How to Restore Your Air Cleaner
- 1). Remove the air cleaner from the engine. Most air cleaners are held on with a screw or a bolt located on the top of the cleaner.
- 2). Strip the old paint and corrosion from the air cleaner. This can be done in a couple of ways. You can use a chemical stripper, in which case you simply apply the stripper, wait for the paint to bubble and then wipe it off with a rag and steel wool for more difficult areas. You can also media blast the air cleaner to remove the finish.
- 3). Use compressed air to remove particles out of the crevices and off the surface of the air cleaner.
- 4). Clean the air cleaner with mineral spirits to remove any traces of oil or residue. This is an important aspect of the painting process, since a clean surface will promote paint adhesion.
- 5). Primer the air cleaner. Many air cleaners weren't primered from the factory, but this will help the paint adhere and provide an extra layer of protection to the surface of the air cleaner. Spray on a light dusting and allow the paint to dry for minute or so. Apply two to three heavier coats in a smooth back and forth manner. Make sure you don't spray so much that you cause the primer to run.
- 6). Allow the primer to dry for at least an hour before applying the color to the air cleaner.
- 7). Determine the original color of the air cleaner. To properly restore an air cleaner, you must use the correct color for it. Consult a book on restoring your particular vehicle to find out what the right color is.
- 8). Spray on a light coat of spray paint. Allow it to dry for a minute or so and then apply three to four solid coats, waiting for 30 minutes or so between coats for the paint to dry.
- 9). Allow the air cleaner to dry overnight before installing it. Reinstall it in the reverse of removal.
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