While I was under my bonnet today filling washer fluid and replacing sidelights bulbs I thought it was an ideal opportunity to whip the filter out and give it a clean.

Given this is what i found I don't think i'll be bothering!

Needless to say my previously only temporary OEM filter is now staying put!

I'd love to blame the filter itself but I think it has probably been at least 2 years and 50k since it's had anything more than a brush off while servicing.

On a lighter note if anyone wants an official green filter cleaning kit let me know

Even if its been on 50K thats a joke its fallen apart.

OEM would last it out, albeit filthy.

Thats bad

Was there anything in the bottom of the air box, as it looks like it's been hit?

My four year old filter is nearly as rusty as yours!

Green Filters are not really all their cracked up to be.

Ouch! Definitely shouldn't look like that after 2 years!

I did think that something massive must have gone up my intake (ooer missus) to cause that kind of damage but there was no sign of anything in the box.

To be fair to Green the filter is 3 years old but it must have been 2 since i properly cleaned it

I've got a Green cotton filter for cheap cheap if you fancy it ;-)

I'm guessing Green filter's aren't oiled?

Cause why else has it gone all rusty?!

Not dried off properly when cleaned?

I'm guessing Green filter's aren't oiled?

Cause why else has it gone all rusty?!

I think Green Cotton filters are oiled. I've read on here about Green ones going rusty, but never really believed it, until now.

I'm glad I bought a K&N filter that has a 1 million mile guarantee.

Edited 30 October, 201114 yr by Jim H

shocking, never seen anything like it before

my k/n panel has been in my R32 for 7years maybe, and 80,000 miles. cleaned it many times, it don't look anything like that!

Never seen one that bad before. Talk about sucking in to much air.

Crikey, thats what happens when you dont take care of them

Crikey, thats what happens when you dont take care of them

can't agree enough

This isn't inteneded as a "Green products are crap" thread. It's definitely a "you need to look after stuff" thread

When i did clean it it was brushed and washed and baked in the oven to dry it out then reoiled; however as said that was probably 50k again and other than a bang and brush off at servicing it's been left unloved, hence why it fell apart.

You baked it in an oven?????

I just let mine stand on a piece of paper over night and then wipe any further surplus of the rubber bits with a paper towel.

Never have any problems with mine (5yrs old) and it's the more complex "Twister" (CIA) type.........something has either hit it or the metal mesh has been weakened by something...... :wonder: .....I live by the sea with a nice big sandy beach........WTF are you doing to yours????

I do mine every 10k and it still looks new.. (I've had it for 60k miles)

Clean, bake and re-oil.

I had seen another one that looks exactly like this that was in a customers car, it'd been left in for quite some time without maintainence.

I think once rust gets to the wire it can break quite easily.. I'd imagine the oil will eventually give up which would then allow the mesh to rust..

Kev

You baked it in an oven?????

I was on a tight deadline as i didn't have a OEM filter to use temporarily at the time.

If you can think of a better way to dry it quickly let me know

WTF are you doing to yours????

Absolutely nothing - which is why I have the problem!

I'd imagine the oil will eventually give up which would then allow the mesh to rust..

This is exactly the issue.

Thousands of miles and a couple of years and I would imagine any oil that i did apply will have worn off and moisture rusts the wire causing the damage shown.

I have nothing to blame but myself!

This is exactly the issue.

Thousands of miles and a couple of years and I would imagine any oil that i did apply will have worn off and moisture rusts the wire causing the damage shown.

I have nothing to blame but myself!

........problem solved........let this be todays lesson.....do as it says on the instructions!

Class dismissed!!

I must admit it does look like something has given it a fair old knock, it looks like somethings punched strait through it. I wouldnt be daft enough to say a stone or a BOULDER

If you can think of a better way to dry it quickly let me know

Hairdryer does well for me. ~5 minutes and it's bone dry.

Hairdryer does well for me. ~5 minutes and it's bone dry.

+1 for me on that, no time to waste

That looks utterly horrible Cliff, after my experiences with the green cotton filter over a period of time and what it did to the turbo, I wouldn't be wasting the money on another one!

Makes me scared to get mine out and look at it.

My car had a k&n already fitted when I bought it.

As soon as I knew I bought the service kit for it and

my indy in London (when I lived there) and in Bristol now

has been supplied with the k&n official aerosol cleaner and

aerosol oil whenever it's been in for service.

They've always used some of the product each time so hopefully

they are keeping on top of it for me. I asked if it looked even

a little bit dodgy for them to replace with oem paper type at the

last service (When my 312's went on) but they said it looked perfect

and as new after cleaning so back in it went.

I can't believe how much that green one has suffered, makes me want to

take mine out and inspect it myself. I trust mechanics too much methinks :p

I think it's like any thing Garry - abuse it and treat it wrong and it'll fail

I kind of just slapped it in there and left it for anything up to 60,000 miles and expected it to survive.

OEM for me from now on