Air filter oil?

[northwoods]

So I finally got an air filter for my 81' gs550L and on the package it says to use their Brand Name air filter oil? Is there supposed to be oil on the air filter? and if so what can I use? How and why does this work? I've never heard of using oil on an air filter, but then again I'm new to motorcycle maintenance.

[Nessism]

What kind of filter are we talking about? K&N? If so, they sell oil in a spray can - available in most cycle shops.

[northwoods]

No it's just a foam air filter that wraps around a steel frame. It's from Omni-filter or Uni-filter? One of those two. From what I can see though it's just a stock foam type of filter.

[Nessism]

Splash some regular old motor oil on it and squeeze out the excess. Get as much excess oil as possible out but don't wring out the filter by twisting dish rag style or the filter may get damaged. This is what the Suzuki factory service manual call for so you should be safe.

[Zooks]

Almost all foam filters should be oiled. The oil makes 'em sticky and traps the grit.

[bwringer]

Do NOT use motor oil. This is an excellent way to over-oil your filter and create a restriction.

(Yes, I know the manual says to use motor oil. But the manual has been proven wrong about this and many other things by hard-earned experience and experimentation. There ain't no Santa Claus, either.)

Use a spray oil specifically for air filters (any brand will do fine -- it's available in any auto parts store), and only use a very small amount -- like a two or three second spritz. That's it. Really.

It's very easy to over-oil. If you've already soaked it, use hot water and dish soap to clean out the filter and then dry it thoroughly (overnight) and install without adding more oil. The remaining oil residue after detergent cleaning will be plenty.

[Nessism]

Brian (bwringer) is a knowledgeable guy but he and I differ in opinion about oiling the air filter.

I feel motor oil is fine, as is K&N spray oil. The foam needs a wet coat of oil on it if the filter is going to trap small particulate matter. If you read these two air filter tests you will learn that foam filters are not the greatest for removing particulates. Without a good coat of oil, these filters will be even less effective.

http://home.stny.rr.com/jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm

The GS bikes are all killer lean from stock. If you over oil on the filter, the mixture will be rich which is not such a bad thing - if not taken too far.

Realize that foam filters break down over time and the pores in the foam collapse – creating a restriction. If the foam is old, a heavy oil job may cause problems.

Just my view of the world. Opinions differ.

[Clone]

Most filtres come preoiled, but if not you can go to any bike shop and get "foam filtre" oil, K&N oil is for cotton filtres and doesn't work as well. A single can of spray filtre oil will last you FOREVER if you don't forget where you stored it. I think belray is the most common and it isabout $6 a huge can, and like I said will last forever.

[rustybronco]

Gotta put in my .02.
lightly oil it with engine oil, then squeeze out the excess between layers of news print until
there is little evidence of oil left on the news print is perfectly acceptable.

a lot of room for over oiling if you don't.