Ramair Air Filter Maintenance: How to Clean Foam & PRORAM Pleated Filters
A performance air filter spends its life doing an important job — allowing plenty of air into the engine while keeping dust, dirt and other contaminants out.
Whether you're running a Ramair foam filter or a Ramair pleated filter, regular maintenance will help keep it working properly and can extend its service life.
Both types of filter are designed to be washable and reusable, but the two filter materials work slightly differently and have different recommended cleaning intervals.
Here's what you need to know about keeping your Ramair filter in good condition.
Foam vs pleated Ramair filters
Ramair's foam filters use a 15mm-thick, twin-layer foam specifically developed for their filters. The reticulated foam construction can hold a significant amount of dirt without having a major effect on airflow, which means the foam range generally requires less frequent maintenance.
The pleated range uses synthetic nanofibre filter media. The pleated design provides excellent airflow and, according to Ramair, generally offers higher airflow than the foam filters.
The trade-off is that airflow through a pleated filter can reduce as dust and dirt build up across the filter surface.
Both types are washable and reusable, so there's no need to replace the filter every time it becomes dirty.
How often should you clean a Ramair filter?
The recommended cleaning interval depends on which type of filter you have.
Ramair foam filters
Ramair recommends cleaning its foam filters every 10,000 miles or once a year.
For a normally driven road car, this provides a useful maintenance interval, although it's always worth checking the filter's condition rather than relying solely on mileage.
Ramair pleated filters
For the pleated range, Ramair recommends cleaning the filter every 3–6 months.
This shorter interval reflects the way the pleated filter media collects dirt across its surface. Cars used in particularly dusty conditions, on track or in areas where the filter is exposed to the elements may need more frequent attention.
What happens if you don't clean your Ramair filter?
As dirt and dust build up, the pores or filtration media can gradually become clogged.
This can reduce the filter's performance and, if it's left for long enough, may even lead to signs of deterioration.
Keeping on top of filter maintenance is therefore worthwhile. Cleaning a reusable filter is considerably easier than waiting until it's heavily contaminated.
How to clean a Ramair air filter
Ramair offers its CK-003 filter cleaning kit specifically for maintaining its filters, and the kit includes step-by-step cleaning instructions.
Before starting, remove the filter from the vehicle and make sure the intake is protected from dirt while the filter is off.
1. Remove loose dirt
Start by removing any loose dirt and debris from the filter.
Don't be tempted to attack the filter aggressively - the aim is to remove the contamination without damaging the filter media.
2. Clean the filter
Use the appropriate Ramair cleaning products and follow the instructions supplied with the CK-003 kit.
The cleaning process differs slightly depending on the filter material, so it's important to follow the instructions supplied with the kit rather than treating a foam filter and pleated filter exactly the same way.
3. Rinse thoroughly
Once cleaned, rinse the filter as instructed to remove the dirt and cleaning product.
Don't submerge the filter in water. Ramair states that its filters are not designed to be waterproof or submerged.
4. Allow the filter to dry
Allow the filter to dry thoroughly before refitting it to the vehicle.
Don't rush the process - the filter should be properly dry before going back into service.
5. Treat the filter if required
For normal road use, Ramair says its filters generally do not require oiling.
However, Ramair recommends oiling when the filter is being used in harsher conditions, including:
- Very dry or hot environments
- Particularly dusty conditions
- Track use
- Where the filter is exposed to the elements
A light coating can also provide some additional protection against water.
For foam filters, Ramair's treatment is specifically designed for its filter material, so use the recommended Ramair product rather than automatically substituting a generic filter oil.
Do Ramair filters need to be oiled?
This is one of the more common questions when it comes to reusable performance filters.
For normal road use, Ramair says oiling isn't necessary for its foam or pleated filters.
Ramair does recommend oiling where the filter is being used in particularly harsh conditions - such as hot, dry or very dusty environments, track use, or where the filter is exposed to the elements.
It's also worth noting that Ramair's filters are supplied dry apart from its foam panel filters, which are the exception.
So, for a typical road car, there's no need to automatically reach for the filter oil every time you clean the filter.
Are Ramair filters waterproof?
No. Ramair filters aren't designed to be submerged in water.
That doesn't mean you need to worry about normal exposure to rain. Ramair gives the example of filters positioned near a grille or beneath bonnet vents as being suitable for normal use.
If your filter is particularly exposed to the elements, a very light coating of oil can provide some additional water repellency.
If your intake position leaves the filter directly exposed to heavy spray or water, it's worth considering the overall positioning and protection of the intake rather than relying on the filter alone.
When should you replace a Ramair filter?
Cleaning can give a reusable filter a new lease of life, but it can't repair a filter that's physically damaged or deteriorating.
When cleaning your filter, check the media and surrounding components for obvious signs of damage.
If the filter material has deteriorated, been damaged or can no longer provide a proper seal, it should be replaced.
Regular cleaning also gives you a good opportunity to inspect the filter and intake system while everything is accessible.
Don't forget about the rest of the intake
Filter maintenance is also a good time to have a quick look at the rest of the intake system.
Check that:
- The filter is securely clamped
- Intake hoses and couplers are secure
- There are no obvious splits or damage
- The filter is correctly seated
- Any MAF sensor connections are secure
If you're running a universal Ramair filter, it's particularly important to make sure the filter is correctly matched to the intake pipe and has enough clearance within the engine bay.
Keeping your Ramair filter in good condition
Regular maintenance doesn't need to be complicated.
- For Ramair foam filters, clean the filter every 10,000 miles or once a year.
- For Ramair pleated filters, clean them every 3-6 months.
Inspect the filter more frequently if the car sees track use, dusty conditions or significant exposure to the elements.
For normal road use, neither filter type normally needs to be oiled, although Ramair recommends oiling for harsher conditions.
The result is a filter that's clean, reusable and ready to keep doing its job.
Ramair Filter Cleaning Kit
The Ramair CK-003 Filter Cleaning Kit is available for maintaining your Ramair filter and includes the products and instructions needed for the cleaning process.
