Common Questions regarding CAI air filters, how to recharge a filter, and DIRTY PICS!

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Hello Camaro5 Community,

For those of you who read "Dirty Pics" in the title and clicked this thread, scroll down and you'll get what you came to see , now that I have your attention....

Some of the most common questions we get here, usually on a daily basis, are questions concerning the air filter on our CAI. I am going to take this opportunity to try and answer some of those questions for you, please understand that although many cold air intake filters are very similar, this information is only intended to pertain to our brand of air filters.

Q: Are your air filters dry or wet (oiled)?
A: All CAI Inc. filters are Lifetime use oiled air filters. Through extensive research and experience we have found that oiled filters offer much more performance, superior filtration, and better value to the customer.

Q: Do you use brand X (insert popular brand here) filters?
A: No, we pride ourselves on engineering and manufacturing our own air filters. Our filters are specifically designed for the vehicle and CAI they are sold for, ensuring that every opportunity to maximize performance has been utilized. You can learn more about our air filter design by watching the following video: http://www.coldairinductions.com/air...ers-in-action/

Q: Do I have to oil the air filter when I get it?
A: No, all CAI Inc. filters come pre-oiled from the factory and are ready to use right out of the box.

Q: My filter looks dirty, do I need to throw it away and buy another one?
A: No, one of the key advantages to our oiled filter is that it is intended for lifetime use and never needs to be replaced, and can be maintained with a CAI Inc. Recharge Kit.

Q: What is a Recharge Kit?
A: A Recharge Kit includes a bottle of cleaning solution and a bottle of filter oil, these are the 2 things used to clean and rejuvenate your air filter.

Q: What if I don't want to recharge my filter myself?
A: CAI Inc. sells replacement air filters that are pre-oiled and ready for use should you choose to replace your filter rather than recharge it yourself.

Q: Can a cleaning or "recharge kit" from another company be used?
A: No. I don't know exactly what is different between other companies oil and the oil we use, but I can tell you from first hand experience that other companies oil does not always properly soak into and dry into our filter pleating. Use of another companies Recharge Kit can ruin your air filter, not properly dry into your pleating causing issues, and will void your warranty of our product.

Q: How many times can your recharge kit be used on a filter?
A: Generally speaking you will get 2-3 Recharges out of one kit.

Q: How often should I clean (recharge) or replace my air filter?
A: This is by far the most common question we get, and unfortunately there is no exact answer or a magic number of miles your filter will give you before requiring a recharge. These filters have 8 layers of interwoven cotton fiber pleating, and can take a lot of wear and tear before filtration and airflow becomes effected. Driving conditions differ all over the country in terms of dust and debris levels, so everyone's filter ages at a different pace.

On average, most customers do not need a recharge/replacement for 25k miles or so, again it could be less or more depending on where you drive at. Generally speaking, if the filter was getting so dirty that airflow is being effected, you would notice a difference in performance and fuel economy.

If you race your car (legally of course), then perhaps you want to recharge or replace your air filter more often to be absolutely sure that your filter is performing at its peak level of performance. For those of you participate in car shows where your filter will be seen by judges, some choose to have a filter for shows and another filter for driving.

That being said, a visual inspection and some common sense goes a long way with determining when your air filter is in need of a Recharge. Lets take a look at some images for reference:

Here is a new filter next to a filter with approximately 100k miles on it. The filters shown in the photo are not off a Camaro, but they are they same design and style oiled cone filters, just some different dimensions. These are both CAI Inc. air filters:





I think the difference between the 2 is pretty clear, however lets take a closer look. Notice the highlighted area in the picture below shows an area of the air filter where the valleys in between the filter pleating is completely clogged with debris. The more debris clogging the filter like this, the less air the filter can pull, and the more restriction it will cause. Since airflow and reducing restriction is a crucial part of your CAI optimizing performance, recharging or replacing this filter will fix this problem. Although the filter is still pulling air and doing its job filtration wise, common sense would tell you that removing this debris, cleaning the filter, and re-oiling it will greatly improve airflow.




