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The SLP Blackwing F body air filter is embossed “DRY FILTER, DO NOT OIL” yet the cleaning kits come with oil, what gives? Anyone have experience with this or instructions?
I don't know about the Blackwing kits, but many filter setups now give you the choice of dry or oiled elements.
Usually the "dry" ones can be hosed out or washed with soapy water to clean them, followed by drying with an air gun.
I don't know about the Blackwing kits, but many filter setups now give you the choice of dry or oiled elements.
Usually the "dry" ones can be hosed out or washed with soapy water to clean them, followed by drying with an air gun.
Got my answer from SLP tech department: Blackwing filters are not to be oiled. The oil in their kit can be used for oil type filters or discarded. I wonder how many people have oiled these over the years being there are thousands in use.
Hopefully someone can learn from this thread. I bought the car with it already installed however this is not mentioned in the instructions from what I could find. Probably doesn’t affect filter performance but this is good to know.
The "original" Blackwing produced by Donaldson was indeed an oiled type filter. Since then, Donaldson sold off the Blackwing name so SLP (or whoever actually makes it for SLP now, who is now owned by Roush by the way) could have changed the materials in the filter over the years. If the newer blackwing filters are now stamped "do not oil", then I would follow that recommendation. My original Donaldson Blackwing has no such stamping.
Another interesting thing/rumor from way back is that Donaldson also made a "high flow" paper filter that was used in the SS and WS.6 and was equipped when leaving SLP's facility and wasn't available for purchase separately.
Another interesting thing/rumor from way back is that Donaldson also made a "high flow" paper filter that was used in the SS and WS.6 and was equipped when leaving SLP's facility and wasn't available for purchase separately.
That would definitely be nothing more than a rumor, unless perhaps you're referring to the earlier (LT1) WS6 cars, as SLP had nothing to do with the WS6 conversion starting in 1998 (contract was awarded to ASC for the LS1 WS6 cars). Or perhaps you were referring to the Firehawk?
That would definitely be nothing more than a rumor, unless perhaps you're referring to the earlier (LT1) WS6 cars, as SLP had nothing to do with the WS6 conversion starting in 1998 (contract was awarded to ASC for the LS1 WS6 cars). Or perhaps you were referring to the Firehawk?
During my search in all of this I found some threads with posters stating their SS or Firehawk came with the high flow Donaldson paper element (purple in color) when equipped with a factory Blackwing lid. Here is a thread from the Firehawk message board, surprisingly Dave didn’t answer the question but it does give some history.
The "original" Blackwing produced by Donaldson was indeed an oiled type filter. Since then, Donaldson sold off the Blackwing name so SLP (or whoever actually makes it for SLP now, who is now owned by Roush by the way) could have changed the materials in the filter over the years. If the newer blackwing filters are now stamped "do not oil", then I would follow that recommendation. My original Donaldson Blackwing has no such stamping.
Another interesting thing/rumor from way back is that Donaldson also made a "high flow" paper filter that was used in the SS and WS.6 and was equipped when leaving SLP's facility and wasn't available for purchase separately.
SLP being bought out by Roush is old news. How old is your original filter and is it for a C5 or F body? All C5 users seem to oil them, in fact I couldn’t find one person asking cleaning questions about them that did not re oil.
Do you have actual instructions for the filter itself?
SLP has had rights to the original Blackwing filter design since 2000. The synthetic media hasn’t changed. Here is a photo of the press release statement from 2001 and you can also reference the link in my above post. There is still lacking information as to the actual filter maintenance itself.
I've used K&N filters on my LS swaps for years with zero issues. But I always wipe off the inside of a new filter to remove excess oil. Excess filter oil can get sucked into the intake and coat the mass air flow sensor wires causing issues.
I've used K&N filters on my LS swaps for years with zero issues. But I always wipe off the inside of a new filter to remove excess oil. Excess filter oil can get sucked into the intake and coat the mass air flow sensor wires causing issues.
I have used K&Ns and an Airaid (much better build quality) for many years. Keep them clean and lightly oiled and everything has been fine, with an occasional MAF cleaning. This filter came with my 02 T/A from a previous owner, after seeing “DRY FILTER, DO NOT OIL” I decided to do some digging.
I do have the original box and paperwork that came with it from when I bought it in 2003. Here're some pics. Also includes a page from the old SLP catalog from when the blackwing filter was a new offering. Again, this is from when Donaldson was the original supplier to SLP. I'm not sure who makes it now and how the construction/recommendations for renewing the filter have changed.
I do have the original box and paperwork that came with it from when I bought it in 2003. Here're some pics. Also includes a page from the old SLP catalog from when the blackwing filter was a new offering. Again, this is from when Donaldson was the original supplier to SLP. I'm not sure who makes it now and how the construction/recommendations for renewing the filter have changed.
Very cool you have all of that, thanks for sharing. I have a friend that has one brand new in the box but I don’t think he wanted to open it. My filter is embossed with the Blackwing logo so who knows at this point.
Maybe something has changed along the way. You would think maintenance instructions (for the possible different filter) are somewhere out there on the net. Possibly the only one that could shed some light on the subject would be Dave Hamburger himself.
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SLP Blackwing Filter: Oil or not? 
