We've got the hookup for a reader who asks what he can use to soak his quad's air filter without the vapor-inducing headache of most solvents:

Ask the Editors: Best Choice for Cleaning an Air Filter - ATVConnection.com

 

I've heard that but never tried it. Would certainly be cheaper than the UNI foam filter cleaner. So, I imagine it's, clean in the mineral spirits, let dry, re-oil, and you're done?

 

If it looks like the air filter in the pic, I think throwing it away and buying a new one is the better solution. They mentioned reusing the mineral spirits, I think that's a bit much. You'd have to be pretty cheap to do that.

 

Good stuff to clean out air filters and also engine parts. I'd use the mineral spirits first to get out the nastiest grease and dirt and finish up with liquid soap and water and then a good rinse on foam filters. A lot of our racers used this and kept extra oiled air filters ready to go in big baggies. Mineral spirits is basically what we changed to in the parts washer we had at work. Less caustic,cheaper and worked just as well as the solvents that most of the cleaning companies supplied.

 

OPT is right according to what I read about using soap and water after using solvent. The soap will get more dirt out and keep it from settling back down on the filter.

 

What's funny is that most of the cross country and motocross racers down here wouldn't use any other dish washing soap except Dawn.. We'd laugh at em at the shop and they said it left less residue,easier to rinse out than any other brand. A lot of these guys whether in amateur,intermediate or expert class were a superstitious bunch of guys on their prep work for the races..Had to be a certain way or leave it alone. For the amount of money it took to purchase their rides and to maintain, I guess they had the right to be a little crazy.