My K&N Air Filter isn't pink anymore.

[NiceGuyEddie]

My oval K&N is about 10 years old and has about 5,000 miles on it. What used to happen is after about a year the pink would turn a lighter shade of pink. I'd clean it with the cleaner from the kit, rinse it from the inside out, let it dry 24 hours, re-spray.

I recently noticed it's almost black, even after a cleaning. Doesn't look pink at all.

Not once during cleaning was there a lot of dirt that came out of it.

I thought that with proper care these filters were supposed to have infinite life. Do these things expire?

[steno]

The K&N oil I use is tinted red. Looks great every time I clean it!

[TMartinLVNV]

My oval K&N is about 10 years old and has about 5,000 miles on it. What used to happen is after about a year the pink would turn a lighter shade of pink. I'd clean it with the cleaner from the kit, rinse it from the inside out, let it dry 24 hours, re-spray.

I recently noticed it's almost black, even after a cleaning. Doesn't look pink at all.

Not once during cleaning was there a lot of dirt that came out of it.

I thought that with proper care these filters were supposed to have infinite life. Do these things expire?

The oil is still in the filter doing its job. The pink/red is a dye in the oil that fades over time. IMHO, you are way over cleaning your filter.

[TMartinLVNV]

Good info from the K&N website:

HOW TO CLEAN/SERVICE K&N® FILTERS
- HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SERVICE MY K&N® FILTER?
The service interval for a drop-in replacement K&N® High-Flow Air Filter™ can vary greatly depending on the severity of driving conditions—from 100 miles in a desert-racing environment to up to 50,000 miles under normal highway driving conditions. K&N replacement air filters that fit in the factory air box can go up to 50,000 miles before cleaning is required (under normal highway driving conditions), and the larger conical filters included with K&N air intake systems can go up to 100,000 miles before needing to be cleaned (under normal highway driving conditions). Follow this link to view complete cleaning instructions.

[Boydster]

After you clean, before re-oiling, it should be white or very close to it. You're not cleaning it properly or well enough...

[rich grsc]

5000 mile, it has never needed cleaning yet.

[TrevorP]

i clean my filter each race season. I spray the cleaner on and rinse with water. The filter turns white, then I spray the pink oil on.

I usually buy a new filter every few years. It must be too old, mine has never been black.

[Avalanche325]

10 years old and has about 5,000 miles on it.

There's the problem. You're not driving your car enough.

[NiceGuyEddie]

There's the problem. You're not driving your car enough.

Sorry to say you are correct, I've only logged a few hundred miles per year for the past 5-7 years.

The car sits on stands in the garage from about June-November. It's about 110 degrees in there most days.

I really thought that when the pink was gone it was time to re-oil the filter and that the hot, dry temperatures is what caused it to dry out.

Looks like I'm going to have to clean it, let it dry THOROUGHLY and not use as much oil.

[wrenchhead]

I buy the below product and clean it with the following steps:
1. Spray the K&N Power Kleen works to dissolve the dirt. Wait about 10 min.
2. Rinse throughly with water, light pressure from the inside
3. Let is dry very well
4. Spry the oil. let it dry.

Product:
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/k-n-filter-care-service-kit-aerosol-99-5000/6273939-p?product_channel=local&store=7577&adtype=pla&product_channel=local&store_code=7577&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-Juz1vaL6QIVGozICh2AJg_HEAQYAiABEgIwaPD_BwE