CAI Filter Oiling?

[808ChargerRT]

Hey guys I am about to clean my filter for the first time. I have read a lot about not over oiling. I have a Mopar CAI and the Mopar recharge kit. Can anyone give me an idea of how much oil is too much or to little oil.

Thanks a bunch,

[STAGE 3 R/T]

shoots mang for you man! lol

[Super T]

Use just enough to turn the pleats blue (no white spots).

[crhemi]

If you can, wear some rubber gloves.

[808ChargerRT]

Thanks Guys, So I assume I should cover it all over then let it sit for a bit then inspect and repeat if necessary...

[MAGNUM8R]

I have been masking off the non-filter areas of the unit when coating.

It is very messy to have the oil on the end cap (if there is one on yours) and also the open end that you will be installing back on the the intake tube. I'm talking cone filters, but I would mask the seal areas as well.

Some latex gloves make de-masking and re-installing the filter a breeze, no mess!

[Super T]

Thanks Guys, So I assume I should cover it all over then let it sit for a bit then inspect and repeat if necessary...

Yeah, I mean you basically just run a thin bead down the peak of each pleat (real thin) and that about does it. I haven't seen the Mopar kit... it should have a nozzle or whatever that prevents it from slopping all over the joint as long as you're careful. Should only take a couple minutes to see if any spots didn't soak oil in.

[STAGE 3 R/T]

hmmm i bet if you soak it in some tree sap it would work better! lol

[808ChargerRT]

Yeah, I mean you basically just run a thin bead down the peak of each pleat (real thin) and that about does it. I haven't seen the Mopar kit... it should have a nozzle or whatever that prevents it from slopping all over the joint as long as you're careful. Should only take a couple minutes to see if any spots didn't soak oil in.

You explain exactly what I keep reading but the Mopar one is a spray bottle the I know will go everywhere. I wonder why they went with the spray bottle when the method you explain seems like much better method.

Anyone with spray bottle filter experience got any advice.

[Hal'sMag]

My original filter, factory treated, was dirty in 4000 miles.
Was and let it dry fully.
First spray had no white spots an hour after spraying. After 2 hours it showed under oiled areas.
Touched those up with additional spray, and it sat overnight.
No oil carried over to the intake on WOT runs.

I'd have to use a vacuum gage that could be read at WOT runs to know if it's over oiled, but sure can't tell any difference. It's sure collecting allot of dirt.

[Junior]

Anyone with spray bottle filter experience got any advice.

Yessir, I like to clean the filter each time before oiling. Some kits come with some cleaner, or you can use dishsoap or simple green. Spray that on, and let it soak, then rinse it from the inside out. Repeat if necessary, then let it dry completely before oiling.

With the spray oil, and a clean and dry filter, I try to spray down each pleat, and then check coverage (red or blue, whatever you have). Reapply to any white or grey areas, then let it sit a while. I've found that it will soak in and turn grey in spots over a couple hours in the sun (but I'm in Arizona...), and then just reapply oil to those spots and let it sit again. Once it's happy and red (or blue) all over, wipe it down, and reinstall.

If you do all of that, it takes most of a day, but you're only working ten or fifteen minutes of that... the rest is just letting it sit and dry.

Hope that helps.

[mullens]

4000 miles? Wow, mine's got about twice that much and still looks clean. Do you acutally see dirt on the element?

[808ChargerRT]

Thanks everyone, It is nice to know we have a place to go where we can get solid advice from people that really just want to help out other people. No matter how simple or complex the problem.

+100 cool points to all lxforums.com members!

[rwalshphoto]

I have always tried to go on the lighter side of oiling because on past cars the MAF was located right behind the filter and would get coated in K&N oil and foul out (had to clean it with eletrical contact cleaner, safe for sensors). I know with a short ram CAI if you over oil, it forms a residue on the throttle body as well. But yeah, make sure to let the oil set for a while.

[Hal'sMag]

I'm getting a circle of dirt on the bottom of the AFE2 from the hole below, which proves its forcing air up to the filter.
I also have the 6 by 9 front opening, opened to the grill, and the side facing it gets dirty fairly quick.
I drive only paved roads and freeway.

Granted, that still leaves considerable filter area clean on the stage 2. I just don't like looking at the dirt on the filter.

I pulled it off last weekend, and there is no evidence of oil in the intake tube, IAT, or throttle body.

I was concerned I had over oiled it, but maybe it was under oiled when shipped.
More likely, allowing overnight for the oil to "set" on the filter, keeps it from being pulled off the media.