Up close on a clean air filter, as you can see the valleys in between the filter pleating are obviously completely clear of debris, allowing for optimal air flow.



Q: How do you use a recharge kit?
A: **Before starting ensure to use the proper safety precautions such as gloves and safety glasses**

Step 1. Remove filter - Remove the filter from your vehicle and ensure that no dirt or other debris enters the intake tube while the filter is off.

Step 2. Pre-Clean - Using your hand and/or compressed air (no more than 100 psi using a standard air nozzle) remove the larger visible debris from the outside of the filter. When using compressed air keep the nozzle at least 6” from the filter media.

Step 3. Clean - Spray the outside of the filter with the supplied CAI Inc. cleaning solution until the entire outer filter media is evenly saturated. Allow the filter to rest so the solution can soak in for 15 minutes.

Step 4. Rinse - Rinse the Filter with warm water by running the water from the clean side of the filter thru to the dirty side of the filter, so that the water can flush the dirt out and off of the filter.

Step 5. Dry - Allow the filter to air dry naturally. (DO NOT use heat sources in attempt to dry the filter faster as this may damage the filter media fibers and/or shrink them.)

Step 6. Oil – Once dry, apply the supplied oil solution to the outside of the filter media using 1 spray for every 2 square inches of filter media. DO NOT OVER OIL, RECHARGING YOUR AIR FILTER WILL NOT BRING IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL COLOR.

Step 7. Dry – Allow oiled filter to dry for a minimum of 1 hour so the oil can soak into and “recharge” the filter media. You should be able to handle the filter without the oil coming off on your hands, once this is the case your filter is ready to be reinstalled, if oil is still coming off on your hands when handling the filter allow it to dry longer. A drying period of 24 hours in a well ventilated area is recommended.

Step 8. Reinstall – Properly reinstall your recharged filter and make sure all connections are tight.

I hope that this answers your questions regarding our air filters, longevity, and maintenance using a CAI Inc. Recharge Kit. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask and I will do my best to supply you with an answer. Thank you to all who support our company and brand, we appreciate it very much!

[GMTool]

First off, I am happy with the CAI intake on my car. As usual I am probably going way above and beyond the norm, even when it comes to cleaning/recharging an air filter, but that's just the way I do things. I do things right or don't do it at all.

So anyways, about the filter recharging. I bought an extra filter so I can replace a dirty filter quickly, and clean the dirty one at my convenience. I see where the recharge kit is good for 2-3 times. Well it seems to me the cleaning solution (which looks and smells like simple green all purpose cleaner) is good for about one time and the oil is good for many times. I did the spray and rinse twice to where the rinsing water was clean when drained into a bucket. After drying, the filter looked clean but still had a little red color to it.

And then the oiling after drying. It says one spray for every 2 square inches. I realize the oil has to soak in for a while. There are a lot of dry spots. Out of a full 8oz bottle of oil, I used about 1 1/2oz of it. Did I put enough oil on it? It has been a few hours since spraying the oil and it still looks dry in areas. So just how much oil am I suppose to put on, why can't there be an exact amount of ounces called out in the instructions? I do not want to over oil it. The instructions also say that recharging will not bring it back to its original color. Why not? What color is it suppose to be?

I'm kind of thinking it might be best to buy a new filter every 20-25K miles. Plus if I have to buy a recharge kit just for the cleaning solution, I may just forget about this cleaning/recharging. Anyways, just a couple things I am wondering about. Thanks.

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by GMTool

First off, I am happy with the CAI intake on my car. As usual I am probably going way above and beyond the norm, even when it comes to cleaning/recharging an air filter, but that's just the way I do things. I do things right or don't do it at all.

So anyways, about the filter recharging. I bought an extra filter so I can replace a dirty filter quickly, and clean the dirty one at my convenience. I see where the recharge kit is good for 2-3 times. Well it seems to me the cleaning solution (which looks and smells like simple green all purpose cleaner) is good for about one time and the oil is good for many times. I did the spray and rinse twice to where the rinsing water was clean when drained into a bucket. After drying, the filter looked clean but still had a little red color to it.

