Cleaning diesel engine air filters can be a time-consuming, messy task. Make sure your equipment is operating at maximum efficiency with these tips.

Diesel air filters are a necessary component of any heavy equipment. However, air filters can quickly become clogged and dirty, which means it's time to clean them! When air filter efficiency is reduced, the engine will consume more fuel and produce more emissions than usual. This blog post will cover how you can keep your air filter clean for maximum efficiency!

The Importance of Clean Air Filters

Air filters are integral to the air circulation system of diesel engines. They prevent dirt and other particles from the air from being pulled into the engine, which would otherwise clog up vital components like injectors or fuel lines.

When air filters become dirty or damaged, they can lead to higher hydrocarbons (HC) levels in the exhaust emissions and increased particulate emissions. Dirty air filters also restrict airflow to the engine, which reduces horsepower and decreases engine efficiency.

In the long run, you end up spending lots of money servicing your engine and buying more fuel than would be necessary if your engine was operating at its optimum efficiency.

Getting Your Diesel Engine Air Filters Sparkling Clean

How often you should clean your air filter depends on the type of air filter you're using. Filters fall into two categories: oiled and dry. Foam is the main component in dry filters, making them dense and prone to preventing airflow when they accumulate dirt.

Dry filters need cleaning or replacing after 15,000miles or earlier when you operate your diesel engine in a very dusty environment.

On the other hand, Oiled filters are pretty efficient by themselves, requiring cleaning or replacement after about 50,000 miles.

Air filter maintenance is a task that should be done regularly to keep your air filters clean and prevent them from becoming clogged. Luckily, air filter maintenance is usually a relatively simple task that only takes about an hour per air cleaner!

1. Remove the air filter from your diesel engine

To remove your filter from the engine, you'll first need to locate the air filter housing. This is a plastic or metal box that attaches directly onto your engine and houses air filters.

As you can see from our diagram above, the air cleaner has two connections on either end - one for intake air and one for exhaust air.

To remove it from the air filter housing, loosen the connection and pull it out.

If your engine is large or if you have trouble removing air filters from its housings, this process may take more than an hour to complete.

If that's the case, we recommend using a specialist air-filter service company who can come clean your air filters for you.

Giving your air filter a thorough inspection should only take about five minutes and will involve looking at the air filter's outside surface as well as its inside walls.

2. Clean any dirt or debris from the filter

The next step is to remove as much dirt or debris from the air filter's surface that you can.

This will usually be done using the soft brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner, a brush, or a piece of cloth. The goal is to eliminate unwanted particles outside the air filter, so they don't work their way into it and cause more damage.

3. Fill a bucket with warm water and detergent and start cleaning

Before you use water on your filters, make sure your manufacturer allows it. You should never clean oiled filters with soap and water. Find the recommended solution to use for oil-coated filters.

As for dry filters, you can soak for a few minutes, depending on the concentration of dirt. If your filter is not so badly off, you need to swish it around the water to release all the dirt.

4. Rinse off any soap residue with fresh water

It's essential to ensure that your air filter is free from soap residue. If you don't rinse off the soap, your filter may not air out properly and may develop a foul smell, which you don't want.

Keep in mind that the water should run gently to avoid damaging the filter. A kitchen faucet works just fine since you can control the water's pressure and temperature.

5. Allow drying completely

Once your filter is clean, you need to dry it out. Water left behind may damage your engine or make it less efficient. You can shake off the excess water and air dry the air filter, but it may take a while, especially on cloudy days.

A better option would be to use a hairdryer on low heat and air out your air filters until they are dry. Be careful not to overheat them, though! You mustn't damage these delicate pieces of equipment - they're an investment worth protecting.

6. Re-install your clean air filter

Once your filter is dry, it's time to put it back in your air filter housing! It's also a good idea to re-install any air cleaner panels or mounting brackets that may have come off during this process.

If there are missing screws, find a replacement to ensure the air filter stays firmly in place. Ensure all the clamps are securely tightened. Avoid rushing through this process if you want to fix your air filters correctly.

Cleaning Your Air Filter the Easy Way

It's easy to damage your air filter during the cleaning process if you're not careful. That's where Filter Blaster comes in. With our patented innovation, air filters are easy to clean and will air out more quickly.

Our Filter Blaster products are designed to clean air filters thoroughly without damaging them. When your air filters are clean and in shape, you can expect your engine to run more efficiently and save you money.

Forget about puncturing your filters during cleaning once and for all and extend their life significantly by using our range of Filter Blaster products. Better filters mean better fuel efficiency and longer engine life.