How to Clean Your MaxFlow® Foam Filter Element

Whether you have spare elements or field-clean your filter element whenever it gets dirty, it is essential to thoroughly wash the old oil and trapped particles from the foam and then re-oil it.  Most MaxFlow® elements absorb around 20ml (a bit less than 3/4 oz) of oil. Cleaning is an easy job, and with care, it doesn't even need to be messy. Suggested oils are Bel-Ray, UNI, PJ1, Amsoil, or No-Toil. 

NOTE: We do not recommend motor oil, vegetable oil, or gauze filter oil such as K&N (which is too thin and will be sucked through the foam).  None of these will efficiently trap the smaller particles.  Remember, the quality of oil determines the effectiveness.  Do not use bar lube; it is not designed to be burned in an engine and will cause your rings to stick!  

For a good cleaning solvent, we recommend BEL RAY foam filter cleaner, Stoddard solvent, or non-flammable white gas.  Some use their two-stroke mix to field clean the element, but using gas can lead to a vapor fire. We do not suggest it for normal cleaning.  Soak the foam completely, then after an interval, squeeze and saturate the foam until the majority of the dirt and dust is removed.   

After cleaning with solvent, the remaining particles and cleaning fluids need to be washed out with a grease-cutting soap like Palmolive Blue with Oyxclean,  Ajax or Dawn dish washing liquid. 

Once clean, set the filter aside until it is dry. Once dry drying, the filter element can be re-oiled for like new air flow performance. 

• Remove the filter from the saw.
• Brush the buildup of sawdust and soil particles from the outside of the foam element.
• Remove the inner cage from the outer foam element.
• Using a cleaning solvent, such as Stoddard solvent or white gas, soak the filter element so soften the filter oil and crud.  Once softened, gently remove and flush as much of the old oil and dirt out of the element as possible.  It is best to have two cleaning pans, one for the initial removal and one to work out the finer dirt. Be careful not to stretch or wring out the foam too aggressively, or it may tear.
• Wash the element with warm, soapy water. We suggest using dish washing liquid (Palmolive Blue with Oyxclean, Ajax/Dawn) to remove the remaining dirt and solvent.
• Thoroughly rinse, then towel off the element. It is important to allow the element to then completely air dry.
• Re-oil each element with approximately 20ml (about 3/4 ounce, or roughly 4 teaspoons) of quality foam filter oil by either working it in by hand (after putting on disposable gloves), or by putting a number of elements into a plastic bag and then adding the oil. Work the oil completely into each element. It takes very little oil to completely saturate an element. Excess oil will not filter any better than just the right amount. Oil should not be dripping off the foam. Squeeze out any excess. 
• Slip the element back over the cage and reinstall it onto the saw.

We have found that it is best to clean multiple  elements at a time and then store them in plastic bags ready for use. The spare filters can even be pre-installed over a spare filter cage for minimal downtime on the job. 

The MaxFlow chainsaw filter:  

•  MaxFlow has been in the field for 30+ years 
•  MaxFlow was the only USFS-approved filter for decades 
•  MaxFlow dominates the wildland fire market 
•  MaxFlow has tens of thousands of real-world hours behind it 
•  MaxFlow has the highest airflow in the industry
• MaxFlow manufacturers its one piece filter elements in Oregon, USA
• MaxFlow has proprietary foam especially effective at trapping particulate contaminants
• MaxFlow provides longest-term performance between cleaning

MaxFlow filters are reasonably priced, washable and reusable, and require minimal maintenance. The MaxFlow foam filter out performs all other chainsaw filters.