Clean and Oil MaxFlow® Foam Filter Elements

How to Maintain Maximum Airflow, Maximum Protection, and Maximum Service Life

MaxFlow® filters are designed for long service intervals in real‑world cutting. In most environments, a MaxFlow element will run 10 to 30 tanks before cleaning is required. Your exact interval depends on dust levels, wood type, and how heavily the saw is used.

The key to long engine life is simple: keep the filter oil fresh. The oil is what traps dirt — not the foam itself.

How to Know When It’s Time to Clean

After removing the filter, inspect the inside of the cage and the carburetor throat.

• If the cage is clean → the filter is still doing its job

• If you see dust inside the cage or throat → the oil has been depleted

This does not mean the filter failed. It means the oil that captures particles has been used up, allowing dust to pass through the foam. Once you learn your interval, clean the filter before the oil is depleted.

Why MaxFlow Cleans Better Than Other Foam Filters

All foam filters must be cleaned and re‑oiled, but MaxFlow elements are different. Each element is a one‑piece foam construction with no glued seams. Many generic foam filters use glued joints that can dissolve when exposed to solvents or even fuel vapors from a two‑stroke carburetor. When those seams fail, dirt bypasses the filter and damages the engine.

But the seam isn’t the only issue. Most aftermarket filters are made from simple consumer grade foam, which chemically degrades in gasoline — it softens, swells, and breaks down when exposed to fuel. MaxFlow does not use consumer foam. Our proprietary foam blend is fully stable in gasoline and solvents, which is why MaxFlow elements remain durable, washable, and reusable through many cleanings.

Safe Cleaning With Gasoline in a Pinch — A Major MaxFlow Advantage

MaxFlow elements are the only chainsaw foam filters that are nearly impervious to gasoline. Unlike many generic foam filters, MaxFlow elements have no glued seams to dissolve, soften, or separate when exposed to fuel or solvents. Other foam filters often warn users to avoid gasoline because their seams or adhesives can break down, but MaxFlow’s one‑piece construction eliminates that failure point entirely.

This makes MaxFlow far more durable and allows it to be safely cleaned with gas in the field when necessary — a real advantage for professional operators.

How to Clean and Re‑Oil Your MaxFlow Filter

• Remove the filter from the saw

• Brush loose sawdust and debris from the outside of the foam

• Remove the internal cage from the foam element

• For decades, many operators have used chainsaw gas as a convenient field solvent, and it will work   in a pinch, but it is flammable and should be handled with extreme care. A dedicated cleaning fluid,  BelRay foam filter cleaner, is safer and is effective for softening and removing old filter oil.

• Soak the foam with fluid and let it sit for a bit.  Then gently squeeze and flush out the oil and dirt — repeating until the foam is relatively clean. Do not twist or wring aggressively

• Use two pans if possible: one for the initial flush, one for finer cleaning

• Wash the foam with warm, soapy water (Palmolive Blue with OXY, Ajax, or Dawn work well)

• Rinse thoroughly, towel dry, and allow the foam to air‑dry completely

• Re‑oil the element with approximately 15 to 25 ml (¾ oz or ~4 teaspoons) of quality foam filter oil. It takes a lot less than you might think so measuring is a good idea.

• Pour the oil along the INSIDE wall through the cage hole. Work the oil evenly through the foam — excess oil does not improve filtration

• Squeeze out any extra oil so the element is lightly saturated and not dripping

• Slip the foam back over the cage and reinstall the assembly on the saw

Pro Tip: Clean Multiple Elements at Once

Many professionals clean several elements at a time and store them in sealed plastic bags. Pre‑oiled spares can even be kept on extra cages for instant swaps in the field with minimal downtime.

Why MaxFlow Filters Outperform All Others

• Over 30 years of proven field performance

• The only aftermarket filter historically listed in USFS SAG

• Dominant in the wildland fire market

• Tens of thousands of real‑world hours behind the design

• Highest airflow in the industry

• One‑piece Oregon‑made foam — no glued seams

• Proprietary foam blend optimized for particle retention

• Longest service interval between cleanings

MaxFlow filters are reasonably priced, washable, reusable, and engineered for severe‑service environments. When properly maintained, they provide the cleanest air and the most consistent airflow of any chainsaw filtration system available.