Air filter maintenance

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Checking and maintaining air filters on a motorcycle
Air filter maintenance - let's get started

Motorcycles also need to be able to breathe. And, of course, thanks to a clean and serviceable air filter.

Checking and maintaining air filters on a motorcycle

One of the main maintenance measures for a motorcycle is checking and maintaining the air filter. This is because when dirt particles enter the engine through carburetors or injectors, it increases cylinder and piston ring wear, unnecessarily shortening engine life.

Adequate supply of clean air is just as important for proper engine operation as supply of clean gasoline. The engine only runs correctly with an ideal air / fuel ratio. If the air supply is restricted due to a clogged or too old filter, engine power will decrease and fuel consumption will increase. As the air / fuel mixture becomes greasy, spark plugs in carbureted engines can become clogged.

This is why you should always keep your air filter clean and service it promptly. The manual for your vehicle tells you how often the filter should be cleaned or replaced. However, these intervals also depend on the terrain you are riding and how you use your motorcycle. Enduro riders who often drive off-road, for example. check the air filter at shorter intervals. Cross-country pilots even have to check it daily.

Air filter at a glance

There are different types of air filters. And these types of filters require different maintenance work and / or replacement intervals:

Foam filters

Foam filters can be cleaned and reused until the foam begins to crumble. Typical maintenance intervals are 5 km.

Cleaning: To clean the filter, place it in soapy water, wring it out gently, and then lightly oil it with engine oil after drying. For two-stroke engines, use two-stroke engine oil. Be sure to use a little oil to avoid staining the spark plugs with this oil.

To check, squeeze the air filter after lubricating it. Oil should not drip. Do not use solvent-based cleaners to clean the filter. They attack the moss. Do not use unfamiliar foam to make your own air filter. In fact, in most cases air filters are made of special polyurethane foam that is resistant to oils and gasoline.

Paper filters

Typical filter paper service intervals are 10 to 000 km.

Cleaning: You can clean dry paper filters by gently tapping them and using compressed air from the inside of the filter to the outside. To clean the paper filter, do not use brushes or other tools that could damage it. In any case, it is best to replace the old filter with a new one. Moreover, buying a new paper air filter does not represent a large cost.

If you would like to significantly extend the replacement interval, you can purchase a permanent air filter from the aftermarket that can be reused after cleaning.

Permanent air filters

More and more high-performance motorcycles are factory fitted with permanent air filters. However, there are also filters designed to replace paper filters. Permanent filters should only be replaced every 80 km or so, but you should check and clean them no later than every 000 km.

With these filters, airflow is also slightly more important, which in theory should improve engine power. In most cases, they also improve the responsiveness of the engine when accelerating.

Cleaning: For example, the K&N company. offers permanent air filters made of special textile fabric. When they get dirty, you wash them with a special cleaner from the manufacturer, and then lightly grease them with a small suitable special oil, after which they can be reused. Thus, in the long term, it is beneficial to purchase a permanent air filter.

Dry air filters such as ex. those from Sprint are even easier to clean. They are made of a special polyester fabric and can only be cleaned with a brush or compressed air. No need to use an air filter cleaner or oil.