I see dust in my airbox after installing a Sprint Filter - is this normal?

Original Customer Question: I recently purchased a Sprint Filter P08 air filter for my 2011 Yamaha R6. After approximately 5,000 km, I removed the filter for cleaning and noticed a coating of dirt and dust inside the airbox. When wiped, it left behind a black/yellow residue of pollen and debris—even on the clean side of the filter. My OEM filter didn’t show this level of contamination. I made sure the P08 was properly seated and secured. I'm concerned this could damage the engine. Please advise.

First, it's important to note that what you’ve described—while understandably alarming at first glance—is not uncommon or necessarily harmful. In fact, the P08 is used as OEM equipment on several high-performance machines, including:

• Ducati 1299 Panigale Superleggera
• Ducati 1199 Panigale Superleggera
• Ducati Panigale R

These models are subject to rigorous engineering review and real-world performance demands, so rest assured the P08 has been proven in demanding environments.

That said, the presence of fine debris may be the result of environmental conditions. If you live in an area with high pollen levels, fine dust, or agricultural residue, you may need to adjust your maintenance interval. We recommend cleaning the filter every 2,000 km under such conditions, rather than every 5,000 km.

Additionally, to help prevent any fine particles from bypassing the filter through the seal area, we suggest applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly or silicone grease to the “dirty” side sealing edge (where the filter meets the airbox—not the filter element itself). This creates a more complete seal and helps block ultrafine debris from sneaking past.

For further reassurance, you can review our in-house long-term testing here:
Sprint Filter P08 Long-Term Test – 2016 Kawasaki ZX-10R

That test bike now has over 34,000 miles on the same engine and recently recorded 192 RWHP—an increase from when it was new. No degradation has been observed, even under spirited use.

Please don’t hesitate to reach back out if you have further questions. We’re here to help you get the best performance and peace of mind from your equipment.