Stupid question for cleaning Blackwing
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 159
From: LaGrange Park, IL IL
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
Stupid question for cleaning Blackwing
I'm feeling a bit silly asking this question as it should be straightforward, but I just need validation that I understand correctly.
Bought the 2-step cleaner and oil specific for Blackwing intake. Directions for cleaning state: "make sure to rinse the filter from the dirty side (air entry) to the clean side (air exit) to prevent dirt from entering the filter".
Can someone interpret that for me?
I was thinking it means to rinse from the outside of the filter, but wouldn't that push dirt deeper into the pleats? So do I run a low pressure hose from inside the housing to push it out?
I must be over-thinking this...
Bought the 2-step cleaner and oil specific for Blackwing intake. Directions for cleaning state: "make sure to rinse the filter from the dirty side (air entry) to the clean side (air exit) to prevent dirt from entering the filter".
Can someone interpret that for me?
I was thinking it means to rinse from the outside of the filter, but wouldn't that push dirt deeper into the pleats? So do I run a low pressure hose from inside the housing to push it out?
I must be over-thinking this...
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I found several but none for the Blackwing and they ALL rinsed from the inside of the filter to the outside so that the dirt on the outside surface was pushed away from the filter. The other way would further embed the dirt into the filter and you definitely do NOT want that.
When I have to clean mine, it will be from the inside out.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,686
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From: Florida, Hell's Doorstep
Best way to clean a re-usable/oiled filter is to immerse it in a bucket of hot water with Dawn detergent almost right up to the top of the filter but not over it so as to keep an inside out cleaning process. Let it soak for an hour, periodically lifting and flushing itself, then rinse from the inside out. Dawn detergent will remove all the filthy oil, dirt and contaminants. The dirty water will show just how fouled the filter was. Been doing it that way for decades 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 159
From: LaGrange Park, IL IL
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
Thank you everyone, glad I wasn't alone in the confusion. I like the idea of submersing in a bucket. Planned to do this in my laundy basin, so either method works for me.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 345
Likes: 23
From: los angeles California
thanks
Best way to clean a re-usable/oiled filter is to immerse it in a bucket of hot water with Dawn detergent almost right up to the top of the filter but not over it so as to keep an inside out cleaning process. Let it soak for an hour, periodically lifting and flushing itself, then rinse from the inside out. Dawn detergent will remove all the filthy oil, dirt and contaminants. The dirty water will show just how fouled the filter was. Been doing it that way for decades
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 346
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
Filters absolutely do filter better when they have some particulate in them. But as with anything else, you can go overboard.
Don't feel alone on the confusion of the Blackwing instructions.....
I just went through this a few weeks back when I cleaned my Blackwing for the first time in 6 years (about 30K miles).
I ended up searching the internet for video's of the process. I found several but none for the Blackwing and they ALL rinsed from the inside of the filter to the outside so that the dirt on the outside surface was pushed away from the filter. THe other way would further embed the dirt into the filter and you definitely do NOT want that.
I had read several articles over the years that said not to over clean the Blackwing (meaning too often) because they filtered better when dirty. I saw a couple of articles that suggested cleaning every 50K miles. So I let mine get very dirty. Dirty to the point my gas mileage was below 19 on easy driving around town. After cleaning the filter which was absolutely filthy, the MPG's are back to around 22.5 around town.
So much for the theory of letting the filter get very dirty....
I just went through this a few weeks back when I cleaned my Blackwing for the first time in 6 years (about 30K miles).
I ended up searching the internet for video's of the process. I found several but none for the Blackwing and they ALL rinsed from the inside of the filter to the outside so that the dirt on the outside surface was pushed away from the filter. THe other way would further embed the dirt into the filter and you definitely do NOT want that.
I had read several articles over the years that said not to over clean the Blackwing (meaning too often) because they filtered better when dirty. I saw a couple of articles that suggested cleaning every 50K miles. So I let mine get very dirty. Dirty to the point my gas mileage was below 19 on easy driving around town. After cleaning the filter which was absolutely filthy, the MPG's are back to around 22.5 around town.
So much for the theory of letting the filter get very dirty....
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 242
From: NW Chicago
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15
Yea, the instructions are f'd up, I questioned that too, makes no sense. When all clean and dry, don't go overboard with the oil. I always seem to have oil left over. Will maybe try cleaning with Dawn next time and use up some of that extra oil instead of buying the kit for the cleaner. 
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,308
Likes: 159
From: LaGrange Park, IL IL
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
So I skipped the submersion suggestion and just rinsed from the inside out with a hose connected to my laundry basin. I also used an extra soft toothbrush to work some of the dirt at the filter base. Followed the rest of the instructions as indicated on the cleaner. After a day or so of air drying, I sprayed the oil on.
I had such a pain putting the filter back on. The instigator of the cleaning was actually a swap from the accordian tube to a smooth silicone coupler. With much less flex in the coupler, everything was an extra tight fit to align the air bridge duct mounts. It's all back in now, but before some bloodshed on my fingers.
I had such a pain putting the filter back on. The instigator of the cleaning was actually a swap from the accordian tube to a smooth silicone coupler. With much less flex in the coupler, everything was an extra tight fit to align the air bridge duct mounts. It's all back in now, but before some bloodshed on my fingers.