. After months of testing, we’ve added color to make the air filter cleaning experience as pain-free as possible.

The first step of the cleaning process is to remove any debris by tapping the side of the filter onto a flat surface. Do not use compressed air to blow debris out as it can damage the cotton filtration element.

Once most of the debris is removed, begin spraying the cleaning solution onto the air filter. Cover as much of the surface area as possible and let it sit for 15 minutes.

Rinse the air filter from the inside out using low-pressure water to flush out any remaining dirt. Repeat this process if the air filter is extremely dirty. Gently shake the filter to remove any excess water.

To dry the air filter, allow the air filter to rest in the upright position. A fan may be used to speed up drying but avoid using heat or direct sunlight as this can shrink the cotton.

Once the air filter is dry, you may begin to apply the HPS Synthetic Air Filter Oil. Be conservative when applying the oil. One spray from the bottle will service 2 square inches of the filter. Spray the oil onto the filter from 3-4 inches away. Be patient. It will look blotchy at first but allow the oil to absorb into the cotton element for 15-20 minutes. Lightly touch up any missed areas. Once the oil is a consistent finish, you may wipe off any excess oil and reinstall the air filter onto your intake system.

Your HPS Performance Air Filter will take care of you for as long as you maintain it. Under normal driving and environmental conditions, you should clean your air filter once a year or every 12,000 miles. Dirty and dusty conditions will require cleaning more frequently.

Keep your vehicle running strong and efficiently with a clean air filter. Purchase your HPS Performance Air Filter Cleaning Kit HERE or from your favorite HPS Performance Products dealer.