1993 Toyota Corolla Engine Air Filter

GHATMAIL

MEMBER
1993 TOYOTA COROLLA
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
106,000 MILES

Hello,
I clean the air filter with an air compressor(high pressure air) every week. The air filter hasn't any dust but its color is light gray not white.
I want to know when is the best time to change the air filter?
And if an air filter is cleaned well by gasoline and air pressure(the filter color is changed to gray), can it be used again or throw it away!
Sorry another question is: can we spray the engine body greasy cleaners on electrical wires or rubber hoses around engine or these cleaners must be sprayed just on metals and?
Thank you so much
Hatam Ebrahimi

1 Reply

GREG75495

MEMBER
7 POSTS

Why on earth would clean the filter so often?
99% of all dirt ingested by the engine is dirt getting in while the filter is off. If by some chance the filter is so pluged with dirt that it needs to be cleaned out, gently hit the filter first careful not to damage it. If you need to use compressed air turn the air pressure down! Any more than 6-10psi can damage it. Be sure to only blow from the intake side otherwise you are blowing dirt through it(and ruining it).
A slightly dirty air filter will filter out dirt more efficiently than a brand new one.
It should be fine under normal conditions to change the air filter at every oil change. In my fleet vehicles I was able to only change air filters every 15-20,000 miles. Get a new filter, the one you are using is trashed.