Air filter question please-xr650l-

[Bodhisattva]

Hi all,

Is the stock air filter on the xr650l a good unit?

if so, how ofton does it need cleaning or replacment?

And if its not good, what one should i get?

Thanks everyone.

Mark

[Wheels up]

Use it until it's soiled and then buy a Uni filter (uses oil) or buy another honda filter.

The honda unit is decent but if any other Mod performed you will need a aftermarket replacement.

[rkuckkahn]

I have all the carb mods and use a UNI (foam/oil) it's worked great. Have two of them, one is always "drip drying" oil. I clean the spare filter, saturated it with filter oil, put it in a plastic bag and let it drip excess oil. The when I'm ready to change filters no problems with excess oil dripping on the bike.

[goblin127]

I once read a air filter test in an off road mag. It said that the stock paper unit flowed as much air as the K&n except when wet. The foam oiled filter flowed the least but was better than the others when wet and muddy.

[XR650L_Dave]

I once read a air filter test in an off road mag. It said that the stock paper unit flowed as much air as the K&n except when wet. The foam oiled filter flowed the least but was better than the others when wet and muddy.

Tests like this, I assume they put it on a flow bench or some such thing. Or did they do a dyno test? If they dyno-ed, I'd hope they'd re-jet.

Problem with a flow bench is it doesn't recreate any of the chaotic behavior an in-service filter sees. All kinds of shock waves, the flow bunching just after the filter, all kinds of stuff.

I just switched from a K&N to a uni- have to get a ride in and see how it feels.

Dave

[ghoti]

I once read a air filter test in an off road mag. It said that the stock paper unit flowed as much air as the K&n except when wet. The foam oiled filter flowed the least but was better than the others when wet and muddy.

Was this article about cars or bikes?

[goblin127]

Was this article about cars or bikes?

It was about trucks. They tested to see what filters flowed the most under diff. conditions.

[ghoti]

It was about trucks. They tested to see what filters flowed the most under diff. conditions.

Hmmmm foam was the worst? Was it the shape of the flow too?

[rkuckkahn]

Very interesting, I always thought foam was the most efficient????????????????

[zodran]

I got my bike secondhand, it came with the stock paper element installed and a k&n. I bought one new paper element, rather pricey to throw away when it's dirty.

I'll agree that foam is better protection for your engine, but seat of the pants testing tells me K&N is far superior to the paper element for throttle response.

K&N's filter better dirty, so the filter service intervals might be less often than foam, but your engine will likely last longer with foam.

I don't like K&N's seal to the airbox, it had a self adhesive foam ring that didn't last too long, so I seal it down with a very very thin bead of hi temp rtv, it's ON there until i pry it loose.

[goblin127]

I read this in either petersons or the other mag about 10years ago when it was being passed around the shop. One of the mechanics had been running his Mud rail with a K&N but would put a foam filter over it. He seemed to think from his experience that the test was correct.

[FOUR STOKED]

Originally posted by ZodranI don't like K&N's seal to the air box, it had a self adhesive foam ring that didn't last too long, so I seal it down with a very very thin bead of hi temp rtv, it's ON there until i pry it loose.

I used a razor blade and cut the foam seal off the stock filter, then used Permatex ultra-blue gasket glue to bond it to the base of the K&N filter because I too had reservations about the stick on gasket that came with the K&N filter. I then round filed the stick on gasket the K&N filter came with.

[zodran]

I used a razor blade and cut the foam seal off the stock filter, then used Permatex ultra-blue gasket glue to bond it to the base of the K&N filter because I too had reservations about the stick on gasket that came with the K&N filter. I then round filed the stick on gasket the K&N filter came with.

That's where it belongs, a few hundred miles and it's squishy goo anyway. IIRC the paper element had a nice supple, pliant, confidence inspiring base gasket, good on ya for saving what works!

[muckle21]

My question, Am I a knumbskull if I got a K&N recharge kit for my 2012 xr650l and used it on the air filter? Is it a paper filter and is that why my issue is, or is it because too much oil sprayed, what have I done. info if you might. thanks ?

[jjast]

Paper filters go dry-stock is a paper filter, no oil, time for a new filter or upgrade to a UNI foam filter which does need oil on it.

Edited September 29, 2014 by jjast