Ive cleaned my filter today, the oil can gives one set of instructions and the cleaner another set. so i filled up a bucket with water, put some of the cleaner in it, got a paint brush and start brushing the loose dirt out. then carefully brushed the cleaner on the outside before swilling the outside in water. i then gave it another coat of cleaner around the blackened areas which has turned the black into a dull grey now.

Ive then washed it out from inside out with warm water, then taken it outside (as it was making to much mess in the kitchen) and used the hose on low power spraying down each pleat from the inside.

Then ive paper toweled dried the outside, used a hair dryer to dry it by blowing from the inside out and then carefully blowing the outside to finish off.

Then spray with one squirt per pleat all the way across till all pleats were done. left it to dry for just over quarter of an hour then wrapped the outside in a paper towel to dry off any excess oil before placing it back in the car.

Once in the car i have turned it on and left it running on idle for 5 minutes. the idle seems a bit smoother and now back down to around 750rpm on idle from 1000rpm. i ve also revved it a couple of times and it doesnt seem so lumpy on the way back down to idle.

Just need to do spark plugs next or i might just wait for the service in a couple of months. Anyhow have what ive described for cleaning the filter correct or was i over the top or missed anything out?

cheers

sounds ok to me, but I would be shocked if it were to blame for the 250 rpm tickover difference. Could be it was so clogged the MAF was getting funny readings.

I know what you mean about the instructions, will be cleaning mine tomorrow so thanks for the procedures you used, think I will do the same ta.:D:thumbup:

no probs, anyone who has seen mine they will know its cylinder shape and the air entering the airbox is coming in at the bottom and blowing at a 6 o clock position, around this bit it was black rest pretty dull green ish with a dead moth, a few bits of straw and a few black bits stuck in the filter. now it looks green apart from the black bit that looks dull grey but hold up to the light it looks white which before just looked dark. probably abut 10k miles of crud there.

Quick question about spark plugs (as ive tried and cant get to them) will they make much difference changing them or should i just leave them till service time.?

just realised that the rev drop was cos the car was already warm as when i started this morning it was back at 1200rpm but then dropped to normal once car was warm. idle is smoother and mpg seems to have improved 10% ish.