And then the oiling after drying. It says one spray for every 2 square inches. I realize the oil has to soak in for a while. There are a lot of dry spots. Out of a full 8oz bottle of oil, I used about 1 1/2oz of it. Did I put enough oil on it? It has been a few hours since spraying the oil and it still looks dry in areas. So just how much oil am I suppose to put on, why can't there be an exact amount of ounces called out in the instructions? I do not want to over oil it. The instructions also say that recharging will not bring it back to its original color. Why not? What color is it suppose to be?

I'm kind of thinking it might be best to buy a new filter every 20-25K miles. Plus if I have to buy a recharge kit just for the cleaning solution, I may just forget about this cleaning/recharging. Anyways, just a couple things I am wondering about. Thanks.

I'll try and answer your questions/concerns:

1. Uses per Kit: The cleaning solution and oil can last differently for different people. You may try recharging your air filter after 10k miles when it is still in great condition, therefore not requiring as much of either solution. Someone with an extremely dirty filter like the one shown may require to use much more of the kit. So the amount of use per kit completely depends on the individual filter condition

2. After cleaning/drying the filter still had some red to it: The filter pleating is a cotton gauze and absorbs the oil which also dyes it. It's not your goal to get rid of the red color, its your goal to get rid of the dirt. Just like washing a shirt that you spilled red liquid on, the shirt may come out the washing machine clean but still have a red stain left behind, its just a matter of the oil dying the filter media.

3. Did you use enough oil: Just make sure that the entire filter gets a light coating which covers all of the filter media. If there are spots that look like they were missed, simply go over them and touch up the filter as needed.

4. No exact amount of ounces called out for filter oil: Our recharge kit is used for all of our air filters, and all of our filters are different sizes. We have about 9 different filters and they all would require different amounts. And like discussed in my response #1, it would also depend on how dirty the filter was originally and how much you cleaned it. There's no magic number of ounces, because it could vary per scenario, just make sure the filter has a nice even and uniform coating.

5. Filter color: The filters media is not oiled from the factory in the same process that you are using for a recharge kit. Also the filter media gets stained over time, so originally before it was oiled at the factory it was bright white, after using it dirt stains the filter media, the brightness of the oil fades after being washed/dried, and recharging it will not look the same as it did when you pulled it out of the box as a brand new filter. Again, everyone's filter has been treated different, so there is not one specific shade of color that everyone will achieve.

I hope that answers your questions. Sometimes its best to keep things simple, this is not one of those things that need overthinking or in depth analysis. The recharge kit is pretty straightforward, and as long as the filter is cleaner than it was prior to using the recharge kit, and a nice even coat of oil has been re-applied without over oiling it, you have done the job correctly

[Dupree878]

About to order another filter. I've had bad luck with oiling of M.A.F. Sensors from K&N kits so I'll just purchase a new one.

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by Dupree878

About to order another filter. I've had bad luck with oiling of M.A.F. Sensors from K&N kits so I'll just purchase a new one.

Many people choose just to buy a replacement filter, nothing wrong with that!

[GMTool]

Originally Posted by Sales @ CAI Inc

I'll try and answer your questions/concerns:

1. Uses per Kit: The cleaning solution and oil can last differently for different people. You may try recharging your air filter after 10k miles when it is still in great condition, therefore not requiring as much of either solution. Someone with an extremely dirty filter like the one shown may require to use much more of the kit. So the amount of use per kit completely depends on the individual filter condition

2. After cleaning/drying the filter still had some red to it: The filter pleating is a cotton gauze and absorbs the oil which also dyes it. It's not your goal to get rid of the red color, its your goal to get rid of the dirt. Just like washing a shirt that you spilled red liquid on, the shirt may come out the washing machine clean but still have a red stain left behind, its just a matter of the oil dying the filter media.

3. Did you use enough oil: Just make sure that the entire filter gets a light coating which covers all of the filter media. If there are spots that look like they were missed, simply go over them and touch up the filter as needed.

