washing an airfilter element

[befdelta7]

someone in a post in the workshop said "don't wash your filter in petrol unless you want to blow up your engine"
why shouldnt you was it in petrol, and how will this cause the engine to blow up?
i have always washed my filters in petrol then left them to dry before refitting and i have never ever oiled the elements and my bikes have been fine, never had any engines blowing up.

james
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Dont do a wheelie in front of a traffic copper... it gets you 3pts and £220 fine.

[Whosthedaddy]

All that I can find in a little manual is:

fill a washing bowl with non flammable cleaning solvent, immerse the filter assembly in the solvent and wash it clean
squeeze the solvent off the washed filter assembly by pressing it between the palms of your hands and not wringing it or twisting it as it may cause a fissure
Immerse the filter assembly in a pool of motor oil and squeeze the oil off to make it slightly wet with oil
Reinstall the cleaned filter assembly.

I was under the impression that soapy water could be used, not sure on petrol as it may be too corrosive for the filter itself as well as combustible? Maybe white spirit or meths may be okish but just remember to dry it properly before moving on to the next step or refitting it.

Not sure on the whole oil thing
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Ichy]

Oil is used to capture the small particles of dust. I tend to just wash mine with soapy water and leave them to dry.

[joe black]

when petrol is used it tends to break down glue keeping filters together, always lightly oil sponge filters . paper filters replace or blow thru with airline .