Author Topic: Air filter oil  (Read 4409 times)

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Offline vmxrider

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Air filter oil
« on: August 31, 2013, 10:57:12 am »
I always used cheap engine oil, is there any real advantage in the expensive sticky stuff which seems to make the filter harder to clean? I usually clean the filter in truck wash for a while then rinse in warm water and let dry for a few days before oiling.
« Last Edit: August 31, 2013, 08:54:56 pm by vmxrider »

Offline EML

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Re: Air fiter oil
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2013, 12:08:57 pm »
A lot more to cleaning a filter than just a quick tub. Next time give it a nice hot soapy wash, then a warm rinse. Drain your bucket and rinse it, then give it  another hot soapy wash....then run your finger around the bottom of the bucket, tilting it to one side.
You might be amazed how much grit is there. We wash ours up to 8 times to get rid of it because that's the grit that goes through and into your carby and then into your cylinder, which then sandblasts your piston and chews out your crank.
My point is....clean your filters well, use good tacky oil and NEVER WRING out the filter, it stretches the pores and opens them up to let grit through. Just squeeze it into a ball and press the water out then let it dry naturally.   

Offline oldyzman

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Re: Air fiter oil
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2013, 12:52:04 pm »
I use and recycle mineral turps, then use truckwash...
I have a soft spot japanese mxers with aluminium tanks. Two stroke classic Dirt Track...

Offline kdx 175

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Re: Air fiter oil
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2013, 06:16:57 pm »
whats the best filter oil to use water based or mineral

Offline 80-85 husky

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Re: Air fiter oil
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2013, 08:15:40 pm »
Bel ray filter oil is the ONLY oil to use.

we had a pony xpress back in the drought and after the practise lap, the event was cancelled due to the dusty conditions. it was unbelievably dusty.

Ol mate had a bike shop and he had 6 bikes come in needing bore piston work after that 1 lap. he personally had 3 bikes out doing set up and they then rode the practise lap.

the scrubbed bikes did not use Belray oil while all his  bikes and many others using Belray survived.

it was a pretty clear test of the oil and ive used nothing but since.

I clean the filters in petrol, with a double rinse then every so often a big soapy wash and rinse under the tap to get out the sticky bits of crap.

get a big set of elbow length rubber work gloves and make sure plenty of oil is squeezed through the filter and then rub a good dollop of grease around the rim to get a good seal "arf arf"

Another story... bloke came in needing a rebore on his near new ts 200. "how do you clean the filter mate?" he was asked..... "wash it in petrol" he says...."then what oil do you use??"..... ol mate says "Oil?" what oil....

Offline VMX Andrew

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Re: Air fiter oil
« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2013, 08:30:27 pm »
And if you cant get all the grit out of the filter after washing it for the umpteenth time
throw it away and buy a new one.
Average filter price would be around $35.
Average rebuild for a twostroke ??

Offline Ted

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Re: Air fiter oil
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2013, 08:36:45 pm »
"Average rebuild for a two stroke"

That depends whether it is a ground up resto or race ready rebuild ;D
81 YZ 465 H   77 RM 125 B

Offline OverTheHill

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Re: Air fiter oil
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2013, 08:50:04 pm »
back in the DT1--race kit days [1968] we used filtron elements on the original filter cage, was good too & i just used EP90 oil. Probably why the bike smelt like a Diff leaking on an exhaust!!. Used that probably because i thought it was thicker & less likely to run off or be sucked out & never ever had a problem--talking right through the 465G days & later. In saying that, oiling it up during the week meant a lot had found its way to the lower part which meant i was overdoing it in the first place. Used Bell Ray once in the 465 & sucked it dry during a long race & DUST AHHH--new rings as could feel the lack of sharpness late in the race & feel it on the kick start too. In hind sight [& this new fangled oil] i think i oiled that one up at the meeting just before the race, & in hindsight the bellray smelt volatile, so not having time to dry off & solidify to cling on etc meant it just got sucked out in double quick time. Was back to the diff oil after that.

Offline OverTheHill

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Re: Air fiter oil
« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2013, 09:06:56 pm »
meant to say i mostly just used petrol & washed it a till no more settling in the bowl then dry off with the compressor [if running out of time]. Shouldn't say---ok then, no petrol for the mower after one filter clean so strained it through a rag &--cant tell ya!!. & won't mention the 6 litres of good looking oil out of an oil collumn heater i dumped--working perfect in the 490 forks as we speak. Anyway, back to filters, i recall a guy [not me this time] with a yz250j back in the day & washed & oiled his filter after every race on this dusty day. Never watched how he did it but saw the results at work the next week & had to skip first over & go to 0.5mm [20 thou] rebore to clean up. Must've been barely dragging itself along at end of the day. Bottom end can't have been good either.

Offline OverTheHill

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Re: Air filter oil
« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2013, 09:10:14 pm »
how come my first post up there has turned out 'green' in colour!! pretty?

Offline smed

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Re: Air filter oil
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2013, 09:45:13 pm »
Kero then hot soapy water for me, then any good quality filter oil,I am using Belray at the moment, 22 F'ing $ a bottle :o,must have gold flakes in it ;)

I would never use petrol to wash a filter,In my experience i have found it can make them swell up, melt the glue & generally roots them,but if you guys who are using it are having no probs then go for it :)


Offline oldyzman

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Re: Air filter oil
« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2013, 09:49:45 pm »
Yep ,i think petrol is too Harsh and the filter can deform, Turps really does dilute the filter oil instantly. Good cheap and fast!
I have a soft spot japanese mxers with aluminium tanks. Two stroke classic Dirt Track...

Offline Paul552

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Re: Air filter oil
« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2013, 10:04:25 pm »
Try notoil

It's unreal
'77 YZ125D '84 CR250RE '89 CR250RK '84 CR80RE  '09 YZ250F

Offline mudguard

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Re: Air filter oil
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2013, 10:09:57 pm »
I give my filters a thorough clean with Kero. Leave them out to dry then use Silkolene foam filter oil. Squeeze the oil out so they are moist and not dripping. Sometimes have prepared them a week before race day and have never found them to be dry.
Have not washed them in soapy water but might try it next time, might get rid of that horrible Kero smell.
I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken.

Offline Rossvickicampbell

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Re: Air filter oil
« Reply #14 on: September 01, 2013, 08:05:07 am »
like mudguard - clean and then leave sit until next meeting my filters (x2 - YZB) in Silkolene - haven't had a drama - but for 2 day meets carry a spare pair and grease the face heavily when installing.
1974 Yamaha YZ360B
1980 Honda CR250R - Moto X Fox Replica