Do you have an Airaid intake system with a Synthaflow filter and wonder when and how you should go about cleaning it? Well, it just so happens that Airaid has a video on their YouTube channel where David Edelman demonstrates how to properly clean and oil your filter.

Cleaning and properly oiling your Synthaflow air filter is really important. It helps keep the filter working at its optimum performance, which in turn can improve fuel mileage, lower air intake temperatures, and add a few horsepower.

When the filter is dirty, the filter material will continue to do its primary job of keeping debris and dust out of the engine, but that accumulated filth will partially fill the pleats, thus decreasing air flow.

Cleaning of the filter should happen around every 30-35,000 miles. Airaid makes a cool filter cleaner kit to renew the life of your filter and to maintain the performance of your vehicle. It is quite a simple process, but it would be best to plan to not use the vehicle for a few hours while cleaning the filter. 

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In the video, Edelman first taps the filter on the table to get rid of any loose debris, then proceeds to spray the filter with cleaner, covering the whole element. After letting the cleaner soak into the filter for about ten minutes, he then uses a normal pressure garden hose to rinse the filter from the inside out.

The reason why we said to make sure you don’t need to use the vehicle is because the filter has to air-dry. This step may take a few hours, as it is not recommended to used compressed air to dry the filter. When the filter is completely dry, Edelman sprays the filter’s pleats, holding the can about three inches away. Let the oil soak into the pleats and dry for about twenty minutes, and you’re done. There is also a squeeze bottle for oil application if you choose to go that route. Check out Airaid.com for their innovative air filter kits, cleaner kits, and more!