TM 5-3805-298-23-2
0172
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED
2. Air Cleaner and Filter Cleaning.
WARNING
If CBRN exposure is suspected, personnel wearing protective equipment should handle all
air cleaner media. Consult your CBRN Officer NCO for appropriate handling or disposal
procedures.
Refer to FM 3-11.3, Multiservice Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Chemical,
Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Contamination Avoidance, and FM 3-11.5,
Multiservice Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Chemical, Biological, Radiological
and Nuclear Decontamination.
CAUTION
Do not tap or strike air filter elements to remove dust. Damage to air filter elements may
result.
Do not wash air filter elements.
Do not use air filter elements with damaged pleats, gaskets, or seals. Dirt entering engine
will cause damage to engine components.
Do not use air filter element with oil or carbon deposits.
Do not attempt to clean a secondary air filter element.
Do not use compressed air at pressure greater than 30 psi (207 kPa) to clean primary
element.
Do not touch the tip of the air gun to the primary air filter element. Dirt could be forced
further into the pleats.
Damaged elements will allow dirt to pass through and engine damage could result.
Failure to follow these cautions may result in damage to equipment.
a. Inspect primary element for tears, holes, damaged pleats, gaskets, or seals. Discard if damaged.
NOTE
Use either low pressure compressed air or a vacuum to clean primary air filter element.
Direct airflow from inside element and up and down pleats rather than across pleats.
Always blow air from clean side in order to force dirt particles toward dirty side. This helps
prevent damage to the paper pleats.
b. Clean primary air filter element. Pressurized air can be used to clean primary air filter elements that have
not been cleaned more than two times. Pressurized air will not remove deposits of carbon and oil. Discard
if oil or carbon deposits are observed.
c.
Clean precleaner. If hard deposits of dust or dirt are not removed with compressed air, soak precleaner in
Cleaning Compound Solvent, Type III to loosen deposits, then wash precleaner with spray of water. Use
compressed air to dry precleaner.
0172-5
