can i clean an air filter with soapy water?

[imadoofus]

can i clean an air filter with soapy water? or does it have to be cleaned with compressed air?

[ZRX61]

Whats it made of?
Paper: throw it away & buy a new
K&N etc: I dunk mine in a coffee can full of VERY hot water & laundry detergent

[imadoofus]

I am really not sure. I am new to this.
It has a metal grill and theres some other material inside the metal grill and the whole thing is reasonably oily.
suggestions?

[instigator]

I cleaned out my 125 air filter with petrol

[map]

If it's the sponge type you should be able to clean it out with a solvent (petrol works!) and then leave it to dry. Then you can lightly coat it in fresh clean oil. The oil is there so that all the crud sticks to it as it passes through the filter.
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...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[mchaggis]

Washing up bowl full of very hot water and some detergent. Hung it out on the line to dry, then glued the seams back together where the glue they'd assembled it with had melted... Then spent 5 minutes dribbling light oil into it and working it through all the foam.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.