Checking and Cleaning the Air Filter is Important to Prevent Power Loss and Fuel Consumption Deterioration

01-5.jpg How to

Air, fuel, and electric spark are all important elements for an engine. If there is not enough air, the engine will not perform even if there is fuel and spark. The air cleaner, which is at the entrance of the air, is an important part that directly affects the engine's horsepower and fuel efficiency, and it is necessary to take care of its condition so that it does not become clogged.

The function of the air filter is the same for both motorcycles and air conditioners

02-7.jpg The air filter takes up most of the air cleaner box. In this model, there is an intake duct in the filter cover, and the sucked in air flows from the outside of the filter to the inside. The air tries to flow from the place with the least resistance, so it is important to apply the filter oil evenly over the entire surface.

Mounted at the entrance of the air cleaner box, the air filter is a very humble thing. Many motorcycle users may be interested in installing accessories such as phone holders and USB power supplies, but few people always pay attention to the air filter. The same is true for air conditioner filters. Many users pay attention to heating and cooling efficiency and power consumption, but not many are diligent about filter maintenance.

The filter of the air conditioner absorbs the dust in the room and reduces the amount of air intake. As a result, the amount of air used to produce cold or warm air is reduced, and the motor spins vigorously to increase the airflow, which increases the amount of electricity consumed. That's why air conditioners in the high price range are equipped with automatic filter cleaning functions.

Motorcycle air filters are no different, with large volumes of air passing through them the entire time the engine is peforming. By catching dust and dirt on the surface of the filter, it protects the inside of the engine, but as the filter becomes clogged, the amount of air that can be sucked in is reduced. If you have an air conditioner with an automatic cleaning function, you may notice that it goes into filter cleaning mode rather frequently, but the air filter on a motorcycle is not automatically cleaned. Basically, they are cleaned or replaced based on mileage.

Air filters can be classified by format into three types: dry, wet and viscous. The dry type uses dry filter paper, the wet type uses sponge or cotton, and the viscous type basically uses filter paper with a small amount of oil in it, and only the wet type can be cleaned!. The dry type can only be cleaned by dusting the surface of the element, while the viscous type cannot be cleaned because the oil takes in the dirt. Basically, I said mileage, but apart from that, there are cases where the replacement time is determined by the period of use. Specifically, it is a pattern such as traveling 3000km in 10 years. Tires, engine oil, and brake fluid also harden and oxidize on these motorcycles, and the air filter's filtration function is reduced by the combination of moisture and dust on the surface of the element, which can increase air intake resistance.

POINT
  • Point 1 - There are three types of air filters that need to be checked periodically: dry, wet and viscous.
  • Point 2 - Even if the mileage is low, the filter function can be degraded by too long a period of use.

A clogged air filter can cause a variety of engine malfunctions

005-1.jpg The stock air filter of the scooter, which looks like a big air cleaner box divider, is a viscous type that cannot be cleaned and can only be replaced during maintenance; since it is an FI vehicle, an external high performance filter can be installed and no setting is required.

When the air filter becomes clogged with debris, dust or moisture, there is not enough air to make the air mixture, which reduces engine horsepower and fuel economy. If you're a motorcycle enthusiast, you'll probably have your air filter serviced before you notice any of these changes, but some vehicles used by non-motorcyclists who use their motorcycles entirely for commuting to work or school are somehow still performing in a state of complete suffocation. Even if the condition isn't that bad, the clogging of the filter is gradual, so the performance degradation is also gradual and may not be clearly noticeable. In fact, that's probably more common.

For carbureted vehicles, if you experience a delay in response when accelerating from a constant speed to overtaking, or if the engine feels heavy when riding at a constant speed, a clogged air filter may be the cause.

In a carburetor, gasoline is sucked out according to the negative pressure and flow rate applied to the venturi when the engine draws in air. If the air filter is clogged, the negative pressure generated by the engine remains the same, so more gasoline is sucked out of the carburetor's main nozzle to compensate for the reduced air volume, resulting in a thicker mixture.

If you open the throttle wide when accelerating to overtake, the amount of air the engine wants to breathe will increase, but if the amount of air it can actually breathe does not increase due to a clogged air filter, more gasoline will be sucked up to make up the difference. In this case, if you only focus on the thick mixture and change the carburetor setting to a thinner setting, you will end up with a thinner mixture when you replace the air filter with a new one.

When installing an air filter that claims to be able to suck in more air than the stock filter, be aware that the negative pressure on the venturi may be reduced due to the reduction in air intake resistance, which may prevent the necessary gasoline from being sucked up through the float chamber. This may prevent the necessary gasoline from being drawn from the float chamber. If you have changed the air filter and the RPMs are faster, but the engine does not feel as punchy as it should, you may want to increase the carburetor setting. However, in this case, when you return to the stock air filter, the negative inlet pressure will increase (return to normal) and the thicker setting may lead to thicker symptoms.

POINT
  • Point 1 - A clogged air filter causes the engine to lack the necessary amount of air, resulting in reduced power and fuel consumption.
  • Point 2 - Carburetor motorcycle can have a thicker setting due to a clogged air filter.

Basically, replace according to the mileage. If it can be cleaned, clean it according to the instruction manual of the product.

03-7.jpg The time to clean a K&N air filter is when the aluminum mesh of the body becomes dirty. After applying a generous amount of the special cleaner, allow it to penetrate for 10 minutes to lift the dirt that clings to the inside of the filter.

04-7.jpg K&N filters feature a red element, which is the color of the filter oil, which turns white when cleaned with cleaner. If the red color remains after rinsing with water, it means the filter has not been cleaned enough, so apply the cleaner again to lift the dirt.

05-7.jpg Air blowing can cause damage to the element, so after rinsing with water, let it dry completely by natural drying. After drying, apply the filter oil along the surface of the element. Make sure to spread the filter oil evenly so that the color is even.

Dry and viscous filters should be replaced periodically according to the mileage specified by the owner's manual or service manual, as cleaning does not always sufficiently remove dirt and restore performance. However, even if, for example, the specified replacement period is 20,000 km, it does not mean that you can do no checks at all during that period. The intake port of the air cleaner box may be blocked by a rag or fallen leaves placed under the seat, or blow-by gas discharged from the crankcase may have accumulated in the air cleaner box. The sponge filters used on trailers and scooters a long time ago are usually rubbed with oil wash or special filter cleaner, and then filter oil is applied.

If you have a washable aftermarket air filter installed, maintain it with the cleaner and oil specified by that manufacturer. In the case of the K&N air filter shown in the image, the feature is to rinse the applied cleaner with tap water. The dirt on the filter tries to enter from the surface to the inside, so when rinsing with tap water, apply the water from the inside of the filter to the outside.

The same applies to the sponge filter, but the filter that has been cleaned of oil has no ability to absorb fine dust and dirt, so after drying the water, apply special filter oil to the entire surface. The special oil can be used safely, but if you use a high viscosity oil, the resistance of the filter area may increase and the mixture may become thicker, and on the other hand, if the viscosity is low, it may not settle on the element and flow, reducing its ability to catch dirt.

Know that by keeping the air filter at the entrance to the air cleaner box in good condition at all times, you will be able to send the necessary and sufficient amount of clean air, which is essential for the engine.

POINT
  • Point 1・The filter that cannot be washed should be replaced according to the mileage and actual dirtiness.
  • Point 2・If the cleaner or oil is specified in the aftermarket filter, use a special product.
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