4. No exact amount of ounces called out for filter oil: Our recharge kit is used for all of our air filters, and all of our filters are different sizes. We have about 9 different filters and they all would require different amounts. And like discussed in my response #1, it would also depend on how dirty the filter was originally and how much you cleaned it. There's no magic number of ounces, because it could vary per scenario, just make sure the filter has a nice even and uniform coating.

5. Filter color: The filters media is not oiled from the factory in the same process that you are using for a recharge kit. Also the filter media gets stained over time, so originally before it was oiled at the factory it was bright white, after using it dirt stains the filter media, the brightness of the oil fades after being washed/dried, and recharging it will not look the same as it did when you pulled it out of the box as a brand new filter. Again, everyone's filter has been treated different, so there is not one specific shade of color that everyone will achieve.

I hope that answers your questions. Sometimes its best to keep things simple, this is not one of those things that need overthinking or in depth analysis. The recharge kit is pretty straightforward, and as long as the filter is cleaner than it was prior to using the recharge kit, and a nice even coat of oil has been re-applied without over oiling it, you have done the job correctly

Thanks for the info. I guess my biggest concern is over oiling. I'm sure I cleaned it good. I added a little more oil to the filter last night. It still looked a little dry. Looks pretty good now after sitting over night, it's just a little darker in color than a brand new one out of the box. So out of the recharge kit, I used all of the cleaner and maybe a 1/4 bottle of oil. Next time I recharge a filter I need cleaner and no oil. Do you sell just the cleaner?

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by GMTool

Thanks for the info. I guess my biggest concern is over oiling. I'm sure I cleaned it good. I added a little more oil to the filter last night. It still looked a little dry. Looks pretty good now after sitting over night, it's just a little darker in color than a brand new one out of the box. So out of the recharge kit, I used all of the cleaner and maybe a 1/4 bottle of oil. Next time I recharge a filter I need cleaner and no oil. Do you sell just the cleaner?

We do not, we only sell a complete kit. Use the "less is more" motto when it comes to the oil, which it sounds like you did. As for the cleaner, you probably went far beyond what you needed to, unless your filter was similar to the one in the photo I listed. In the end you now have a clean filter and should be good to go.

[SteveV]

Maybe I am anal, but I try to clean and re-oil my filter every other oil change. And I change my oil every 5k.

The in between time, I use my shop vac to try to suck as much dirt from the filter and airbox as possible.

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by SteveV

Maybe I am anal, but I try to clean and re-oil my filter every other oil change. And I change my oil every 5k.

The in between time, I use my shop vac to try to suck as much dirt from the filter and airbox as possible.

Wow, honestly you are defeating one of the main benefits to a multi layered oiled filter media, which is reduced maintenance and cost savings. Removing the large debris from the filter and air box is a good idea and will and longevity, but since you are cleaning it every 10k miles anyways it wont really matter lol. As long as you are doing the process correctly I don't think you will harm anything, but you are probably going a bit overkill

[SteveV]

Originally Posted by Sales @ CAI Inc

"but you are probably going a bit overkill"

Probably... But what is an engine anyway? A big hair drier... It sucks in air, adds fuel, heats it up, bang, and hotter air comes out the other end.

So, if I can make it suck in the most air it can, that should benefit me in the long run...

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by SteveV

Probably... But what is an engine anyway? A big hair drier... It sucks in air, adds fuel, heats it up, bang, and hotter air comes out the other end.

So, if I can make it suck in the most air it can, that should benefit me in the long run...

At least you are on top of your maintenance!

[HartRod]

how do you properly size an air filter?

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Originally Posted by HartRod

how do you properly size an air filter?

I'm not sure I understand the question?

Are you asking how to find the correct size replacement filter for your CAI? If so we have a tool on our website that you input your vehicle data and it tells you the correct replacement for the CAI, here is the link: http://www.coldairinductions.com/store/air-filters

If you are talking about the air filter design itself, similar to designing a CAI, its all about making sure you have enough airflow capability as well as an airflow path that keeps the restriction/turbulence down to a minimum. Obviously filtration is important as well. There is a lot of computer software and equipment which helps with testing those types of things.

Hope that helps.

[Sales @ CAI Inc]

Bump, lots of questions about this on a daily basis it seems.