Cleaning Onan Generator Air Filter

[ependydad]

I have a 2022 Precept 36C (motorhome). It has an onboard gas Onan 5500 watt generator. It says to "inspect and clean" the air filter at 150 hours.

But honestly, I don't know how one cleans an air filter? It it just a matter of blowing it out with an air compressor? Washing it with soap and water?

[Bill Johnson]

That's what we did in the 60's blow from the inside out. On Amazon they have filters very reasonable, if it's not dirty I would leave it till it gets dirty

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Bill Johnson

That's what we did in the 60's blow from the inside out. On Amazon they have filters very reasonable, if it's not dirty I would leave it till it gets dirty

Yeah, I'm starting to wonder if I imagined this whole "clean it" thing. I'm not finding it in any of the Onan manuals I'm finding online (and don't have a picture of my labels at my fingertips at the moment).

[Bill Johnson]

I just wouldn't change it if it's still clean, if it's full of dust from the back roads I would probably replace it

[ARoamer]

Usually just smack it against something to knock the dirt off of it. By using compressed air you can possibly blow holes in the filter media depending on filter type and air pressure used.

[campersam9]

Please do not use an air compressor to clean the air filter. They destroy the small fibers that trap the dirt. For 15 years I have seen the damage done to the air filters. Buy a new one.

[ependydad]

Pricing them out. At $20, I'll just replace it.

But, I'm definitely not crazy- Onan's generator label says "clean".

[SloPoke]

In our experience changing ours... It is more work to remove, clean and replace than just putting a new one in.

[SmokerBill]

Is the air filter cylindrical, with a foam sleeve around it? Foam sleeves can be cleaned with soapy water, rinsed, dried and given a super light application of oil. But I'd never clean a paper filter.

I'd inspect it, and if I could still see sunlight through it I'd keep using it. Actually, the more filled with dirt a filter becomes, the more efficient it is... up to the point that it starts restricting airflow.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by SmokerBill

Is the air filter cylindrical, with a foam sleeve around it? Foam sleeves can be cleaned with soapy water, rinsed, dried and given a super light application of oil. But I'd never clean a paper filter.

I'd inspect it, and if I could still see sunlight through it I'd keep using it. Actually, the more filled with dirt a filter becomes, the more efficient it is... up to the point that it starts restricting airflow.

It looks like this:

[Yooper906]

Originally Posted by ependydad

It looks like this:

Just replace it. Looks the same construction as a auto filter, and I don't try to clean those either.